Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Strangers

Hailee’s POV

Mother pulled away and flashed me one of her usual charming smiles, but I didn’t respond. I just had a blank look on my face. I saw no need to pretend to be happy when clearly I was not. Mother must have noticed the blank look on my face because her smile died down and was replaced with a look of concern. She cupped my face and studied it, her sea-blue eyes—which I inherited from her—staring right into me.

"You don’t seem happy to be back home after all these years," she whispered.

I frowned, my chest tightening with old, buried anger. "And why should I be happy, Mother?" I spat the word like poison. I hated calling her that. A mother wouldn’t have hardened her heart to the cries of her own daughter the way she had. A mother wouldn’t have left me feeling like an orphan even while she lived. To me, my real mother was Violet—my nanny. She was the one who held me when I cried, who listened, who cared. She was more of a mother than my own blood could ever be.

Father, who had stood in silence until now, suddenly spoke. His deep, commanding voice echoed in the air. "Watch your tone, Hailee." Calm, but heavy with authority.

I shifted my gaze past my mother and locked eyes with him. His presence always commanded respect, but I refused to bow under it. My frown deepened as I held his stare, forcing him to see how much hate and anger I had for him.

His jaw tightened. Then, with a sharp turn of his head, he looked away from me and addressed Violet, who lingered quietly at the side, her hands clasped in front of her.

"How did you train her for those four years?" His tone was sharp, dismissive, almost accusing. "She doesn’t look one bit like my daughter."

I scoffed, and it seemed my scoff angered Father even more because he groaned, turned around, and walked away.

The silence he left behind was suffocating. The air was thick, heavy with tension. I knew everyone around me hadn’t expected this side of me. They thought I’d come back meek, silent, obedient. But this—this was just the beginning. They were yet to receive the most shocking news of all.

Mother’s lips curved faintly, though her eyes carried sadness. "I know you are angry at us, Hailee... but we did what we had to do." Her words were soft, almost pleading.

I wished I could believe her. I wished I could just forgive her and let it go. But I couldn’t. Not when they were the very reason my life had turned into this chaos. If they hadn’t sent me away as punishment, I wouldn’t have grown up carrying this burden. I wouldn’t have been "Hailee, the omega who fell in love with three men and shattered their hearts." I would have simply been Hailee Stone—a Lycan King’s daughter.

My chest ached with the weight of it all. My body felt drained, my spirit worn thin. I drew in a deep breath, and when I spoke, my voice came out low, tired, in a language I hadn’t allowed myself to use in four years. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Je suis fatiguée... le voyage a été long." I am tired... the journey was long.

When I spoke in French, the words felt strange on my tongue. I hadn’t used the language in four years. Mother’s smile faded. She looked hurt, but she only nodded slowly.

"Alright, Hailee," she said softly. Then she turned to the head maid standing nearby. "Show her to her room."

I lifted my head. "My old room?"

My mind drifted back to them—Nathan, Callum, and Dane.

Did they notice I was gone?

Did they even care?

The thought of them made my chest ache. Nathan with his fierce protectiveness, Callum with his calm nature, and Dane with his fire. I missed them, even though I tried not to. They had been my comfort and my pain, all at once.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the sting of tears. I couldn’t cry here. Not in this house. Not in front of them.

A knock broke the silence.

My heart jumped. Slowly, I lifted my head as the door opened.

Father stepped inside.