Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Walls Up

Hailee’s POV

Peter wanted to argue, but I stopped him by shaking my head.

"Don’t worry," I said softly. "Let me hear what he has to say."

Peter’s jaw tightened, his eyes flicking toward Nathan like a warning, but he nodded reluctantly. "Five minutes," he muttered, his voice low.

Nathan gave him a brief look before turning to me. "Outside," he said simply.

I followed him through the quiet hallway and out into the hospital garden. The night air was cool, brushing gently against my skin. The faint scent of jasmine mixed with the sterile tang of disinfectant. The moon hung low and bright above us, casting silver light across the benches and trimmed hedges.

Nathan walked ahead a few steps, his hands shoved into his pockets. For a moment, he said nothing. He just stood there, looking out at the trees swaying softly in the breeze.

Then, without turning around, he spoke. "Sit," he said quietly.

I hesitated, then lowered myself onto the stone bench nearby. A moment later, he joined me, close enough for me to feel the warmth of his body but far enough to keep a space between us.

The silence stretched until it felt like it might break me.

Finally, he turned his head slightly, his voice low and strained. "We haven’t talked," he said. "Not really. Not since... everything happened."

I swallowed hard, my fingers twisting in my lap. "Nathan, this isn’t the time—"

"It’s exactly the time," he cut in, his tone sharp but not angry—pained. "Because if I don’t say this now, I might never get the chance."

I turned toward him slowly. His eyes were darker than usual, full of questions and hurt.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" he asked quietly. "Why didn’t you tell me who you really were?"

My breath caught.

He exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "All those years, Hailee... I thought I knew you. I trusted you. I would’ve done anything for you. And yet you hid everything—your past, your bloodline, your truth. Was I really that unworthy of your trust?"

His words sliced deep. I looked down, my voice barely a whisper. "It wasn’t about trust. I was protecting you—protecting the three of you. If I’d told you—"

He interrupted, his voice breaking slightly. "If you’d told me, I would’ve protected you too! Damn it, Hailee, I thought we had something real. I thought you believed in me."

Tears stung my eyes. "I did," I whispered.

He gave a short, bitter laugh. "Then why did you run?"

I couldn’t answer. The truth was tangled in too much pain, too much history.

Nathan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together tightly. "You know what hurts the most?" he said quietly. "That even after everything, my feelings for you haven’t changed."

I froze.

He turned toward me fully now, his gaze locking with mine. "I tried, Hailee. I tried to hate you for what you did. For hiding the truth. For taking our son away. But every time I look at you, every time I hear your voice... it’s like none of that matters anymore."

I looked away, my heart pounding, but he reached out and gently caught my chin between his fingers, turning my face back toward him. His touch was warm, steady, and familiar.

"I don’t understand it," he whispered, his eyes searching mine. "But I still love you. I still want you."

My breath hitched.

Before I could speak, he pulled me closer—slow at first, testing my reaction. My palms pressed against his chest instinctively, but I didn’t push him away. His scent filled my senses, wrapping around me like a memory I’d tried to forget.

"Nathan..." I breathed, but the word barely escaped before he drew me onto his lap.

I gasped softly, my hands gripping his shoulders to steady myself. His arm slipped around my waist, firm and dominant, holding me there. The heat between us was immediate and tense.

"Tell me you don’t feel this," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "Tell me you don’t still want me too."

My heart hammered so hard I thought he might hear it. Every inch of my body remembered him—the strength in his touch, the smell of his skin.

I should have pulled away.

I knew I should have.

But instead, I stayed frozen—trembling, torn between the past that still burned inside me and the future I was too afraid to face.

"Nathan..." I whispered again, my voice breaking.

His forehead rested against mine, his voice low and rough. "You don’t have to say it. I already know."

"Nathan..." I breathed, my voice trembling. "We can’t—"

"Then stop me," he murmured, his tone low, rough, and filled with desire.

And before I could think—before I could find a reason—his lips found mine.

The world vanished.

It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate. Years of anger, heartbreak, and longing collided in that one moment. His hand cupped the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and I found myself clutching his shirt like I might drown if I let go.

The kiss deepened—hungry, breath-stealing. I could feel every ounce of emotion he’d been holding back—regret, love, possessiveness—pouring into it. When he drew me closer, I gasped softly against his mouth, trembling under the weight of everything that had been left unsaid.

"Nathan..." I whispered again, my words barely a breath between kisses.

He only pulled me closer, his voice rough and full of longing. "I’ve missed you... more than I can stand."

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