Third Person POV
Darrell hadn’t left Blackwood territory after his conversation with Sable the previous day. His beta David had come over to join him for a regional investment summit, where they hoped to find new partnership opportunities and potential investors.
The Hawthorne name is toxic now. Darrell rubbed his temples, the headache pounding behind his eyes. Every potential Investor I approach frowns the moment they hear it. We went from rising stars to the pack everyone laughs at.
David gripped the steering wheel as they navigated the traffic toward the conference venue, stealing glances at his Alpha through the rearview mirror. Darrell slumped in the backseat, obsessively scrolling through his phone. His thumb moved across the screen in repetitive motions, swiping through the same photos over and over.
His finger traced Sable’s smile in one of the photos. The image was from their first Christmas together she was laughing at something he’d said, her eyes bright with genuine happiness. Back when she’d looked at him like he was her entire world.
“Darrell.” David’s voice cut through his thoughts. “This obsession with the past serves no purpose.”
Darrell’s eyes remained fixed on the screen. Another swipe. Another memory.
“You used to despise her, remember?” David’s tone carried clear disapproval. “You told everyone she was clingy, that she demanded too much attention. So why are you suddenly claiming you’d steal her away even though she’s engaged?”
The photos showed a different story. Sable cooking breakfast while he read pack reports. Sable curled against his chest during movie nights. Sable wearing his oversized sweater, looking impossibly small and precious.
“We have critical pack business to handle.” David’s patience was wearing thin. “The investment summit has several important meetings lined up. If you keep spiraling like this…”
David’s words faded to background noise as Darrell caught sight of movement on the sidewalk. Two figures walked together, their easy companionship unmistakable even from a distance.
His heart stopped.
“Stop the car!” The command exploded from his throat. “Pull over now!”
David jerked the wheel toward the curb. “What’s wrong?”
But Darrell was already pushing open the door, his legs carrying him across the street before his brain could process the decision. The man beside Sable was tall, confident, expensive-looking everything Darrell used to be before his world crumbled.
“Sable.”
She’d been laughing at something Caelan said when Darrell’s voice made her entire body go rigid.
Carlan convinced me to leave the hospital for some fresh air. Said he was feeling much better and needed to get out. Her eyes had been bright with relief seeing Caelan looking so healthy and strong again. I was worried about his injuries, but he seems completely recovered
Now every muscle tensed as survival instincts kicked in. Her hand instinctively moved closer to Caelan’s arm, seeking protection from the unwelcome intrusion.
David appeared behind Darrell, slightly out of breath from chasing after him.
“Hi, Sable. David’s voice carried forced politeness as he tried to salvage the situation.
“Hello, David. Her response was curt but civil. She pointedly avoided looking at Darrell.
“And this is?” David’s gaze shifted to Caelan with obvious curiosity.
Pride and love filled her voice as she made the introduction. This is my fianc?, Caelan Blackwood.”
The name hit David like a physical blow. Jesus Christ. The Lycan King. His face went white as the implications crashed over him. We’re insects compared to him. He could destroy our entire pack without breaking a sweat.
Understanding flooded through him – why Darrell’s desperate pursuit of Sable was not just foolish but potentially catastrophic for their entire pack.
Caelan’s attention locked onto Darrell. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees as deadly intent radiated from him in waves.
“Do you need something?” Each word was precisely enunciated, carrying the weight of barely restrained violence.
This piece of garbage is still showing his face around Sable? Caelan’s jaw clenched as he fought the urge to end Darrell’s existence right there on the sidewalk.
Darrell forced what he hoped looked like a friendly smile. “Since we ran into each other, why don’t we grab lunch together?”
“You can join us, David.” Sable’s response was immediate and final. She pointed directly at Darrell. “But absolutely not him.”
Darrell refused to give up. When the hostess seated Sable and Caelan at a corner table, he studied the restaurant layout with calculating eyes. A young couple occupied the table directly beside theirs.
Darrell pulled out his wallet and approached the young couple at the neighboring table.
“I’d like to trade seats with you.”
