Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One Chapter 13: He Hates Me

Hailee’s POV

"Sorry, I already have a ride," I said coldly and tried to walk past him, but he stepped in front of again, blocking my path. His face was drawn into a hard frown.

"A ride? From who?" he asked, though the sharpness in his voice made it obvious—he already knew.

I arched a brow and folded my arms. "Callum," I muttered.

Nathan’s frown deepened, and his jaw clenched. "I’m taking you myself."

I scoffed. "No, you’re not. I don’t want to be anywhere near you, Nathan. I want things to go back to how they were before. You hate , rember? You hate being close to . So do us both a favor and keep it that way—leave the hell alone."

I tried to push past him again, but he blocked once more.

My irritation flared. "Nathan, for goodness’ sake, what do you want from now? Is this another bet? Tell —what’s the bet this ti? Getting into my pants?"

His eyes widened, taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

I laughed bitterly and spat, "Don’t play dumb. I know about the bet you made with your friends—that you’d kiss twice. And congratulations, by the way. You won. But I’m not a fool, Nathan. I won’t fall for another one of your pathetic gas."

His brows furrowed in confusion. "Hailee, what? That’s not true. Who told you that?"

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. Because he knew I was saying the truth.

Nathan’s brows were still furrowed, his face tight with confusion. "Hailee, I didn’t make any bet with my friends. I swear. I don’t know who told you that, but it’s not—"

A sudden movent to our right cut his words short.

I turned quickly—and froze.

Alpha Dominic. Nathan’s father. Our Alpha.

He stood a few feet away, watching us with unreadable eyes. Instinct took over. I lowered my gaze and bowed my head respectfully.

"Alpha," I murmured.

Nathan straightened, clearly caught off guard too.

I didn’t wait for him to speak.

This was my chance.

Without another word, I stepped around them both and walked briskly toward the exit. My heart was pounding, but I didn’t look back.

The fresh air outside hit like a relief. I exhaled slowly—only then realizing I’d been holding my breath.

And there he was.

Callum leaned against his car, arms folded, watching with a blank look. He straightened as I approached.

"You okay?" he asked gently.

I nodded, though my hands were still trembling. "Yeah. Let’s go."

Without a single question, Callum opened the door for . For a mont, I froze. Callum opening the door was sothing I hadn’t expected.

"Get in, will you?" he said with a soft chuckle, as if he’d caught the surprise in my eyes.

I climbed in, and he shut the door before circling the car and slipping into the driver’s seat. The inside of the car slled new—leather and sothing warm and woody. My eyes scanned every inch. The seats were smooth and sleek, the dashboard clean and modern. Everything scread luxury.

This wasn’t the sa car he’d used to take shopping earlier today.

I glanced at him, curious. "Is this your car?"

He kept his eyes on the road as he started the engine. "Yeah. My dad just sent it over this morning."

I blinked. "Just like that?"

He shrugged, not offering much. "It’s a gift."

I frowned and looked around again. "What’s the make?"

"Maybach," he replied, voice casual.

My eyes widened slightly, though I tried to hide it. A Maybach? Are you kidding ?

I didn’t say anything right away, just leaned back into the seat, trying not to let my jaw drop. I might be an oga, but I wasn’t clueless—that car was fucking expensive.

"So..." I muttered, keeping my voice neutral, "must be nice. Having a dad who sends cars around like gifts."

His fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel, but he didn’t respond.

Typical Callum.

Not cold exactly. Just... guarded. Distant.

We’d only just t yesterday, but I already knew he wasn’t the type who opened up easily.

The car humd quietly as Callum pulled onto the main road, the engine smooth and barely audible. We’d gone a few blocks before he finally spoke, his voice low and unreadable.

"What’s your deal with Nathan?"

I turned my head slowly to look at him. "What do you an?"

He kept his eyes on the road. "Were you two... dating or sothing?"

A short, bitter laugh slipped from my lips. "Dating? and Nathan? Never."

Callum glanced at briefly, one brow lifted.

"He hates ," I said with a shrug, staring out the window. "Always has. He hates the fact that I’m an oga. I guess just existing pisses him off."

I paused, the words hurting a little more than I expected. "It’s always been that way. He’d glare when I walked into a room, roll his eyes when I talked, mock with his friends like I wasn’t even human. My entire existence annoys him."

Callum didn’t answer imdiately.

When he finally did, his tone was dry but certain. "That’s strange."

I looked at him again. "Strange how?"

He shook his head slightly, eyes fixed on the road. "Because the Nathan who ca to my house today? The one banging on my door demanding to see you? He didn’t act like soone who hates you."

My heart thudded.

Callum frowned, clearly not happy with what he was about to say. "He acted like a jealous lover."

I blinked at him, caught off guard.

"I don’t know what history you have," he added, "but hate isn’t what I saw on his face."

I turned my gaze back out the window quickly, trying to ignore the sudden tightness in my chest.

Jealous lover?

No.

That couldn’t be it.

Right?

I sank a little deeper into the seat, folding my arms across my chest as I stared out the window—but my mind wasn’t quiet.

If Nathan didn’t hate , then what the hell was all that?

The constant sneers. The eye-rolls. The humiliating comnts.

I rembered the tis he’d make stay back after school—pretending he needed help copying notes. Like I was his damn assistant.

But I wasn’t stupid.

Nathan was brilliant. He knew every answer before the teacher even finished the question.

Yet he’d hand his assignnts to take ho and "help" him with. And just when I thought I was doing it right, he’d correct every little detail, shaking his head like I was so hopeless case.

And then there was that drawing project last sester—when the teacher randomly picked pairs. My na got matched with his. My heart had nearly stopped, half from panic, half from sothing else I couldn’t explain.

But Nathan?

He stood up in front of the whole class and said, "Can I get a new partner? She’s a dullard—I’ll end up doing it all myself anyway."

The class had laughed.

That day, I wished the ground could open up and swallow .

So no... Callum had it wrong.

Whatever Nathan felt, it wasn’t love or jealousy. It couldn’t be.

People don’t humiliate the ones they care about.

Do they?

We drove in silence for a bit, the only sound the hum of the engine and the faint beat of the radio.

Then, out of nowhere, Callum’s voice broke through the silence.

"Do you like him?"

The question hit like a slap.

I turned my head slowly. "What?"

"Nathan," he said, eyes still on the road. "Do you like him?"

I didn’t hesitate. "Hell no."

He nodded once. "Good."

I blinked, thrown by how fast he said it. Before I could ask what he ant, he pulled the car to the side of the road and brought it to a full stop.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my heart skipping.

He shifted in his seat to face fully. The sharp lines of his face were unreadable, but sothing about his gaze made my stomach twist.

"I don’t like beating around the bush," he said, voice calm but firm. "I don’t play gas. When I want sothing, I go for it."

I froze.

His eyes held mine with suffocating intensity. "So here it is—I want to court you."

My breath caught.

My lips parted, but no words ca out.

And before I could process it—before I could even think—

The sound of a sharp knock on the car window made us both jerk.

I turned.

And my heart sank.

It was Nathan.