Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One - Chapter 227

Chapter 227: The Hearing
Hailee’s POV

The hall was silent. No one dared to move, not even to breathe. The elders exchanged long, thoughtful glances. Then they whispered softly as they leaned toward one another. I couldn’t catch every word, only fragments that made my stomach twist. Some were against me, some were against the Alphas.

Finally, the High Elder raised a hand, and the room stilled. His expression was calm, unreadable. “The Council has heard enough to deliberate,” he said. “But this case is unlike any other. There is no precedent for one woman bearing the heirs of three Alphas.”

A quiet murmur rippled through the audience.

He continued, his tone firm. “By law, Lady Hailee holds the maternal right. The children were born under her care, and the fathers were unaware. However,” his gaze swept toward Nathan, Callum, and Dane, “we cannot ignore the strength of the bloodlines they represent. These boys are not ordinary children; they are future leaders. Their growth must serve both the mother who nurtured them and the fathers whose blood runs through them.”

My heart pounded. “What are you saying?” I whispered.

The Elder looked at me kindly but without softness. “That this Council cannot, in fairness, give full custody to any single party.”

Peter’s jaw tightened beside me. “Meaning?” he asked quietly.

“Meaning,” the Elder said, “the Council decrees a shared guardianship. Lady Hailee will remain the boys’ primary guardian. They will continue to live under her roof, but the Alphas”—his gaze moved to each of them—”will have equal right to visit, to train, and to guide their sons in their packs during specified periods each moon.”

The words struck like thunder in my chest. Shared guardianship. Not victory. Not loss. Something in between—the fragile middle ground that pleased no one but punished no one either.

The Elder continued, “After one full moon cycle, the Council will reconvene. We will observe the boys’ well-being and decide whether this arrangement shall stand permanently or change.”

He paused, then added, “During this period, no Alpha may take the children from their mother’s home without her consent. Any violation will be seen as a breach of the Accord and punished accordingly.”

Silence again. Heavy, suffocating. I didn’t know whether to cry or thank him. It wasn’t the outcome I’d hoped for, but at least they weren’t taking my sons away.

Peter exhaled beside me, his voice low but calm. “That is fair,” he said.

The Elder nodded. “Then it is done.”

Nathan rose first, his eyes finding mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The pain there was real, but he also had that look of understanding. He gave a faint nod, the kind that said this isn’t over, but I won’t fight you today.

Callum stood next, his expression thoughtful. “We will honor the Council’s word,” he said quietly.

And Dane… Dane’s gaze lingered longest. He didn’t say a word, but the warmth in his eyes said everything.

The Elder banged his staff once against the marble floor. “This hearing is adjourned. The Council will meet again in one moon’s time.”

Peter placed a gentle hand on my back, guiding me to stand. “It’s done, Hailee,” he murmured.

I nodded, though my chest felt tight. I looked at my sons, who didn’t seem happy or even relieved to go with me. They just had that blank look on their faces. When we walked out of the Council hall, the air outside felt warm, but I was cold inside.

The words shared guardianship kept echoing in my head. It didn’t feel like winning or losing—just something in between.

Peter walked beside me quietly. The boys followed behind us. They didn’t talk or smile. Even Ozzy, who always talked, was quiet. I wanted to hold them, but they didn’t seem ready. Maybe I wasn’t ready either.

As we reached the cars waiting outside, I heard a voice behind me.

“Hailee.”

I turned. Nathan, Callum, and Dane were walking toward us. Seeing the three of them together made my chest tighten.

Nathan was the first to speak. His voice was calm, not angry. “Where are you going with the boys?”

“Back home,” I said softly.

Callum nodded. “That’s good,” he said. “They need peace. But remember, this means we’re part of their lives too now.”

I just nodded. I didn’t have the strength to argue.

Then Nathan said, “I’ll take Oscar next weekend. I want him to see my pack, meet my people. He needs to know who he is.”

Peter frowned. “That’s not how this works, Alpha. You can’t just—”

“It’s fine,” I said, cutting him off.

