Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One
Chapter 48: Blamed

Chapter 48: Blamed

Hailee’s POV

I stepped into the room, and my eyes instantly landed on Nathan. I gasped softly, my breath catching in my throat.

He was lying still on the white hospital bed, his chest rising and falling slowly, monitors beeping softly beside him.

He was shirtless, but there were no visible injuries on him. The healer must’ve done an amazing job healing him physically. But that didn’t matter. He was still... unconscious.

Pain and guilt wrapped around my chest like chains. My feet wouldn’t move, like my body knew I didn’t deserve to go any closer to him.

I just stood there, frozen, staring at him—wondering if I was the reason he ended up like this. Did my words hurt him that much? Was he so lost in pain that he didn’t even see the truck?

Tears filled my eyes again, blurring the sight of his peaceful, lifeless face. I tried to take a step forward. But then Clara stepped in front of me.

"And where do you think you’re going?" she spat, blocking my path.

Her eyes were burning with anger and pure, unfiltered hate.

"Clara, stop this," Luna Benita, Nathan’s mother, said gently from behind her. "This isn’t the time."

But Clara didn’t listen. She spun around to face her mother. "No! I won’t stop! You all keep acting like she’s innocent—but Nathan is in this bed because of her!"

I stood there, stunned, my lips parted in disbelief.

Clara pointed at me, her voice rising. "He saw the video. The one of her and Callum—making out. And the moment he did, he stormed out of the house and got in his car. And now he’s like this!"

Tears streamed down her face as her voice cracked. "If anything happens to my brother—I swear, I’ll kill her."

I blinked, more tears spilling down my cheeks. My hands shook. I felt hurt. Angry. Guilty.

"Enough," Dane said sharply, stepping in between us. His voice was cold and stern. "Clara, that’s enough. You don’t get to blame Hailee for this."

"She’s the reason he left!" Clara snapped.

Dane stepped closer. "No—Nathan made his own choice. Hailee didn’t tell him to leave the packhouse. Don’t throw your pain on her."

Clara glared at him, furious, but I couldn’t take it anymore. All of it—the stares, the guilt, the blame—it was too much. I turned and walked out of the room before anyone could say another word. I needed air. I needed to breathe.

I walked quickly down the hall, my vision blurred with tears. I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back. I just needed to get out of that room. Out of that hospital. Away from the voices. The judgment.

"Hailee!" Dane’s voice echoed behind me. I kept walking. "Hailee, wait!"

I pushed the front doors open and stepped into the cool evening air, sucking in a shaky breath. My legs carried me blindly across the parking lot, away from everyone, until I finally stopped near a quiet corner of the building. The wind brushed against my face, but it didn’t cool the storm inside me.

"Hailee," Dane’s voice came again, closer now. A second later, he reached me, stepping into view. His face was full of concern. "Are you okay?"

I couldn’t speak. I just stared at the ground, my hands shaking at my sides, my heart pounding like a drum. Everything was too much. Too loud. Too painful.

Unexpectedly, Dane stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. At first, I didn’t move. I stood there stiffly in his arms, frozen. But something in the warmth of his hold... the way he didn’t let go... the way he held me like he wasn’t afraid of my pain... I gave in.

Slowly, my arms wrapped around him, and I buried my face into his chest. My tears soaked his shirt as silent sobs shook through me.

"It’s not your fault," he whispered against my hair. "None of this is your fault."

And even though I didn’t believe it yet... in that moment, I needed to hear it. I remained in his arms as I poured out my pain through the tears. At that moment, I wished things could go back the way they were. A few weeks ago, I was just an omega. Unnoticed. Unbothered. Nathan hated me, or at least pretended to. Callum wasn’t here, and Dane didn’t even know I existed.

And now? Now, I was standing in a storm I didn’t ask for. Caught between the attention of boys I never expected to look my way, torn apart by emotions I didn’t know how to handle, and drowning in guilt over something I couldn’t undo.

"I wish things could go back," I whispered, my voice muffled by his shirt. "Back to when everything was simple. When no one cared about me."

Dane was quiet for a moment. Then his hand moved slowly up and down my back, comforting me. "But that’s not your reality anymore," he said softly. "You’re not invisible anymore, Hailee. And I know it’s scary. But you’re strong enough to face it."

I didn’t respond. I didn’t feel strong. I felt like I was breaking in a thousand silent ways.

"I didn’t want anyone to get hurt," I said, finally pulling away to look up at him. My voice cracked. "I never wanted any of this."

Dane’s eyes met mine, firm and full of concern. "I know."

I looked down, wiping my face with the back of my hand. My cheeks were sticky from dried tears. My heart still ached.

Dane gave me a concerned look before asking, "You wanna go home?"

I nodded instantly.

He nodded. "I’ll drive you. Let’s go."

I slipped into the passenger seat of Dane’s car, sinking into the leather seat like I was made of stone. The silence between us was thick, but not uncomfortable—just... heavy. Like we both understood words wouldn’t help right now.

Dane started the engine and began the drive back. His knuckles were tight against the steering wheel, his jaw tight, but he didn’t say anything. He respected my silence, and for that, I was grateful.

The ride home was quiet. No music. No conversation. Just the hum of the engine and the weight of everything I was trying to carry.

When he finally pulled up in front of my house, he turned to me, eyes soft. "You gonna be okay?"

I nodded slowly, even if I wasn’t sure. "Thank you... for everything."

He gave me a small nod. "Anytime, Hailee. I mean that."

I unbuckled my seatbelt, my fingers trembling, and pushed the door open. With legs that barely felt stable, I stepped out into the evening air and slowly walked toward the entrance of my house. I reached into my pocket, pulled out the keys, and unlocked the door.

The moment it creaked open and I stepped in, I froze. My heart stopped.

Sitting on the couch in the sitting room... was Peter. And next to him—my mother. They both looked up as the door opened. Peter’s expression was unreadable, his hands folded calmly in his lap. My mother sat beside him stiffly, her eyes darting between the two of us.

I blinked confused, still standing in the doorway. What the hell was going on? Why was he here? And why did my mother look like she’d just been told the world was ending?

"Hailee," she said quietly, standing slowly. "We need to talk..."