Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 238

Chapter 238: Outing

Hailee POV

Cira and I had barely stepped inside when I already felt a rush of something I hadn’t felt in years, freedom. The kind that wasn’t loud or wild, just freeing.

"Come on!" Cira shouted over the music, her eyes sparkling like she was a kid again. "Let’s get drinks!"

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "You’re still the same."

"And you still think too much!" she teased, dragging me toward the bar.

The bartender smiled the moment he saw her, clearly recognizing a regular. She winked at him and ordered two glasses of something that shimmered gold under the club lights.

"Here," she said, sliding one toward me. "Drink it before you change your mind."

I hesitated, then sighed and took a sip. It was sweet, smooth, and stronger than it looked.

Cira raised her glass. "To lost youth."

I smiled faintly and clinked mine against hers. "To second chances."

We drank, we talked, and slowly the music began to feel less like noise and more like energy.

After a while, I noticed the way people’s eyes lingered. Not at Cira, but at me. Men at tables turned to look. A few smiled. One even raised his glass toward me in quiet admiration.

Cira noticed immediately, her lips curving into a sly grin. "Oh, look at that," she whispered loudly. "You’re making heads turn already."

I rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh. "Don’t be ridiculous."

She leaned closer, pretending to whisper. "Hailee, these men are practically drooling. You’ve been hiding too long. They probably think you’re some royal mystery woman."

"I am," I said dryly.

She burst into laughter. "Exactly! A beautiful, mysterious royal, single, graceful, and probably untouchable. That’s dangerous, you know."

I gave her a flat look. "Cira, please."

She giggled, bumping my shoulder. "Oh, come on! Let them look. You’re stunning, and you deserve to be admired once in a while."

I sipped my drink again, trying to hide the heat rising in my cheeks. "You’ve gotten worse."

"And you’ve gotten prettier," she said with a wink. "So it evens out."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You never change."

I was still laughing at one of her stories about a trip to Greece and a jealous hotel manager when I caught sight of someone across the room. Tall, broad shoulders, sharp jawline that the dim light couldn’t hide. And those eyes.

Rylan.

He was leaning casually against the railing, talking to someone, dressed in a dark suit that did nothing to hide the way power seemed to hum off him. The moment our eyes met, his smile curved slowly, not surprised, just amused.

He started walking toward me.

Cira followed my gaze and let out a low whistle. "Well, well. Who’s the walking sin headed this way?"

I didn’t answer. I only frowned. Rylan stopped a few feet in front of me, the music fading just enough for me to hear the warmth in his tone.

"I didn’t expect to see you here," he said.

I blinked, forcing a small, cool smile. "You’re a king. Shouldn’t you be, not here?"

He chuckled softly, his eyes glinting. "Maybe. But kings are still men, Hailee."

I crossed my arms, trying to look composed even as my pulse betrayed me. "This isn’t exactly royal territory."

He leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping low enough that I felt it more than heard it. "Then maybe I’m here for something worth breaking a rule or two."

Before I could respond, he extended his hand. "Dance with me?"

I blinked, surprised. "What?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Just one dance." His smile was easy, confident. "I promise not to bite."

"Lies!" she shouted. "You’re glowing!"

Maybe it was the drinks. Or the music. Or just the simple fact that for the first time in years, I wasn’t worrying about anything.

Not the council.

Not the fathers of my sons.

Not the ghosts of what I’d lost.

Just me.

One drink turned into two. Then three. The room began to blur at the edges, the lights softer, warmer. I couldn’t stop laughing, really laughing, until my sides hurt.

Cira was still dancing beside me, waving her glass like a trophy. "This! This is the Hailee I remember!"

"Maybe she never left," I said, giggling, though my words came out slurred.

She threw an arm around me. "That’s my girl!"

But then the spinning started. The music, the laughter, the crowd, everything began to tilt, just slightly.

I blinked, trying to steady myself. "Cira..." I said softly, laughing breathlessly. "I think... I need to sit down."

She laughed. "You okay?"

"Perfect," I said, though the word came out half a giggle.

I turned, trying to make my way toward the edge of the crowd, but the floor didn’t seem to know which way was up. The lights shimmered too brightly, the air too thick. I stumbled slightly, reaching out for balance, and instead, crashed into something solid.

Someone.

A hard, warm chest that didn’t move when I did. Strong hands caught my arms before I could fall.

And just like that, the world stopped spinning.