Chapter 18 Something in his tone made me stop protesting. There was genuine uncertainty there. Like he still wasn't sure I actually wanted this. 'No second thoughts," I said softly. "Just… it's a lot to process." "You deserve the best of everything, Sabi. I should have been giving it to you all along." The simple honesty in his words made my throat tight. "Okay," I whispered. "I accept your bribery." "It's not bribery. It's an investment in our future happiness." Caelan's POV I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, imagination running wild. In my mind, Sabile walked toward me in Elena's champagne creation. The fabric would catch sunlight as she moved, flowing like liquid gold around her ankles. Her amber eyes would sparkle with happiness as she placed her hand in mine. The image was so vivid I could almost smell her jasmine perfume. A ridiculous smile spread across my face before I could stop it. The office door opened without warning. Edward Wells, my Beta, stepped inside carrying territorial reports, then stopped dead when he saw my expression. "Your Majesty?" Edward's voice cracked slightly. "Are you… feeling alright? Do you need me to call a doctor?" I immediately schooled my features back into their usual stoic mask. "The reports need reviewing. Is there something else?" Edward hesitated before he spoke again. "Sir, you've been under a lot of stress lately. Perhaps you should reduce your workload? Take some time off?" 'Edward, I'm just thinking about some… happy things." His face grew even more concerned. "Your Majesty, are you certain you don't need a psychological counselor? This level of… happiness… seems unusual." "Keep talking and I'll cancel all your vacation days this month." Edward immediately made a zipping motion across his lips, mimicking locking his mouth shut. But his eyes still held that look of barely contained panic. - I'd been preparing for this moment for three years. The ring, the dresses, the careful planning - all of it waiting for Sable to come home. My wolf had been drawn to her since she was fifteen. I thought we belonged together. Then she'd fled, and I'd spent three years wondering if I'd misread everything. But I'd told myself to be patient. To wait for her to become mine. And she was coming back now. Coming back to me. I pulled up her Instagram post on my phone to look at the dress photos again. That's when I saw the comments. My smile vanished instantly. 1/2 Chapter 18 Ice-cold rage flooded my veins as I read each cruel word. Pack members openly mocking my future queen. Calling her an orphan. Suggesting she was renting dresses for attention. These insects dared insult the woman who would rule beside me? Edward. My voice carried the promise of death. "Your Majesty?" 'Deliver the Bentley to Sable personally." I kept my tone conversational, which made it infinitely more terrifying. "Then handle the social media situation." Edward's face went pale. He understood exactly what "handle" meant. "The pack members commenting on her post?" "Make them disappear. Quietly. Permanently." I met his eyes with absolute certainty. "As if they never existed." "All of them, sir?" "Every single one who showed disrespect to my future queen." Edward swallowed hard. In his years as my Beta, he'd carried out many dark orders. But this was different. This was personal. "It will be done, Your Majesty." *Clean. No traces. No investigations." He nodded and turned to leave. "Edward?" "Yes, sir?" "Anyone who ever insults her again will join them." The door closed behind him with finality. I looked down at Sable's photo again. Her smile was radiant, unaware of the cruelty lurking in the comments below. No one would hurt her and live to see another sunrise.