Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158: His Illness

Hailee’s POV

My heart lurched so violently I thought it would tear itself from my chest. The warm haze, the touch of lips and hands, everything that had just happened with Frederick vanished instantly. I shoved harder at his chest, my breath ragged, my hands shaking as I scrambled off the bed, dragging the blanket tight around me. "Moon above..." My voice broke, my throat tight. "Not my baby—"

Frederick was moving. He yanked his robe back on with swift, precise motions, the passion that had consumed him seconds before disappeared. "Stay calm," he said, his voice low but filled with worry. His eyes were steady, though his chest still rose and fell fast. "Get dressed. I’ll go first." I shook my head furiously, already stumbling toward the door, the blanket tangling around my legs. "No! He needs me—"

"Hailee." His tone stopped me, sharp and commanding. He came to my side, his cool hand gripping my arm—not harsh, but firm enough to stop me. "You rushing out like this will only frighten them more. Dress yourself. Meet me in their room." Tears blurred my vision, but I forced myself to nod, forced my feet back toward the chair where my nightdress lay crumpled. My fingers trembled so badly it took me twice as long to pull it over my head. My chest ached with every second that passed. Oscar... my boy, my strong boy...

By the time I ran into their room, Frederick was already there. He stood near the bed, his tall frame shadowing Oscar’s small, limp body. Oliver and Ozzy hovered on either side, their faces pale and wet with tears.

"Mama!" Oliver cried the moment he saw me, his voice cracking. "He just—he just fell!"

I dropped to my knees beside the bed, gathering Oscar’s small hand into mine. His skin was clammy, his lashes pressed too tightly to his cheeks. My throat closed, terror swallowing me whole.

"Baby, wake up," I begged, pressing kisses to his knuckles, his forehead, anywhere I could reach. "Oscar, please—Mama’s here. Please open your eyes."

Frederick crouched beside me, his calm voice steady for the boys’ sake, though I could feel the worry inside him. "He’s breathing. His pulse is there. He’s weak, but he’s not gone." His eyes flicked to mine, sharp. "This may be from hunger."

Guilt stabbed deep into my chest. Two days. Two days of stubbornness, two days of me letting it stretch this far because I thought they’d give in eventually. And now—Oscar in my arms, fainting from refusing to eat a proper meal. They had been only having snacks.

Ozzy’s small voice broke the silence. "Mama please do something." His brown eyes brimmed with tears.

I clutched Oscar tighter, my tears spilling onto his fiery hair. "Moon above... what have I done?"

My sobs shook my chest as I rocked Oscar against me, whispering his name over and over like the sound of it alone could call him back. My tears soaked into his fiery hair, his little body too still, too quiet.

Frederick’s hand rested briefly on my shoulder, comforting me, before he rose swiftly to his feet. His loud voice resounded everywhere.

"Send for the healer," he barked toward the guards lingering nervously outside the door. They snapped into action, one bolting down the hall while the other stayed at the threshold, his head bowed.

I kissed Oscar’s knuckles, shaking my head in disbelief. "This is my fault. I should have—should have forced them to eat—"

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