Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 285

Hailee's POV

Peter's eyes lowered.

"Oliver left with Callum," he said quietly.

My heart clenched hard.

"O… Oliver?" I whispered.

Peter nodded. "He saw everything. He was terrified. Confused. Hurt."

Tears filled my eyes again instantly.

"Where is he?" I rasped. "Bring him to me."

Peter shook his head, pain in his expression.

"He demanded to go," he whispered. "Callum was rushed back to his pack. And Oliver… he insisted. He said he wanted his father."

My chest tightened like a fist had grabbed it.

"He thinks I'm a monster," I whispered.

Peter didn't answer.

Because the silence was the answer.

I covered my face with my hands and let out a small, broken sound.

Nathan pulled me against him again, holding me like he could keep the world from touching me.

"We'll bring him back," Nathan whispered into my hair. "We will. When you're stable. When you're stronger. When he's calmer. We'll bring him back."

But even as he said it, I could hear the fear underneath.

Fear that Oliver wouldn't come willingly.

Fear that the bond between mother and son had been damaged in a way time might not fix easily.

I pressed my face against Nathan's chest, breathing him in.

His heartbeat was strong now.

Alive.

Because of me.

And yet…

Everything still felt like I was drowning.

"Nathan," I whispered, voice shaking.

"Yes, love?" he murmured.

I swallowed hard.

"What if it happens again?" I asked. "What if I lose control again? What if I hurt you? Hurt Peter? Hurt someone else?"

Nathan's arms tightened around me.

"Then we prepare," he said firmly. "We don't pretend it won't happen. We don't hide it. We learn it. We face it."

I lifted my head slowly, eyes swollen.

"And if the spirit comes back?" I whispered.

Nathan's gaze didn't waver.

"Then it answers to you," he said. "Not the other way around."

Peter nodded once, like he agreed with that.

But his eyes were still afraid.

Because we all knew the truth now.

I wasn't just Nathan's mate.

I was something else too.

Something powerful.

Something dangerous if pushed too far.

And right now…

I didn't even trust myself.

I closed my eyes and let a fresh tear slide down my cheek.

"My baby…" I whispered again, like saying it could bring the life back.

Nathan kissed my temple.

"I know," he breathed.

I clutched his shirt again, holding onto him like a lifeline.

Because everything else in me felt broken.

And the only thing that still felt real—

Was the warmth of my mate's arms around me.

The healer stepped closer to the bed, her expression full of worry.

"Hailee," she said gently, placing two fingers against my wrist, then my temple. "You need to sleep. Your body is in shock. Your spirit has been torn open and stitched back together too quickly. If you stay awake like this, you'll collapse again."

I swallowed hard.

Sleep felt terrifying.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw blood. I saw Oliver's face. I heard Nathan's broken voice calling my name. I felt the emptiness in my womb like a scream that never ended.

"I don't want to sleep," I whispered. "What if—what if I wake up and everything is worse?"

Nathan leaned closer instantly, his hand warm around mine.

"I'll be right here," he said softly. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

The healer nodded. "He won't leave. But your body needs rest to survive what happened. I'll give you something light. Not magic-heavy. Just enough to let you sleep without dreams."

I hesitated.

Then I nodded slowly.

"Okay," I whispered. "I'll sleep."

Nathan squeezed my hand gently, like he was afraid even that might hurt me. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The healer prepared the draught carefully, murmuring quiet words under her breath—not spells, just intention. She helped me sit up enough to drink it.

The liquid was warm. Bitter. Earthy.

My eyelids grew heavy almost immediately.

Nathan's face blurred in front of me.

"I'm here," he said again, like a vow. "Rest."

I reached for him blindly, my fingers catching his sleeve.

"Don't leave," I murmured.

"I won't," he promised.

The darkness came softly this time.

Not like before.

No screaming. No falling.

Just quiet, peaceful sleep.

When I woke again, the room was dim.

Evening light filtered through the curtains. For a moment, I didn't know where I was.

Then the pain returned.

Not sharp.

Not screaming.

Just deep. Heavy. Everywhere.

Like my bones had been broken and reset wrong.

I shifted slightly—and hissed.

"Easy," a familiar voice said immediately.

Nathan.

I turned my head.

He was right there, sitting on the edge of the bed, his jacket discarded, his hair slightly disheveled like he hadn't moved in hours. Dark circles shadowed his eyes. Worry lived openly on his face.

"You're awake," he said softly, relief flooding his voice.

I swallowed.

"I feel… terrible," I admitted.

He nodded. "That tracks."

A weak breath left my chest—half a laugh, half a sob.

He brushed his thumb gently over my knuckles. "Are you okay?"

The question broke something in me.

I stared at the ceiling, my throat tightening.

"No," I said quietly. "I'm not okay."

Nathan didn't interrupt. He didn't rush to fix it.

He just listened.

"I feel empty," I whispered. "And heavy. And scared. I don't feel like myself anymore. I don't even know who that was… in the throne room."

His jaw tightened, but his voice stayed gentle. "You were hurt. You were pushed past your limit. That doesn't define you."

I turned my head toward him slowly.

"But it was me," I said. "My hands. My body. My power."

"And your pain," he replied. "And your fear. And your love. All of it collided at once."

Tears slid from the corners of my eyes.

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