Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 268

Chapter 268: Give Back

Hailee’s POV

The ride home felt long and heavy. Oscar sat beside me, his small hand wrapped tightly around mine. He didn’t talk much, but I could feel his worry through his quietness. I stared out the window, trying to calm the storm inside my chest. Nothing felt simple anymore. When we finally reached our gates, my heart loosened a little. Home. Even when my life was falling apart, home still carried some kind of safety.

The big front doors opened before I even touched them. Oliver and Ozzy ran out at full speed.

"Mom!" Oliver said first. He stopped right in front of me and looked at my face carefully, almost too carefully for a ten-year-old. "You look... worn out."

I tried to smile, but it felt weak.

"I’m fine, sweetheart."

Ozzy hugged my leg tight like he was scared I’d disappear again.

"Mom, we missed you."

I bent and hugged them both, letting their little arms wrap around me. Their warmth eased me a little.

Then I saw him.

Peter.

My older brother walked down the stairs slowly. His eyes followed me in a way that made guilt rise in my chest. He didn’t shout or frown. He didn’t say "welcome back." He just looked... disappointed. And somehow, that hurt more.

"Oscar," I said softly, forcing a smile, "go with your brothers. Give your brothers the things we bought."

Oscar nodded and took their hands.

When they left, Peter turned and walked toward his office without speaking. I followed quietly, feeling uneasy.

The moment the door closed behind us, the air changed. Peter stepped to his desk and sat down slowly while I took the chair opposite him. For a long moment, he said nothing.

I swallowed hard.

"I know... you’re disappointed."

"Yes," he said simply.

His voice wasn’t harsh or angry. That made it hurt more.

"But you’re my sister," he added after a moment. "And that means I can’t give up on you."

My throat tightened.

He sighed deeply.

"What do you plan to do, Hailee?"

I lifted my chin even though my voice trembled.

"I’m keeping the baby."

Peter nodded slowly, almost like he already knew.

"And the healer said you need Callum’s mark?"

"Yes."

"And you’re going to accept it?"

My stomach twisted.

"No."

Peter stared at me for a long time, his eyes searching my face. Then he asked softly:

"If it were Nathan... would you still say no?"

The question hit me straight in the heart.

My mouth opened... but nothing came out.

I couldn’t lie.

I couldn’t answer either.

The silence was my answer.

Peter closed his eyes and exhaled.

"That’s what I thought."

He stood up from his chair.

"Come," he said quietly. "Father has been asking for you."

I froze.

"Why?"

"I don’t know. But he’s not himself. Something is different."

Different?

The word made fear swirl inside. Why was Father requesting me, and why did I feel this strange, awkward feeling inside me?

We walked down the hallway together. Rooms passed by—rooms I grew up in, rooms filled with memories, rooms filled with pain. My heart beat faster the closer we got.

Finally, we stopped in front of the last door. Peter opened it slowly.

My breath got stuck in my throat.

Father lay in bed... pale, weak, and almost lifeless. I had never seen him like this—never seen him look so small.

"Father," Peter said softly. "She’s here."

Father’s eyes opened slowly. When he saw me... his lips trembled.

"Hailee," he whispered.

His voice was thin and tired, nothing like the strong commander who raised me with harsh rules and impossible expectations. He lifted a shaking hand, asking me to come closer.

I walked to him slowly and sat beside the bed.

His eyes filled with tears.

"I know," he said weakly. "I know I was a terrible father to you."

My breath caught.

I wasn’t ready for this.

I wasn’t ready for... this softness.

"I loved perfection too much," he continued softly. "I wanted perfect children. Perfect warriors. Perfect heirs."

A tear slipped down his cheek.

"And I forgot... you were human."

My eyes burned, but I didn’t speak.

"You suffered because of me," he whispered. "You hid your fear. You hid your shame. You hid the pain I caused you."

My throat tightened.

He coughed, his voice shaking.

"Children make mistakes. Fathers should guide them, not break them."

Another tear fell from his eyes.

"I pushed you too hard," he whispered. "And it took me too long to see it."

I pressed my lips together, fighting the urge to cry harder.

Then he slowly raised his hand again.

"Kneel," he whispered.

My heart stopped.

"Kneel, child. I want to return your wolf... and your abilities... to you."

My breath rushed out of me in a shaky gasp. Peter looked at him in shock. So did I.

"What?" I whispered.

He gave a tired smile.

"You deserve to be whole again. You deserve to be strong. To protect yourself. To protect your children."

Tears ran down my cheeks before I could stop them. I dropped to my knees beside the bed.

My father placed his weak hand on my head. His fingers trembled, but his voice turned strong—stronger than I had heard in years.

"Hailee," he said slowly, power rising in his words.

"Because," he said softly, "I’m out of time." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify