Chapter 193: Feelings still here
Hailee’s POV
The boys were shown into their room, and it was Oliver who lit up the moment the door opened. His eyes widened, shining with excitement as he rushed forward.
"He got us a PlayStation?!" he gasped, running straight to the shelf where the shiny black console sat. His hands hovered over it like it was treasure. "Mama, look—it’s a PS5! And there are games already here!"
He turned back to me, his whole face glowing with joy. "Can I play it now? Please?"
I managed a small smile at his excitement, but my chest tightened when I looked at his brothers. Oscar stood stiff by the bed, his arms crossed, his jaw set like stone. Ozzy stayed quiet, his fingers brushing lightly over a stack of books that had been neatly placed on the table. They weren’t smiling. Not even a little.
Oliver didn’t notice. He was too wrapped up in the console, bouncing on his toes. "Mama, he even got us new controllers. Two of them! No—three! We can all play together!"
Ozzy’s lips pressed tight. "I don’t care about games," he muttered, his voice low. "This doesn’t change anything."
Oscar scoffed, his tone sharp. "Exactly. He thinks he can buy us." His green eyes flicked toward me, and the hurt in them was sharper than his words. "I don’t like it."
Oliver spun toward them, his face flushing red. "You’re just being stubborn! Alpha Callum actually thought of us. He gave us more than Nathan ever did!"
"Don’t say that!" Oscar snapped, his voice rising. "Nathan saved us. None of this would even matter if it weren’t for him."
Ozzy shook his head, glancing through a Chapter of a book. "You’re both wrong. None of this matters. Toys, games, food—what Mama needs is peace. And that won’t come from fighting or fancy gifts."
Their voices clashed, rising louder in the room, their faces set hard against each other.
I pressed a hand to my chest, the pain spreading deeper. Goddess, even here... even now... they couldn’t agree.
"Boys," I said softly at first, but they didn’t hear me.
"Stop it!" Oliver shouted, his fists clenched. "Just admit you’re jealous because you wanted it too!"
Oscar stepped forward, his face red. "I’m not jealous! I just don’t trust him!"
Ozzy snapped, "And neither should Mama!"
That was enough.
"Enough!" I cried, my voice sharp, breaking through their fight.
They froze, their chests rising and falling fast, their eyes still burning at each other.
I looked at all three of them, my heart heavy. "Stop this now. You are brothers. You do not fight over me. Not over them. Not ever."
Slowly, they lowered their eyes, guilt flickering in their faces.
I sighed, brushing a trembling hand over my hair. "Listen to me. No matter what’s in this room, no matter what any of these men give us, I will not let it break you apart. We are a family. We stay together. Always."
Oliver’s lip quivered, but he nodded first. Then Ozzy. Finally, Oscar—though his jaw was still tight.
I drew them close, hugging all three tightly against me. Their bodies were stiff at first, but then, slowly, they sank into me.
Still, as I held them, I couldn’t shake the thought that haunted me—things were getting worse, and I didn’t know how much longer I could keep us all together.
I pulled back from the hug, brushing the hair from Oscar’s face, then Oliver’s, then Ozzy’s. Their eyes were still hot with anger, but they were quiet now.
"Go and wash up," I told them gently, though my voice carried a firmness they couldn’t disobey. "Take your baths and prepare for the night. I’ll be back soon. And listen to me—no fighting. Not even a word against each other. Do you understand?"
They nodded, though not at the same time. Oliver muttered a small, "Yes, Mama," while Ozzy clutched his book tighter. Oscar just gave a stiff nod.
I kissed each of their heads. "Good. I’ll come check on you in a while."
With that, I rose to my feet and left the room, pulling the door shut behind me. My heart was still heavy, but at least they were quiet for now.
I turned the corner toward the chamber that had been given to me. My thoughts were thick, swirling—about the boys, about this house, about tomorrow and the months to come. I was so lost in them that I didn’t notice Callum right away.
