Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One - Chapter 198

Chapter 198: The Council
Hailee’s POV

We were all seated having lunch when I heard footsteps coming toward the dining room.

These footsteps sounded different from the staff. The staff always walked softly so they wouldn’t make noise, but these were fast and loud. Whoever it was, they were in a hurry.

I frowned and glanced at Callum across the table. His expression changed at once—a deep frown formed on his face. It was clear he already knew who was coming.

A moment later, the door opened. Three elderly men and one elderly woman entered the room. Their clothes were fine and neat, showing their high rank. Their eyes moved over the table—first to Callum, then to me.

And then… to my boys.

The coldness in their gaze made my chest tighten. I frowned, confused and angry all at once. What had my boys done to deserve such hateful stares? They were only children.

The eldest man stepped forward, his gray beard trembling as he spoke. “So, it’s true then,” he said harshly. “What Montana told us.”

My brows drew together. Montana?

That’s when it hit me—these weren’t just visitors.

They were members of Callum’s council.

Callum rose slowly from his seat, his chair scraping against the marble floor. His expression was tight, his eyes dark with warning.

“Now is not the time for such a discussion,” he said firmly, his gaze flicking toward the boys. “We’re having lunch.”

But the elders didn’t stop.

The eldest man stepped closer, his tone rising with boldness. “With all due respect, Alpha,” he began, “this cannot wait. The pack has already accepted Montana as your fiancée. She was chosen by the council for a reason.”

Callum’s jaw clenched. “I said not now.”

The old woman crossed her arms, her sharp eyes moving toward me. “And yet, instead of preparing for your union, you bring her here.” Her voice dripped with disgust. “A single mother, from no rank, with children we know nothing about. What kind of example does this set for the pack?”

My stomach twisted. I wanted to speak, to defend myself and my boys, but I bit my tongue. They were elders—people of respect in this pack. I didn’t want to cause more trouble for Callum.

But their words… they hurt.

The second man, tall and broad, slammed his palm against the table. “Alpha, we are warning you. If you continue down this path, you risk the stability of this pack! Montana is of Alpha blood—her father commands a large territory! And this woman—” his eyes burned into me, “—what can she offer?”

My hands tightened into fists under the table. My lips threatened to move, but I forced myself to stay still.

“Enough,” Callum said again, this time louder, sharper.

But the third elder ignored him. “You’re being blinded by lust, Alpha. You’ve always been too sentimental. That woman—” he jabbed a finger in my direction, “—and her bastard children will ruin you if you let her stay.”

The last of my patience snapped. I opened my mouth, my voice trembling with barely contained anger. “Don’t speak about my children in such a way.”

“Hailee,” Callum interrupted softly, his eyes on me. He wasn’t silencing me out of disrespect—he was protecting me.

Then he turned back to his council, his entire aura changing. The air in the room grew heavy, his power rolling through it like a storm.

“I said,” he growled, his voice deep and thunderous, “enough.”

The table shook slightly under the weight of his command. The elders froze, their words caught in their throats. Even the boys went quiet, wide-eyed.

Callum stepped forward, his abject gaze fixed on them. “You dare walk into my dining hall, insult my guest, and question my authority?”

The woman elder stuttered, “W-we meant no disrespect, Alpha—”

“You did,” he snapped, cutting her off. “And you will remember your place before you ever question me again.”

Silence fell. The elders exchanged nervous glances.

“Out,” Callum ordered, his voice cold and final. “Before I forget that you are old and start treating you like any other wolf who dares disrespect me.”

They hesitated, but one look from him sent them moving. One by one, they bowed stiffly and left the room, their faces pale with humiliation.

When the doors finally closed, the tension in the air eased—but only slightly. My heart still pounded, and I stared at Callum in disbelief.

He turned to me slowly, his voice low and full of regret. “I’m sorry you had to hear that,” he said. “They forget who’s in charge sometimes.”

I said nothing, only nodding faintly. But deep inside, I knew Callum’s people already hated me.

The rest of lunch was… silent. Painfully silent.

The clatter of silverware and the soft sounds of chewing were the only things filling the room, but even those seemed too loud. The boys kept their eyes low, eating quietly, unsure of what to say. I could feel their unease—they were still shaken by the hateful glares and harsh words from the elders.

I tried to smile for them, to act like everything was fine, but my stomach was tight, and the food tasted like ash in my mouth. Across the table, Callum kept his head down, his jaw still tense. He glanced at me once, maybe to reassure me, but neither of us said a word.

The weight of what had just happened hung over us like a dark cloud.

When the meal was finally over, the boys excused themselves. They were exhausted from their morning training and needed a nap. I walked them to their room, kissed their foreheads, and watched as they crawled into their beds. Within minutes, they were fast asleep, their little faces peaceful.

For a moment, I just stood there, looking at them—so innocent, so undeserving of the world’s cruelty. Then I quietly stepped out, closing the door behind me.

I walked back down the quiet hallway, my footsteps echoing faintly against the marble floor. My mind was still spinning from everything—the council’s accusations, the hatred in their eyes, Callum’s anger, and his defense of me.

When I reached my room, I stopped.

Something felt… off.

The door was slightly open, though I was sure I had closed it before. My heart skipped a beat, but I pushed it open slowly. Everything inside looked the same—until my eyes landed on the bed.

There was a letter sitting neatly on my pillow.

A plain white envelope.

But it was sealed—with blood. I knew it was blood because the smell drifted into my nose.

I froze where I stood, my frown deepening.

Someone had left this here—someone had been inside my room.

I hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached for it. My fingers trembled as I picked it up, the paper cold and slightly damp to the touch.

With a shaky breath, I tore it open.

The metallic scent of blood grew stronger.

My eyes darted over the first few lines, and my breath caught in my throat. The words written in dark red ink—or maybe blood—made my eyes widen and my skin crawl.