I gasped in mock realization. “Oh! It must be your secretary! I bet she’s beautiful and efficient and always knows exactly what you need!
Caelan laughed outright at this. “You’re terrible at guessing.”
He cupped my face in both hands, his expression growing serious and intense.
“There’s only one woman who has ever held my heart,” he said softly. “From the beginning until now, and for all the years to come.”
His thumb traced along my lower lip. “My Sabi. Only you.”
Every time he says things like this, I feel like I’m going to melt into a puddle.
“When did you first realize you had feelings for me?” I asked, genuinely curious.
A gentle smile crossed his features as he seemed to travel back in time.
“Do you remember when that bully Mike was bothering you?” His voice was warm with the memory. “After I taught him a lesson, something changed inside me.”
His fingers intertwined with mine. “That was the moment I knew my feelings had shifted. From that day forward, I was just waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For you to graduate college.” He looked almost embarrassed by the admission. “The moment your graduation ceremony ended, I went straight to your father to ask for your hand.”
A rueful expression crossed his face. “And then you ran away from me.”
Guilt twisted in my chest. “I… I thought Dad was sacrificing me for a pack alliance.”
My voice grew smaller. “I had no idea you were planning all of this.”
I pouted at him. “You’re so calculating. Planning everything behind the scenes without telling me anything. That’s not fair.”
Suddenly, Caelan winced and pressed a hand to his bandaged chest.
“Ow…” He let out a small groan. “The pain is starting to come back.”
Concern immediately flooded through me. “Should I call for a doctor?”
He looked up at me with the most pitiful expression I’d ever seen, his blue eyes wide and pleading.
“Actually…” He opened his arms hopefully. “If you could just hold me, I think the pain would go away.”
I stared at him suspiciously. You’re such a liar.”
But even as I accused him, I was already moving into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around me tightly, pulling me against his chest with surprising strength.
“Thank you for listening to my explanation, he whispered into my hair. “And for trusting me enough to ask directly instead of letting doubt eat away at you.”
I nestled closer to him. I’ll always come to you first when I have concerns.”
“By the way, How’s Blair? Has she woken up?” I looked up.
Caelan’s fingers stilled in my hair. “Yes. She’s basically recovered. She’s decided to leave and go back to the treatment center.”
“She asked me to convey her apologies to you, saying she’s realized her mistakes.”
I sat up straighter, pulling back to meet his eyes.
“She really acknowledged her wrongdoing?”
–
My voice carried obvious doubt. After everything Blair had put us through the horse incident, ruining our wedding rehearsal – her sudden remorse felt too convenient.
Caelan’s hand moved to cup my face. “Sabi, I know her previous behavior was excessive, but…”
“Blair lost her mother when she was young.”
“She’s always lacked security, which is why she did those extreme things.”
“She said she finally understands that love shouldn’t be possession, but blessing.”
Here was Caelan, once again making excuses for Blair’s actions. The woman who had nearly destroyed our wedding, and he was explaining away her behavior like she was some misunderstood victim.
I kept my expression neutral, but irritation flared inside me. “I hope she’s sincere.”
Why does Caelan always trust what Blair says?
His thumb brushed across my cheekbone. “Don’t worry, she won’t come to disturb us anymore.”
The conversation shifted, and I felt the atmosphere grow heavier.
‘But there’s another, more important matter I need to tell you.”
About Lucian.”
My stomach dropped. “What kind of findings?”
‘Lucian has been a Rogue since birth.”
“When my father had his relationship with Lucian’s mother, it was just a one-night stand. His mother was a wandering Rogue,”
“After she got pregnant, my father didn’t know. She gave birth to Lucian alone in a Rogue settlement.”
“They depended on each other, surviving by wandering between different Rogue tribes.””Apparently his mother died a few years ago.”
Each revelation hit like a physical blow. I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to process this information.
“Edward discovered that Lucian has been secretly building his own power.”
“He’s gathered a large number of exiled Rogues and formed a powerful rogue pack.”
The implications crashed over me. “So that night’s attack was just the beginning?”
Caelan nodded grimly. “Sabi, this is exactly what I’m worried about.”
“Lucian won’t give up easily. He sees me as the source of all his life’s misfortunes.”
“And you, as my fianc?e, could very well become his next target.”
Fear crept up my spine like ice water. I reached for his hand, needing the anchor of his touch.
“From now on, you must always be aware of the people around you.”
“I’ll arrange more bodyguards to secretly protect you and Daisy.”
“Never act alone, especially going to remote places.”
I nodded, squeezing his hand tighter.
Caelan’s fingers traced along my face before settling on my jaw. “I want to resolve this as quickly as possible. That way I can convince your father to let you marry me sooner.”
“Or you could secretly mark me?”
Caelan’s eyes immediately darkened with something predatory.
“Are you serious?” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Because I could do it right now.”
He moved with fluid grace, leaning down toward my neck.
I scrambled backward, laughing.
‘Don’t even think about it! I was joking!”
The look in his eyes told me he hadn’t been joking at all.
‘I don’t want my father to disown me and cut all ties!”
O
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