Hailee’s POV
With a heavy heart, I knocked on the door. It opened slowly, revealing Callum limping.
My eyes widened in shock. "What happened?" I asked imdiately as I stepped inside, my gaze darting all over his body. His head was bandaged, and his arm was wrapped as well. Bruises marked his skin, and there was a faint stiffness in the way he moved.
I had been lying in Nathan’s bed, waiting for him to return, when I decided to check my phone. That’s when I saw a text from Callum saying he had gotten into an accident last night.
The mont I read those words, my heart dropped. I got dressed in a hurry and ca running straight to his apartnt.
"You’re hurt," I said softly, moving closer to inspect his injuries. "Callum... what happened?"
He gave a small, tired smile and stepped aside so I could co in fully. "It’s not as bad as it looks," he muttered. But the way he was holding himself—guarded, careful—told it was worse.
I reached up and lightly touched the edge of the bandage on his forehead. "You should be resting, not walking around like this." My voice shook slightly.
He sighed and closed the door behind . "I didn’t want to tell you, but... a car hit while I was making my way to your place. Drunk driver. They ran."
My stomach twisted painfully. "Callum..." I whispered, my voice breaking. "You could have been killed."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head like it was nothing. "Nah... I can’t die so easily."
But the sight of him standing there, bruised and battered, made my chest ache. I hated that he was treating it like it was no big deal when I had practically run here in panic.
"Co on," I said quietly, guiding him toward the couch. "Sit before you make it worse."
He didn’t argue, just lowered himself down with a slow, careful movent. I could see the wince he tried to hide, the slight tightening of his jaw.
I knelt in front of him, my hands hovering uncertainly before I finally rested them lightly on his knee. "Callum... you scared . Don’t act like this is nothing."
He gave a small, lopsided smile, his eyes softening. "Hailee, don’t worry so much. My wolf’s already working on healing . The bruises will fade in a few days, and the pain will be gone even sooner."
"That doesn’t make it okay," I murmured, my voice trembling.
His gaze held mine, steady and reassuring. "I’ve been through worse. This... this is nothing I can’t handle."
I rolled my eyes at him, but deep down I knew he was telling the truth. As Alpha heir, he’d been through more brutal training and challenges than most could imagine. Still... it didn’t make seeing him like this any easier.
I took a slow breath, pushing past the tightness in my chest. "Have you eaten yet?"
He shook his head casually. "No. Wasn’t really hungry."
I frowned at him. "What do you want? I’ll make it for you."
Callum raised an eyebrow. "You’ll be late for school."
"I’m not going," I replied instantly.
His lips curved slightly. "You’re not?"
I shook my head with a small smile. "You think I’m going to leave you like this? No way." I pulled out my phone and quickly texted Lila, letting her know I wouldn’t be coming today. She sent back a string of concerned emojis and ’Take care of him’ in all caps.
Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I headed toward his small kitchen. "Alright, sit there and don’t move. I’ll make breakfast."
As I cracked eggs into a pan and sliced bread for toasting, I felt his gaze on . I glanced over my shoulder. "What?"
Callum was leaning back on the couch, watching like I was the most important thing in the room. His voice was low but sincere. "I’d give up anything to see you like this with every morning."
My hand froze mid-motion.
He continued, his eyes holding mine from across the room. "To start a family with you. To have a simple life with you... not this complicated Alpha crap. Just us."
The words settled in my chest like a slow, spreading warmth, leaving speechless for a mont. I turned back to the stove, hiding my flustered smile. "You shouldn’t say things like that when I’m trying to focus on not burning your breakfast."
A soft chuckle drifted from the couch. "I’m serious, Hailee. I an it."
I swallowed hard and looked away, pretending to focus on the frying pan. The truth was, I didn’t know what to say to him. My life was far from anything simple. It had always been tangled with secrets, pain, and responsibilities I never asked for. No matter how much I sotis wished for a normal life... I could never have one.
Callum was saying all this because he didn’t know. He didn’t know the real . He didn’t know the responsibilities that followed everywhere I went. If he did, maybe he wouldn’t look at with that soft, hopeful expression.
"Hailee," he said quietly from behind , his voice drawing back to the present.
I forced a small smile over my shoulder. "You’ll get your breakfast soon. Just... be patient."
But he didn’t smile back. Instead, he leaned forward on the couch, his eyes fixed on like he was trying to read every thought I was hiding. "You think I’m just talking, but I’m not. I know the Alpha life is hard... politics, expectations, wars... but for ? If I had you, nothing else would matter."
My hands trembled slightly as I flipped the eggs. Stop saying things like that, Callum... you have no idea how much they hurt to hear.
I set the plate down on the counter and grabbed a slice of toast, trying to steady my breathing. "Eat first," I muttered. "Big speeches later."
He chuckled again but didn’t press on . Instead, he let bring him the food and set it on the low table in front of him. I went back to the kitchen for tea, using the extra ti to gather myself.
When I returned and sat down beside him, he gave a grateful look before taking a bite. "See? This is exactly what I’m talking about."
I raised an eyebrow. "What? Breakfast?"
He smirked faintly. "No. You, taking care of like this. Waking up next to you every day, sharing small monts. That’s all I want. That’s all I need."
I stared at him for a long mont before looking away. "Callum... life isn’t that simple. Not for us."
His smirk faded, replaced by quiet determination. "Are you worried that my people won’t accept you because you are an oga?" he asked.
I scoffed inwardly. If his people knew who I was, they would do anything to have Callum get married to .
Callum furrowed his brow. "Or are you worried because we’re not mates?" he asked again, his gaze fixed on like he could read my soul.
That question... it was the perfect excuse. And I needed one right now—one that kept him from digging deeper into the truth.
"Yes," I said quietly, setting my tea down. "That’s part of it, Callum. You deserve your fated mate. Soone who was destined for you, chosen for you by the Moon Goddess herself. Not..." I gestured vaguely toward myself. "...."
For a mont, he just stared at , his expression unreadable. Then his jaw tightened, and sothing dark and fierce flashed in his eyes.
"I don’t care," he said simply.
I blinked at him. "What?"
"I don’t care who my mate is," he repeated, his voice deep and intense. "I don’t care if she’s the most perfect wolf in the eyes of the Moon Goddess. I’m telling you right now, Hailee—I’m choosing you."
The air in my lungs stilled.
He leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees, his gaze burning into mine. "I don’t care if she walks into my life tomorrow. I will look her in the eye and tell her she’s too late. I’ve already made my choice."
"Callum..." My voice ca out in a whisper, my heart pounding.
"I don’t care if people think I’m insane," he continued, every word a hamr driving into my chest. "I don’t care if the Elders disapprove. I don’t care if it ans turning my back on tradition. You’re the one I want. Mate bond or not—you’re it for , Hailee."
I swallowed hard, unable to speak for a mont. My mind scread at to push him away, to remind him that fate was fate, and we couldn’t change it. But my heart... my heart ached in a way that made want to believe him.
He sat back slowly, his eyes still locked on . "So if that’s the only reason you think you can’t be with ... erase it. Because I’m telling you now—it doesn’t matter. I’m not letting you go."
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