He was leaning against the wall beside my door, arms crossed over his broad chest, his head tilted slightly as if he had been waiting for me. The light from the sconces played over his sharp jaw, the stormy depth of his eyes.
My breath caught in my throat.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. He just looked at me, his gaze tracing my face like he was trying to memorize every detail all over again.
"You’re here," I finally whispered.
His lips curved, faint but real. "I’ve been waiting."
My chest tightened. "Why?"
"Because it’s been ten years," he said quietly. His voice was rough but steady, like each word was dragged straight from his chest. "And now, you’re finally standing in front of me again. I wasn’t going to waste a second."
The words struck deep, stirring memories I had buried. My fingers trembled against the side of my dress, and I forced myself to hold his gaze.
But the emotions in his eyes made it hard. Too hard.
Callum pushed off the wall slowly, careful, as if he didn’t want to scare me away. His steps were steady, measured, until he stopped just a breath away.
"I don’t want to talk about the others," he said softly, his voice carrying that deep, stormy calm I remembered too well. "Not Nathan. Not Dane. Not Frederick. Just you. Just us."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Callum..."
He shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "Do you know what it did to me? Searching for you all those years? Every rumor, every whisper, I chased them. I never stopped. And now you’re here, standing in front of me, and I feel like if I blink, you’ll vanish again."
His hand lifted slightly, hesitating in the air between us, then lowered before it could touch me. His restraint made my chest twist.
"You don’t have to choose now," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I want you to remember. Remember who we were. Remember that I loved you before all this madness. That hasn’t changed."
My lips trembled. His words broke something inside me, something I had locked away. The years, the distance, the pain—they all hit me, but still, his eyes held the same stormy warmth I once found comfort in.
I looked away, my voice trembling. "It’s not that simple anymore, Callum. I have my boys. I can’t... I can’t just let myself feel like before."
He nodded slowly, but there was no anger, only a deep sadness. "I know. That’s why I’m not asking for everything back. Not tonight. I’m only asking for a chance—to show you that what we had wasn’t lost. That it’s still here. Hailee, I know we still love each other."
For a heartbeat, I couldn’t breathe. He wasn’t wrong. Goddess, he wasn’t wrong. I still loved him. I had never stopped. Even now, standing here, I wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms and feel the warmth of his embrace.
But I sucked in a deep breath, forcing the feelings back down, burying them under duty and fear.
Callum’s eyes softened as he studied me. Then, slowly, he leaned forward. My breath hitched when his lips brushed my cheek—just the faintest peck, but enough to send a rush of tingles down my skin. My body betrayed me, trembling with the bond that still tied us.
"Go to bed, Hailee," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "Rest. Tomorrow, I have a surprise for you."
Before I could respond, he stepped back, his presence and alluring scent pulling away. My chest ached instantly at the loss.
I stood there long after he left, my fingers brushing the spot where his lips had touched me. My whole body craved him.
Shaking, I forced myself to move.
I bathed quickly, the warm water doing little to ease the tension twisting inside me. My reflection in the mirror showed flushed cheeks and eyes that betrayed far too much. I changed into a soft nightdress, combed out my hair, and made myself go check on the boys.
They were already tucked in, the glow from the bedside lamp spilling over their faces. Oliver still clutched the game controller in his sleep. Ozzy had a book open across his chest. Oscar’s arm was thrown over his brothers protectively.
My heart softened. I kissed each of their foreheads gently. "Goodnight, my loves," I whispered.
They stirred but didn’t wake.
I turned off the lamp, closed the door softly behind me, and strolled down the quiet hall to my own room. Inside, the stillness was heavy. I locked the door, switched off the lights, and slipped under the covers.
Exhaustion pulled at me, dragging me into darkness. My eyes fluttered shut, my body sinking into the mattress. For the first time in days, I let myself drift.
Until—
A shiver jolted through me.
I stirred awake to the sensation of fingers. Slow, deliberate... tracing up my exposed thigh.
My breath caught in my throat. My eyes shot open.