Chapter 186: Want no one
Hailee’s POV
Nathan’s voice was sharp. "Let him in."
The guard left, and soon the big doors opened. My heart jumped so hard it hurt. Frederick walked in. He was tall, strong, and his presence filled the room. But the moment his eyes met mine, they changed. They softened.
"Hailee," he said, and in a blink he crossed the room. His arms wrapped around me tight, pulling me into him.
"Why did you leave?" His voice shook — angry and sad at the same time. "I looked everywhere for you. You vanished. Do you know what that did to me?"
I froze. His hug pressed against me, heavy and full of demand. Guilt crushed my chest. I wanted to speak, but no words came out.
Then a loud growl filled the room.
Nathan stepped forward fast. He shoved Frederick off me so hard the floor seemed to shake. "Don’t touch her," Nathan barked, his eyes glowing with his wolf. He stood tall and fierce, placing himself between us.
Frederick straightened, his jaw tight, but his gaze stayed locked on me.
"Hailee belongs to me," Nathan snarled again.
Frederick’s frown deepened, his fangs baring.
The air grew thick and heavy, like a storm about to break. Their power clashed in the room, and I stood in the middle, my heart racing, my boys’ faces flashing in my mind.
Frederick fixed his glare on Nathan. "What do you mean she belongs to you, wolf? Since when can you own her?"
My chest squeezed. My hands shook, but I forced the words out. "I... I was kidnapped," I said quickly, my voice cracking as I looked at Frederick. "Nathan saved me and my sons. He bought us at the auction. That’s why we’re here."
Frederick’s eyes widened. For a moment, he looked shocked — then furious. His gaze snapped to Nathan, fire in his stare. "How much?" he asked coldly. "Tell me what you paid for her."
Nathan’s growl rumbled through the room, but Frederick stepped closer. "I will pay you double. Right now. She and the boys come back with me."
The room froze, the tension so thick it was difficult to breathe.
Callum’s angry voice resounded across the room. "Who the hell do you think you are, making demands like that?"
Frederick turned his head slowly toward him, his eyes glowing red now. His lips pulled back, showing those long fangs again. "Who am I?" he said, his voice deadly calm. "I am Lord Frederick — the ruler of the South. And I do not ask twice."
Dane scoffed, stepping forward. "Who cares who you are... just leave."
Frederick chuckled angrily and began pulling off his sleeves like he was ready to throw hands. I swallowed hard, my eyes widening as I noticed Nathan’s claws were already out, ready to strike. My head raced. This was a disaster. I needed to do something, but what could I do?
"Please stop..." I whispered, my throat tight. My heart pounded in my ears. This wasn’t a fight. This was a war about to start in Nathan’s living room — and I was the cause.
Before I could shout, small feet pounded down the stairs.
"Mama!"
My head snapped up. My boys rushed down, their little faces pale but fierce. Oscar, brave as ever, darted in front of me, his arms spread wide like a shield.
"Stop!" he shouted, his green eyes blazing. "You’ll hurt her!"
Oliver grabbed my arm, pulling me back. His voice trembled, but he raised it anyway. "Why are you all fighting? Mama doesn’t belong to anyone but us!"
Ozzy’s lip quivered, but he stood tall beside his brothers. "Leave her alone!"
The room froze.
Four powerful men all stilled, their wolves and fangs and fury held back by the sight of three trembling boys guarding their mother.
Tears burned my eyes. My chest ached so badly I could hardly stand it. "Boys..." I whispered, my voice shaking.
My knees buckled. The room tilted. The noise, the pressure, their suffocating atmosphere pressed down on me. It was too much. My body gave way, and I collapsed.
"Mama!"
The loud cries of my boys were the last thing I heard before everything went blank.
I heard a voice. A woman’s voice, soft but sharp.
"She is weak," the voice said. "Too weak. No wolf inside her... just human flesh. No wonder she fainted."
I tried to speak, but my lips wouldn’t move. "She needs to avoid being emotionally stressed... and the next time this happens her condition may be worse."
My heart pounded. Who was she? Why was she speaking about me?
