Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One - Chapter 262
Chapter 262: Touch Me
Hailee’s POV
I didn’t understand it at first.
Why the pain stopped.
Why my body suddenly relaxed.
Why the sharp tightness in my stomach faded like it had never been there.
But the moment Nathan wrapped his arms around me, everything… everything inside me calmed.
My breathing slowed.
My muscles loosened.
Even the little life inside me felt still and warm, almost peaceful.
I felt safe.
Too safe.
And it scared me, because I knew this wasn’t normal.
I didn’t even know when I fell asleep.
One minute I was shaking and holding my stomach, and the next… I was wrapped in his scent, lying against his chest like that was exactly where I belonged.
For the first time since everything happened, I slept.
Deeply.
Quietly.
Without fear.
But it didn’t last.
A sudden jolt of pain stabbed my stomach, sharp and hot, forcing me awake. I gasped and sat up fast, grabbing the blanket as my body twitched in panic.
“Nathan—!” I cried before I could stop myself.
He had been standing up, trying to leave the bed quietly… but the moment I cried out, he rushed back to me like lightning.
“What is it? Are you hurting?” he asked, his voice shaking, his hands already cupping my arms.
The pain didn’t stop.
If anything, it grew worse.
It felt like my body was rejecting something… or missing something.
“I don’t know,” I whispered, crying. “It hurts. Nathan… it hurts again…”
He didn’t think. He didn’t ask questions.
He just pulled me into his chest and held me tight.
And the pain vanished.
Like magic.
Gone.
I let out a shaking breath, burying my face in his shoulder.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered. “Why does it stop when you hold me?”
Nathan swallowed hard, his chin brushing the top of my head.
“I don’t know either,” he said softly. “But… Hailee… when I touch you… my wolf becomes calm. Too calm. It’s strange.”
I lifted my head slowly and turned in his arms so our eyes could meet.
And for a moment, I forgot everything.
The baby.
The mark.
Callum.
The pain.
The fear.
The world.
It was just him.
His warm eyes.
His steady breath.
His arms around me.
The way he was looking at me, like I was the only thing he wanted to protect.
“Nathan…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “There is something coming from you. This energy… this warmth… I don’t have my wolf yet but… I feel it. I really feel it.”
His lips parted a little.
His chest rose and fell faster.
“My wolf feels it too,” he whispered. “He feels… at ease with you. Like he finally stopped fighting.”
My heart beat so loud I could hear it.
I didn’t even think.
I leaned forward…
slowly…
softly…
And pressed my lips to his.
It wasn’t rushed.
It was gentle.
Passionate.
But the moment our lips touched, something in my chest lit up warm and full—like a spark that had been waiting to burn.
Nathan kissed me back for one heartbeat—
just one—
and I felt everything I had ever wanted in that single second.
But then he pulled away fast, breathing hard.
“No,” he whispered, shaking his head. “Hailee… stop.”
My eyes burned.
My chest tightened.
“Why?” I whispered. “Nathan, please… I want you. I want this…”
He squeezed his eyes shut like my words were hurting him.
“You don’t understand,” he said with a broken voice. “If I kiss you again, I won’t be able to stop. And you… you are carrying another man’s child. I can’t take advantage of you like that. I can’t cross that line.”
I shook my head hard as I began to tear up. These days, I realized I easily get emotional no matter how hard I tried not to.
“You’re not taking advantage of me. I’m asking you. I want this.”
Fuck, I couldn’t believe how horny I was.
His breath stopped.
He looked at me like the world had tilted… like he could devour me whole.
But still, he whispered,
“Hailee… I want you too. More than anything. But wanting you and having you… are not the same. I can’t touch you now. You are not in the right state for sex.”
I reached for him, my fingers trembling as they touched his jaw.
His eyes closed at the contact, like every muscle in him fought against himself.
“Nathan… please…”
He opened his eyes again, and I saw the pain in them clearly.
“Hailee,” he whispered softly, “I love you. But right now… I can’t touch you.”
The words hit me like a blow.
Heat rushed to my cheeks, not from desire anymore, but from embarrassment.
Real, stinging embarrassment.
I had kissed him first.
I had begged.
I had practically thrown myself at him.
And he said no.
It wasn’t his fault.
I knew he was right.
I knew my situation wasn’t normal.
I knew I wasn’t supposed to even think about sex.
But gods… the shame still burned.
My chest tightened, and I slowly pulled my hand away from his jaw.
I turned my back to him, lying on my side, facing the wall.
I didn’t want him to see my face.
Not when it felt hot.
Not when tears pricked the corners of my eyes.
Not when I suddenly felt stupid… desperate… childish.
I sniffed quietly and tucked my knees in, curling into myself.
He shifted behind me, and I knew he could feel the change in my mood.
“Hailee…” he whispered softly.
I squeezed my eyes shut and didn’t answer.
“Hailee, look at me.”
I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
Not when all I wanted to do was hide my face in the pillow and scream at myself for acting like a fool.
Silence settled between us, heavy, warm, and uncomfortable.
I thought maybe he would leave.
Maybe he would let go and go back to his room.
Maybe he would understand that I needed space.
But he didn’t move away.
He stayed right there.
So close I could feel his breath against the back of my neck.
I tried not to think about it.
I tried not to breathe too loudly.
I tried pretending I was already asleep.
Then—
His voice came again.
Low.
Deep.
Soft.
But with something else mixed inside.
“Hailee…” he whispered, closer now.
“So maybe I can’t fuck you…”
My breath hitched.
My whole body went still.
“…but at least,” he breathed against my ear,
“I can make you feel good.”