Peter looked at me, surprised. “Hailee—”

“I said it’s fine,” I repeated. My voice was tired. “If Nathan wants to spend time with his son, let him. That’s what shared guardianship means.”

Nathan gave a small smile. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

Dane spoke next. “Then I’ll take Ozzy the week after,” he said. “I’ll make sure he’s safe. I already have a room ready for him.”

Ozzy looked up at him. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes stayed on Dane longer than anyone else.

Callum sighed. “That leaves Oliver,” he said. “I’ll take him the third weekend.”

No one said anything for a while. The air felt heavy and strange.

Peter crossed his arms. “The Council said one moon before any change,” he said. “You should respect that.”

Nathan’s jaw tightened. “We are,” he said calmly. “We’re just planning ahead.”

Peter gave a cold laugh. “Planning ahead, or waiting to take them?”

Callum’s eyes narrowed. “We’re just trying to be fathers, Peter.”

The word fathers made my heart ache.

“Please,” I whispered. “Not here. Not in front of the boys.”

Nathan nodded. “You’re right,” he said softly. Then he looked at me, his eyes gentle. “You did well today, Hailee.”

I couldn’t speak. I only looked away.

He gave a small nod before turning to leave. Callum and Dane followed, each giving me a soft look. Despite everything these men weren’t really angry with me like they ought to be.

Peter put a hand on my arm. “You shouldn’t have agreed so fast,” he said. “You’re giving them too much.”

I stared at them. “No,” I whispered. “I’m giving them what they already had—a place in our sons’ hearts.”

He didn’t reply. He just opened the car door and said quietly, “Let’s go home.”

Before we could leave, the boys suddenly stopped walking.

Oscar turned when Nathan called his name. The others looked back too.

Nathan crouched a little so he was eye level with them. “I’ll see you soon, okay?” he said gently.

Oscar hesitated at first, then slowly walked into his father’s arms. Nathan hugged him tightly, his hand resting on the back of his head. “I’m proud of you,” he whispered.

Callum stepped forward next and looked at Oliver. “Hey, champ,” he said softly. “Take care of yourself. I’ll come visit soon.”

Oliver’s lips trembled. He didn’t say anything, but when Callum opened his arms, he went into them and held on for a moment longer than I expected.

Then Dane bent down in front of Ozzy. “You did great today,” he said with a kind smile. “I’ll see you soon, little man.”

Ozzy threw his small arms around him right away. “Promise?” he asked in a tiny voice.

“I promise,” Dane said, his voice deep and calm.

The three Alphas each gave one last look—a mix of sadness and hope—before stepping back. “We’ll see you soon,” Nathan said quietly, his gaze meeting mine one last time before they turned and walked away.

I swallowed hard, blinking back tears as the boys stood there watching their fathers leave. For a moment, I didn’t know whether to be happy or heartbroken. Maybe both.

Peter cleared his throat softly. “Let’s go,” he said.

The boys climbed in first. I sat beside them, my chest heavy.

Peter started the car and looked at me through the mirror. “Ready to go home?” he asked.

Home.

The word didn’t feel the same anymore. I didn’t even know what home meant now.

“I… I don’t know,” I said honestly. My voice came out small.

The drive to the jet was quiet. Nobody spoke. The boys stared out the window—each lost in their own thoughts. When we reached the jet, the flight crew greeted us, but I barely heard them.

Inside, I tried again to talk to the boys. “You did so well today,” I said gently. “I’m proud of you.”

They didn’t answer. Not even Ozzy. Oscar kept his eyes on the window. Oliver sat with his arms crossed. Ozzy just leaned against his seat and played with his fingers.

Peter glanced at them, his tone kind but firm. “Hey, boys,” he said. “Your mother’s been through a lot today. Don’t you think she deserves at least a smile?”

None of them looked up.

The silence in the cabin felt like a wall between us — one I didn’t know how to break anymore. I turned to look out the window, my reflection faint against the dark glass.

Maybe one day, they would find it in their hearts to forgive me — but not today.