Slowly, I forced my eyes open. The first thing I saw were my boys. Their tear-stained faces hovered over me, eyes wide and scared. Oscar clutched my hand so tight his knuckles were white. Oliver sat close, his lips trembling. Ozzy was curled by my side, his cheeks wet.
"Mama," Oscar whispered, his voice cracking. "You’re awake..."
Tears filled my eyes. I reached weakly, brushing their faces. "My boys..."
Then I noticed the rest of the room.
Four men. Each one standing in a corner, like sentries guarding a battlefield: Nathan, Callum, Dane, Frederick.
Their bodies were tense, their eyes sharp, but none of them were bleeding. No one was broken.
That meant... they hadn’t fought. Not while I was still unconscious. "How are you feeling?" the female voice asked.
I jerked my head sideways and noticed it was the pack healer. Of course I remembered her. I didn’t respond. Rather, I slowly forced myself to sit on the bed. I felt so weak, like I had been hit by a truck.
I turned to the guards by the door. My throat was tight, but I spoke anyway. "Please... take my sons out. Watch over them. Keep them safe."
Oscar’s hand grabbed mine hard. "No, Mama! We’re not leaving you!"
Oliver shook his head, his voice breaking. "What if they fight again? We want to stay!"
Ozzy’s lip trembled. "Don’t make us go..."
I flashed them a weak smile and stroked their hair. "Listen, my loves," I said softly. "Nothing of such will happen. But I need to talk to them alone. For you. Do you understand?"
The boys looked at me with wide, wet eyes. At last, Oscar gave a stiff nod. Oliver and Ozzy followed, though slower.
The guards stepped in and led them out. The door shut, and silence dropped heavy over the room.
I pulled in a shaky breath and looked at Nathan. He stood with his arms crossed, his eyes burning into me. I looked at Callum — he seemed angry too — and then Dane and Frederick. In fact, all four men had the same look on their faces. "I need to talk," I said, my voice low but firm.
I took a deep breath. My voice was small but clear. "I know... I know I hurt you all," I said. "I am sorry. I never wanted to hurt any of you. I’m scared, too. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Please, forgive me."
They all stared. The room felt very loud and very quiet at the same time.
"But," I continued, forcing each word out, "I can’t be with any of you. Not now. Not any man. My only priority is my boys. I must keep them safe. I do not want a man in my life. I can’t trust anyone with them yet. I need time to be a mother."
Frederick stepped forward. He looked tired and angry. "Just come home with me, Hailee," he said. "I’ll take you and the boys away from this. I love you."
I shook my head slowly. "No," I said, my voice shaking. "I can’t. I know you love me, but I don’t love you back. I am sorry."
I turned to Dane then. My heart hurt as I said his name. "Dane, it’s been ten years. You should let me go. Please. You deserve someone who will stay."
Dane’s face tightened, but he stayed quiet.
Then I looked at Callum. My throat burned. "Callum... you searched for me. You cared. But I can’t be with you either."
Callum’s eyes were full of pain. For a moment he looked like a man about to break. Then he said, low and rough, "If you aren’t ready, Hailee, I will accept that. But there’s one condition — you must not live under Nathan’s roof. If you stay with Nathan, I won’t walk away."
Nathan’s face changed. His eyes did not look like they would accept what I said. He stepped closer. "You will not leave," he said quietly, his voice hard.
Callum snarled, "She will."
I swallowed hard. "You don’t understand," I said quietly. "I can’t just leave." Callum’s jaw clenched. Dane leaned forward like he was about to argue. Frederick’s arms folded tight across his chest.
I swallowed hard. "I owe Nathan. When he saved me and the boys at that auction, he paid a price. A heavy one. And until I pay him back, I belong here. As his servant." My throat burned as the words scraped out. "I cook. I clean. I do whatever is asked of me. When my debt is paid, I’ll take my sons and leave."
Frederick’s face darkened with anger. Dane muttered something low under his breath. Callum’s aura flared like fire, shaking the air around us.
Then the three of them spoke, voices booming like thunder shaking the walls.
"Never happening."