Chapter 191: Bringing Her
Callum’s POV
"Are the flowers in the room?" I asked my Beta, my voice sharp.
"Yes, Alpha," he answered quickly. "Fresh lilies, just as you ordered."
I gave a small nod but didn’t stop pacing. My chest was tight, my wolf restless. This wasn’t just any visit. Hailee was coming here—Hailee, with her boys. For the first time, she would step inside my pack house. I wanted everything flawless.
"What about the sheets?" I pressed, my tone low. "The curtains? Did the maids put the soft linen, not the stiff ones?"
"They did, Alpha," my Beta replied, his head bowed. "Everything was changed this morning."
"And the boys?" I demanded. "Did you prepare their room as well? Did you make sure there are toys, books, something to make them feel welcome? They are not guests. They are her sons. They must feel safe."
My Beta nodded again, though he was smiling. "Yes, Alpha. We placed books, games, even small swords for training. Everything is set."
Still, it wasn’t enough. My wolf growled in my chest. Perfection. That was all I would accept.
"What about the dining hall?" I asked, turning suddenly. "The food—did the cooks prepare something sweet? Something the boys will remember? I don’t want them sitting there picking at their plates like strangers."
"They prepared honeyed bread, fresh fruit, and roast chicken," he reported.
"Good." I dragged a hand through my hair, forcing myself to breathe. But still, unease burned inside me. I wanted Hailee to see this place not as my house—but as hers.
"Listen carefully," I said at last, my voice low but commanding. "When she walks through those doors, there will be no mistakes. No rough stares. No whispers. Every soldier, every maid, every servant will bow and treat her with respect. She is not a visitor. She is the woman I intend to keep."
My Beta swallowed hard and bowed. "Yes, Alpha. It will be done."
I stood there in the grand hall, staring at the polished floors, the golden light from the chandeliers, the flowers lining the stairs. It was ready. It had to be.
But still my chest burned.
Because no matter how perfect this house was, I knew the only thing that mattered was her heart. And that was the one thing I couldn’t command.
Sucking in a deep breath, I checked my wristwatch. Three o’clock. It was time. Time to pick up Hailee and her boys from Nathan’s home.
I turned to my Beta. "I’m leaving."
"Yes, Alpha," he said with a bow. He quickly signaled to the drivers and escorts waiting outside.
The heavy doors of the packhouse opened, and I stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. My wolf stirred under my skin, restless, eager. The black SUV waited, flanked by two escort vehicles filled with warriors. The moment I slid into the back seat, the engine rumbled to life.
As we pulled away, my chest tightened. I leaned back against the seat, but there was no comfort. Ten years. Ten years since I had last been this close to her. Ten years since I had lost her.
How do I speak to her now?
How do I tell her the words I’ve swallowed all these years?
Would she even listen?
I glanced out the window as the trees rushed past, the sunlight cutting through in broken rays. My men drove in silence, their eyes sharp on the road, while my escorts rode close, guarding every turn. Still, my thoughts were louder than the hum of the engine.
I wanted to tell her everything—that I still remembered the sound of her laugh, the softness of her touch, the fire in her eyes when she was angry. That I never stopped loving her, never stopped desiring her even when I couldn’t find her.
But what if she no longer felt the same? What if she had truly given her heart to another?
I clenched my fists, my jaw hard. No. I would not let fear stop me. Not now.
Nearly two hours later, the trees thinned, and the sharp scent of Nathan’s territory reached me. My wolf bristled instantly, but I forced myself to remain calm. This wasn’t about him. This was about her.
We reached the border, and the guards were already waiting. They stiffened when they saw my cars approaching, but once my head of guards stepped out and exchanged a few words, the line opened. The gates parted, and my convoy was allowed through.
My chest grew heavier with every mile. Nathan’s pack was strong, his land wide and well-kept.
The cars slowed, crunching against the gravel drive, until at last we stopped in front of Nathan’s grand mansion. The door opened, and I stepped out.
My boots struck the gravel, echoing faintly in the silence. My men fell into formation behind me, but I lifted a hand, signaling them to stay back.
The heavy doors swung open before I reached them. And there was Nathan.
He stood at the top of the stairs, broad shoulders squared, green eyes glaring at me. His aura rolled out thick and heavy, pressing against my chest in a silent challenge.
For a long moment, we didn’t speak. Wolves to wolves, Alphas to Alpha, we simply stood there, measuring each other across the distance. The tension was tense and awkward.
Then he moved, descending the stairs slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. When he reached the bottom, he stopped only a few feet away. Close enough that his power pressed harder against me, testing me.
"Callum," he said at last, his voice low, edged like steel.
"Nathan," I replied, my own voice steady, calm, though my wolf snarled inside.
We stood there, the silence stretching, neither of us willing to look away.
Finally, I drew in a slow breath. "I’ve come for Hailee. And her sons."
His jaw flexed, the faintest growl rumbling in his chest. "They’re still inside. But before you take her, you’ll remember something, Callum—" His eyes narrowed, glaring at me. "You must return them on Monday morning... nothing later than 9 a.m."
I met his glare head-on. "And what if she wishes to stay?"
His lips curved, but there was no humor in it. "Don’t you dare, Callum... don’t you dare do something stupid."
Our wolves growled inside us, ready for a fight.
But then, behind him, I caught the sound of movement. Small footsteps. Lighter voices. My heart clenched hard in my chest.
I looked past him and saw Hailee and her boys approaching.