Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Don’t Want It

Hailee’s POV

I didn’t move for two hours. Not once. I just sat there at the edge of the bed, my eyes fixed on Oscar’s little chest, rising and falling so faintly that every breath felt like a gift I was terrified of losing.

My hand never left his. His small fingers were limp in mine, warm but without their usual spark, and I kept rubbing them gently as if that alone could coax him back to me. My cheeks were stiff with dried tears, but my eyes still burned. Every now and then, another tear would slip free and fall onto his blanket.

Oliver and Ozzy had refused to leave. They lay curled up near his feet, their little faces pale and worried, drifting in and out of restless sleep. Even in their dreams they were tense, their bodies twitching whenever Oscar stirred.

I leaned over, brushing a damp strand of red hair from his forehead. His skin was clammy under my touch. I kissed him there, whispering against his skin, "Please, baby... please don’t leave me. Mama can’t bear it."

The healer’s words kept circling in my head. Lunar Respiris. A rare sickness. She said it wasn’t fatal, that he’d wake soon, but how was I supposed to rest easy while my son lay so still? Words couldn’t loosen the fear crushing my chest.

The healer and Frederick sat beside me... we all waited for Oscar to wake up.

I bowed my head over Oscar’s hand, clutching it to my lips. "If anything happens to you, I won’t survive it," I whispered, my voice raw. "You and your brothers are my life. I’m nothing without you."

Then—softly, faintly—he whimpered.

The sound was so small I almost thought I imagined it. But when I looked down, his lashes fluttered, just barely.

My heart lurched. "Oscar?" My voice shook as I leaned closer, my tears starting all over again. "Baby, it’s Mama. Can you hear me?"

His lips parted, a weak breath escaping, but he didn’t speak. His lashes fluttered, heavy and slow, before finally lifting. The green of his eyes peeked out, faint but clear, like embers fighting to glow. My whole chest broke apart with relief.

"There you are," I breathed, sobbing as I pressed kisses to his damp forehead, his cheeks, anywhere I could reach. "Moon above, there you are. You scared me, baby. You scared me so much."

"Mama..." His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper, but the sound of it filled the room like music. His small hand tried to curl around my finger. "I’m... tired."

Frederick leaned forward, his voice authoritative but soft. "Don’t force yourself, Oscar. Rest. You’ll be strong again soon."

The healer nodded, placing her glowing hand gently against his chest. "He’s waking properly now. The worst has passed. His strength will return, but he’ll need care—rest, food, and medicine to steady his breathing."

Oliver stirred at the foot of the bed, blinking blearily. When he saw Oscar’s eyes open, he sat upright so fast it startled me. "Oscar!" His little voice cracked. He scrambled closer, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Don’t scare us like that again!"

Ozzy was slower, calmer, but his brown eyes shimmered with tears too. He reached out, stroking his brother’s arm gently. "We thought you wouldn’t wake up."

Oscar’s gaze moved to them, weak but warm. A tiny smile curved on his pale lips. "I’m here," he murmured, his voice barely there. "I’m not leaving you."

I broke down completely then, gathering him carefully into my arms. His body was weak, too light in my hold, but he was warm. He was alive.

"My brave boy," I whispered against his hair, rocking him gently. "You’ll be okay. Mama promises. You’ll be okay."

I pulled away and he flashed me a weak smile. "I’m fine, Mama... stop crying," he whispered.

I nodded quickly, wiping the tears from my cheeks with the back of my palm, even though more kept slipping free. "Alright, baby," I whispered back, kissing his hair again. "Alright."

It took a while, but finally his breathing steadied. Oliver curled up against his side protectively, his small hand gripping Oscar’s blanket like he could anchor him there. Ozzy shifted closer too, pressing his forehead gently against Oscar’s arm before drifting back to sleep.

I tucked all three of them in, pulling the blanket high, smoothing it over their little shoulders. I kissed each one again—once, twice, three times—before sitting back in the chair. I couldn’t leave. Not tonight. Not with the fear of something going wrong.

The healer packed her things quietly, giving me a reassuring smile before leaving.

Frederick didn’t leave either. He stayed on the other side of the bed, his tall frame half-shadowed by the lamplight. He didn’t speak, didn’t move much. Just sat there, watching them, watching me.

For a long time, the only sounds were the soft breaths of my sons.

At one point, my eyes lifted. His eyes were already on me.

Something inside me stuttered, because the memory came back in a rush—the way his hands had held me earlier, the heat of his mouth on mine, the feeling of his mouth on my nipples. We had been seconds away from crossing a line we could never step back from.

I exhaled slowly, my voice low, almost to myself. "I’m thirsty..." The words slipped out before I could stop them. I pushed back from the chair, my knees stiff, my body heavy with exhaustion. "I’ll just... get some water." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

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