“Various accidental inspections turned up problems with their company left and right.”
“Mike himself was expelled from school and charged with sexual harassment.”
“Eventually his whole family was forced to leave Riverdale. I heard they moved somewhere far away.”
But then Peter’s tone shifted. “But Caelan paid a price too.”
The former King-Caelan’s father-found out about the incident and locked him in the family dungeons for a full month.”
“Said he used excessive violence, violated the family’s code of conduct.
Peter lifted in wine glass, his expression growing thoughtful Honestly, at the time I thought Caelan was just fulfilling his Alpha duty to protect.
But…” He looked directly at Carian Recently I figured out that wasnt about duty at all
Peter shook his head with amazement. Only love can make someone that crazy
Scarlett leaned forward with interest. So you’re saying Carlan was alivady in love with sabis back then??
“Not just in love. Peter conected her. Deeply, madly in love.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. I never imagined Carlun would go that far for me.
“The funniest part,” Peter added with a wicked grin, was watching Cavlan try to clean all that blood off his bands before the ambulance arrived.”
“He kept muttering about not wanting to scare you when you saw him.”
Caelan’s jaw tightened. “Peter.”
“What? It’s true! Peter laughed. You were more worried about traumatizing Sable than about the guy your’d just beaten half to death.”
Leon joined in the teasing. Classic Caelan priorities.”
I turned to look at Caelan properly. His blue eyes met mine, and I saw something raw and vulnerable there.
Peter raised his glass again with a mischievous smile. So now you all understand, right?”
“Our Lycan King here is actually a complete wife-doting maniac.
Leon picked up the thread immediately. “Classic brooding type. Cold on the surface, blazing underneath.”
Scarlett sighed dramatically. “That’s actually kind of romantic.”
Caelan’s POV
I watched Sable turn her head away, breaking our eye contact. Her gaze dropped to the table; she went silent. Something twisted in my chest-a cold knot of anxiety I couldn’t shake.
Something’s wrong.
She sat there quietly, fingers wrapped tight around her wine glass. The knuckles had gone white from the pressure.
Shit. She’s scared of me.
My heart started hammering against my ribs. Peter’s story about that night, about what I’d done to Mike-it was too much. Too violent. Too fucking brutal for someone like Sable to hear.
Of course she’s terrified. You almost killed a man with your bare hands.
Sable suddenly stood up. Her voice came out unsteady. “I… I need to use the restroom.”
She didn’t wait for anyone to respond. She just walked out.
I shut to my feet. “Sable?”
Peter, Leon, and Scarlett exchanged worried glances. I could see it in their faces-they knew they d fucked up. Said too much. Revealed too much about the monster I could become
Sable, wait! I called stier her
But she paired faster the heels clicked rapidly against the tile floor she was almost running dow
Fuck, fuck, fusk by prakse spiked this’s going to leave the pump to browse the inalty kws what I really
Roblet blup! The properth in my vinice sussed w
She reached the hallway irading to the crating her band washing the the dbanie, in vsumda shed disappear behind that door, and then what? Would she clink out winder? Call sab? Find a way to meet
I caught her wrist just es her fingers touched the din
‘Sable, please. Look at me.”
I turned her around gently, carefully. My hands were shaking-actually fucking shaking-as I guided her to face me.
When she looked up, I felt my world collapse.
Tears streaked down her cheeks. Her amber eyes were red-rimmed and filled with pain. She looked completely heartbroken, like someone had ripped her soul in half.
“God, Sable, I’m sorry. The words tumbled out in a rush. I reached up to brush away her tears, my movements clumsy with panic. I’m so fucking sorry about what I did that night.”
“I know how it must have looked. How violent and terrifying it was.”
My voice cracked. “I understand if you’re afraid of me. I get it, I really do, but please don’t leave me.*
I kept wiping at her tears, but more kept falling. “I can change. I swear I can control it better. I’ll never let you see that side of me again.”
The words kept pouring out, desperate and frantic. “Please don’t give up on us because of this. Don’t let my fucked-up reaction ruin everything we-?
Sable stepped closer. Her hands came up to cup my face, cutting off my rambling apology.
Before I could say another word, she stretched up on her toes and kissed me.
Hard.
Her lips crashed against mine with a force that knocked every thought from my brain. I stood frozen for a heartbeat, stunned by the sudden contact. Then instinct kicked in. I pulled her closer, my arms wrapping around her waist as I kissed her back with everything I had.
The kiss tasted like salt from her tears. When we broke apart, both of us were breathing hard.
Sable’s hands stayed on my face. Her thumbs brushed across my cheekbones.
“You absolute idiot, she whispered, her voice thick with tears.
I blinked at her. “What?”
“That month in the dungeon… Her voice broke. “Did you suffer? Were you hurt?”
The questions came rapid-fire, each one laced with worry. “Was anyone taking care of you? Were you eating properly?”
“Did they give you blankets? Was it cold? Were you alone the whole time?
I stared at her, my brain struggling to process what was happening. “Sable-*
“I keep thinking about you locked up in that horrible place. More tears fell. “All because you were protecting me.”
She wasn’t scared. She wasn’t running. She was crying because she was worried about me.
I pulled her against my chest, burying my face in her hair. “Sabi…”
The dungeon doesn’t matter.” I stroked her hair, trying to soothe away her pain. “What happened there is in the past. It’s over.”
“But what matters is that you know now. You know how much I love you.”
I pulled back to look at her face. “Don’t cry for me anymore. It kills me to see you hurt.”
She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I can’t help it. When I think about you suffering because of me-“
“Stop.” I caught her hands in mine. “None of that was your fault. Not one second of it.”
That piece of shit Mike made his choices. I made mine. The consequences were mine to face.”
We walked back hand in hand. The moment we appeared, three pairs of eyes locked onto us with laser focus.
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