Chapter 47: The King Is My Pet
Leon chimed in with obvious amusement. "Sable, how did you manage to tame this lone wolf?"
I glanced up at Caelan, whose jaw had tightened at the teasing. His friends clearly enjoyed getting under his skin.
"Very simple." I kept my voice completely serious. "Regular feeding, scheduled walks, and occasional head pats as rewards."
I paused for effect. "Just basic pet care operations."
To prove my point, I reached up and ruffled his dark hair. The height difference made me stretch awkwardly, and Caelan actually lowered his head to make it easier for me to reach.
The entire group went dead silent.
I could feel their shocked stares as my fingers moved through the thick strands. Caelan's eyes drifted closed, a soft rumble of contentment escaping his throat.
Did I just... did I really just pet the Lycan King's hair in front of his friends?
Scarlett was the first to recover. She gave me a silent thumbs up behind the others' backs.
Leon's jaw worked like he was trying to remember how to speak. "Sable, could you do that again? I want to take a picture. If our King ever disagrees with my pack decisions, I'll use this as blackmail."
Caelan's eyes snapped open. "Say one more word and I'll cancel all your vacation requests this month."
Leon immediately made an exaggerated zipping motion across his lips. He and Peter retreated to their seats like chastened children.
"Come on." Caelan's hand found the small of my back, guiding me toward the seating area. "Before they embarrass us both further."
We'd taken maybe three steps when the manor's french doors opened again.
A figure emerged that made every conversation in the garden pause.
She was tall and striking. Violet eyes. Golden hair that fell like liquid silk past her shoulders. Her black evening dress fit like it had been sculpted to her body.
She moved with predatory grace, cutting through the garden with obvious purpose.
My steps faltered when I realized where she was headed.
Straight toward Caelan.
"Caelan. Your pin is crooked."
Without hesitation, her manicured fingers reached for his collar. She adjusted the small silver pin with practiced ease.
I watched her hands move across his chest. The casual intimacy of the gesture. The way Caelan stood perfectly still and let her touch him.
Something ugly twisted in my chest.
What the hell is this feeling?
Heat burned through my veins. My hands clenched into fists at my sides. I wanted to step forward and knock her hands away from him.
You have no right to touch him like that.
The possessive thought appeared before I could stop it. Where had that come from?
Then memory clicked into place. Oh right. Caelan had mentioned his sister would be attending tonight. I'd heard rumors about his adopted sister over the years, but I'd never actually met her. She'd always been... elsewhere. Studying abroad, or training with other packs, or something.
"Sable, this is Blair Sterling, my sister and also my Gamma."
His Gamma?
The information hit me like cold water. I'd never heard him mention Blair holding such an important position. Gamma was third in command after Alpha and Beta – a role that required absolute trust and constant proximity to the pack leader.
When did this happen? Why didn't he ever tell me?
A spike of irritation shot through me. How had he never mentioned that his sister was his third-in-command?
Blair stepped forward. One hand extended toward me.
"Finally meeting the legendary fiancée." Her smile was camera-perfect. "I'm Blair, Caelan's sister."
I took her offered hand. "Hello, I'm Sable."
Her grip was firm, confident.
But then her expression transformed. The polished composure melted into something warmer, more animated.
"Caelan, you didn't tell me Sable was this beautiful!" Blair's voice bubbled with apparent delight.
Before I could react, her arm linked through mine with practiced ease. She drew me closer like we were old friends reuniting after years apart.
"I'm so happy my brother found such a gorgeous and gentle fiancée."
Her smile was sweet. Genuine. But something about the contact made my skin crawl.
Her fingers pressed just a little too firmly against my arm. Her perfectly filed nails found the thin skin of my wrist, applying subtle pressure that bordered on uncomfortable.
But she looked so pleased, so welcoming. Maybe I was being paranoid after everything with Darrell. Maybe I was seeing threats where none existed.
Is it just me being oversensitive?
Blair turned back to Caelan. "You look especially handsome tonight."
Her free hand smoothed an invisible wrinkle from his lapel. The gesture was casual, familiar.
"This suit is perfect on you. I knew it would be when I picked it out."
My stomach dropped.
She picked out his clothes?
The intimacy of that small detail hit me harder than it should have. Someone else choosing what he wore. Someone else knowing his measurements, his preferences, his style.
Caelan must have caught the shift in my expression.
He leaned closer to me and whispered, "I've been too busy with pack business to shop for myself lately. Blair volunteered to handle my wardrobe."
Relief flooded through me before I could stop it.
Oh. She didn't go shopping with him. She just... did the shopping.
That was different. Less intimate. More like a personal assistant than... whatever I'd been imagining.
But Blair wasn't finished.
"Caelan has excellent taste naturally, but sometimes men need feminine guidance." She squeezed my arm slightly. "They're so oblivious to details that women notice immediately."
Her laugh was light, musical. "But now that you're here, I won't have to worry about his image constantly."
The words were friendly. Supportive, even. But underneath them lay an unmistakable message.
I've been taking care of him. I know what he needs. I've been the woman in his life.
Something territorial flared in my chest before I could suppress it. Maybe it was because Esme.
Without thinking, I slipped my arm around Caelan's waist.
"Caelan has wonderful taste." I smiled at Blair. "And as his wife, I'll make sure he's always the most handsome king around."