Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 235

Chapter 235: The other woman

Hailee’s POV

I had gotten dressed for the day and was about to check on the boys when I saw her. The same woman from last night, the one who had dared lay a hand on Ozzy, was walking down the hallway toward me. The moment our eyes met, she gave a small, nervous smile, trying to play it off as friendly.

I didn’t return it.

Instead, I met her attempt with a cold, unflinching frown. Her steps slowed, and when we finally reached each other, she shifted deliberately, stepping right into my path. I stopped, my patience instantly wearing thin. My face darkened.

"And what is the meaning of this?" I asked, my voice flat and cold. "Move."

She looked a bit startled at my tone but didn’t move. Her fingers twisted together for a moment before she spoke, her voice small and overly sweet.

"I just wanted to apologize," she said quickly. "For what happened last night. It was a misunderstanding... I lost my temper."

I crossed my arms, my expression unmoved. "A misunderstanding?" I repeated quietly. "You struck a child. My child. I don’t call that a misunderstanding; I call it disgraceful."

Her fake smile faltered. "I said I was sorry," she muttered.

I raised an eyebrow. "And who exactly are you?"

She hesitated, clearly unsure whether to be proud or cautious. "I’m... Peter’s fiancée," she finally said, forcing confidence into her voice.

My expression didn’t change. "His mate?"

That question seemed to catch her off guard. She blinked, her lips parting slightly before she looked away. "Not yet," she admitted quietly. "But soon."

Something in my chest tightened. So she wasn’t the woman Peter had spoken about before, not the one Father approved of, or Peter even cared for deeply. This one was different, and I didn’t like the kind of different she was.

I took a step closer, my tone calm but edged. "Then, as of now, you’re nothing to him. Which means this conversation is over. I have no interest in talking to you."

I started to move past her, but she stepped sideways again, blocking my path a second time.

Her tone turned sharp, defensive. "Oh, come off it," she said with a short laugh. "You act like you’re some golden girl now, like you’re perfect. But weren’t you once—"

She stopped herself, biting her tongue too late.

I tilted my head slightly, my eyes narrowing. "Finish that sentence," I said quietly. "Go on."

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, clearly realizing she had said too much. The silence between us intensified as I glared at her, daring her to speak more.

I smiled then, just barely. "That’s what I thought," I murmured, stepping around her. "Next time you want to apologize, try meaning it."

And with that, I walked away, leaving her standing in the corridor, fuming, embarrassed, and very aware that she had just picked a fight with the wrong woman.

I needed to find Peter. I needed to know what was happening.

I found Peter in his study, leaning over a pile of documents with two advisors beside him. He looked up the moment I entered.

"Everyone, give us a moment," he said immediately.

The men bowed and hurried out, closing the door behind them. Peter straightened, reading my expression before I even spoke. "What happened now?" he asked carefully.

I folded my arms. "That woman," I said, my voice tight. "Your fiancée, or whatever she’s calling herself, just stopped me in the hall."

He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Hailee..."

"Don’t ’Hailee’ me," I snapped. "She said she’s your fiancée. Is that true?"

Peter hesitated, clearly not eager to answer. "It’s... complicated."

I raised an eyebrow. "Complicated? You either love her or you don’t, Peter. And from what I’ve seen, you don’t even like her."

He looked down for a moment, his jaw tightening. "She’s not my mate," he said finally, his tone flat. "And she knows it."

That caught me off guard. "Then why—"

He cut me off, his voice quieter now. "Because she’s convenient. The council wanted the engagement for alliance purposes. It keeps the Northern Houses loyal."

I frowned. "So you’re using her?"

He met my eyes again, his voice low. "She’s using me too, Hailee. It’s mutual."

Something in his tone told me more, that this wasn’t about politics alone. That he was still thinking about someone else.

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