The man looked up from his menu with mild confusion. “Sorry, we’ve already ordered. We’re not interested in moving.
Crisp bills appeared in Darrell’s hand. “Five thousand dollars. Cash. Just to switch tables.”
The couple exchanged shocked glances before quietly gathering their belongings. They left without another word, pocketing the money.
Darrell slid into the vacated seat, positioning himself directly beside their table with smug satisfaction.
He’s completely lost his mind. Sable focused her attention entirely on the menu, treating Darrell like he was invisible furniture.
When the server arrived, she ordered an iced lemonade along with her meal. The moment he heard her choice, Darrell leaned forward with his familiar controlling tone.
“You’re about to start your cycle,” he announced loudly enough for nearby tables to hear. ‘Don’t drink anything cold. Your constitution was always weak,”
Sable continued her conversation with Caelan as if she hadn’t heard a word, laughing at something he whispered in her ear. Her complete dismissal of Darrell’s existence was more cutting than any verbal response could have been.
The server returned moments later with their drinks. Without breaking eye contact with Caelan, Sable lifted her iced lemonade and took two deliberate gulps. Then she handed the glass to him.
“Want some? Her voice was soft, intimate.
Caelan accepted the drink, their fingers brushing as he took it. “Delicious. Sweet like you.” He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth.
She smiled radiantly. “Have as much as you want.”
David watched the natural intimacy between them the way they moved in perfect synchronization, how their conversation flowed without effort. This wasn’t the arranged marriage of convenience Darrell had described. This was real, deep connection.
Darrell’s knuckles were white where he gripped his coffee cup. The jealousy and pain etched across his features were impossible to miss.
“You’re allergic to seafood,” Darrell blurted out when he saw her menu choice. “Why are you ordering lobster pasta?”
David shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Darrell,” he said quietly, “maybe Sable was never the one with allergies. Maybe she avoided seafood because you’re allergic to it. Maybe she was accommodating your dietary restrictions.”
The truth crashed over Darrell like ice water.
For three entire years, she modified her eating habits for me. His chest felt like it was caving in. I assumed it was her allergy. I never once asked why she wouldn’t eat what she clearly enjoyed. I never thanked her. I never even noticed she was sacrificing for me.
Darrell’s POV
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them.
Sable’s face radiated pure joy as she spoke to Caelan, her amber eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Caelan, you really should have seen that little guy when he woke up! The moment he opened his eyes, I felt like all the effort was worth it.”
Caelan leaned forward, giving her his complete attention. “You saved him, Sabi. You’re an incredible doctor, and more importantly, you have a kind heart.”
The flush that crept across her cheeks made my chest tighten. “Don’t praise me like that, I’ll get proud.”
His smile was tender, intimate. “Then be proud. You deserve to be proud of every single one of your achievements.”
When had I ever looked at her like that? In three years, had I ever given her that kind of focused attention? Had I ever celebrated her work, her victories, the things that made her come alive?
My mind drifted to a conversation we’d had before. She’d come home exhausted but glowing after saving a critical patient. I’d barely looked up from my laptop.
“Hard work for so long, and you still don’t make as much as I spend on one dinner? What’s there to be proud of in this broken profession?”
The memory made bile rise in my throat.
When Sable was eating her pasta, a small drop of cream sauce clung to the corner of her mouth. Without hesitation, Caelan reached over, his thumb gently brushing across her lip. Then he brought his thumb to his own mouth, tasting the sauce.
“Mmm, tastes good,” he said casually.
Sable’s face lit up with that sweet smile I remembered, the one that brought out her dimples. The same dimples I’d stopped noticing years ago.
David was watching me with growing alarm. “Darrell,” he murmured under his breath, “you need to get control of yourself.”
But I couldn’t. Every word between them was a knife twisting in my chest.
The final blow came when I noticed Sable’s leg casually draped over Caelan’s thigh under the table. Such a simple thing, but it spoke of comfort, trust, the kind of easy intimacy that comes from knowing someone accepts you completely.
‘I can’t- The words choked in my throat. I shoved back from the table so violently my chair scraped against the floor.
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