Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 252

Chapter 252: Avoiding The Question

Nathan’s POV

For a moment, there was only silence.

Hailee didn’t answer my question. She didn’t move. She didn’t even breathe the same way as before.

She just... closed her eyes.

Slowly. Purposefully.

Like she was trying to hide inside the dark.

I watched her chest rise and fall. Too steady. Too controlled.

She wasn’t sleeping. I knew her better than that.

I’d always known when she was pretending.

My heart cracked a little.

Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.

Maybe I shouldn’t have hoped.

I turned my face slightly, looking at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the ache in my chest. It wasn’t from the wound this time. It was something deeper. Something that didn’t heal with bandages.

Maybe it was just the heat of the moment.

Maybe it was just her trying to comfort me.

Maybe... maybe she didn’t mean it.

But she felt real.

Her voice had felt real.

Her body had felt real.

Her warmth.

Her touch.

Her tremble.

All of it felt like truth.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight.

I looked at her again.

Her lashes rested against her cheeks, still slightly damp. Her lips were soft, red, swollen from our kisses. Her body lay close to mine, like she belonged there but didn’t want to admit it.

I brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead, careful not to wake her—careful not to startle her into running.

Then I whispered, "Hailee... I wish you’d just tell me what you really feel."

She didn’t move.

Not even a twitch.

I let out a slow breath and leaned my head back. The pain in my ribs pulsed, but the ache in my chest was louder.

I closed my eyes.

"Maybe it was the moment," I whispered to the quiet room. "Maybe I shouldn’t have asked right after..."

I trailed off.

My hand brushed lightly over her shoulder, gentle, protective, even though she might never want that from me again in the morning.

"Maybe I heard what I wanted to hear," I said softly. "Maybe I’m the fool."

Her fingers curled slightly against the blanket—so small a movement that most people wouldn’t notice.

But I did.

She was awake.

Awake... and scared of answering.

I didn’t call her out.

I didn’t force her to speak.

I just whispered the truth I’d kept buried for years.

"You don’t have to love me back," I murmured, brushing my thumb along her arm. "My love is enough for both of us."

My voice broke.

I hated that it did.

I pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the top of her head.

"I hope it was real," I said quietly. "Even if it was only for a moment."

Then I tightened my arm around her and slowly forced myself to sleep.

When I woke, the room was quiet.

The pain in my ribs was still there, but softer... almost buried under something warm pressed against my side.

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