From Substitute To Queen Chapter 85

Sable's POV

A wave of nausea crashed over me. I didn't know Mike had been so arrogant, saying all those humiliating things about me in front of Caelan.

Peter continued "Caelan listened to all of this, and his eyes turned gold. His whole body radiated killing intent."

"Just like..." Peter shook his head. "Like he was possessed by some kind of primal beast."

"He charged forward and broke Mike's nose with the first punch. Blood splattered everywhere."

Leon couldn't help but interject. "Then what?"

"Then it was a one-sided slaughter." Peter's voice carried grim satisfaction. "Caelan completely lost control."

"Punch after punch, I couldn't pull Caelan off him. Ribs, abdomen, temples..."

"Mike didn't even get a chance to beg for mercy before he passed out."

"Caelan's hands were covered in blood, his face splattered with it too. I finally managed to pull Caelan away and called an ambulance."

"Mike was rushed to the hospital. The diagnosis was multiple fractures, internal bleeding, concussion."

"The doctor said if we'd been a few minutes later getting him there, he might not have made it."

I stared at Caelan in shock, trying to pull my hand back, but he gripped it tighter.

Peter continued methodically. "Then the Blackwood family stepped in to handle the aftermath."

"Mike's family business lost all their partners overnight."

"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 his 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 Caelan. "Recently I figured out that wasn't 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 Caelan was already in love with Sable back then?"

"Not just in love." Peter corrected her. "Deeply, madly in love."

My heart hammered against my ribs. *I never imagined Caelan would go that far for me.*

"The funniest part," Peter added with a wicked grin, "was watching Caelan try to clean all that blood off his hands 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 you'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 shot 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 after her.

But she moved faster. Her heels clicked rapidly against the tile floor. She was almost running now.

*Fuck, fuck, fuck.*

My pulse spiked. *She's going to leave. She's going to run from me because she finally knows what I really am.*

"Sable! Stop!" The desperation in my voice surprised even me.

She reached the hallway leading to the restrooms. I could see her hand reaching for the door handle. In two seconds she'd disappear behind that door, and then what? Would she climb out a window? Call a cab? Find some way to escape me forever?

I caught her wrist just as her fingers touched the door.

"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.