CHAPTER 144: NOT ONE BUT THREE

Hailee POV

Later that night

I sat on my bed, pulling my knees to my chest. Frederick’s words would not leave my head. I kept seeing his face. He didn’t judge me. He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t look at me with anger. Instead, he offered me something I didn’t expect—protection. A cover. A name to hide behind.

But why?

Why would a vampire I barely knew say such a thing? What would it cost me if I agreed? What would it cost him?

My stomach turned as I put my hands over it. The little life inside me was still silent, but it was already changing everything. If I accepted Frederick’s offer, it would be a lie. A lie bigger than the one I told Nathan, Callum, and Dane.

A lie I could never take back.

My heart beat fast, too fast. I pressed my face against my knees and whispered into the room, "Can I really trust him?"

THREE MONTHS LATER!

My body changed in ways I couldn’t hide anymore. My belly was no longer flat, and every step reminded me of the secret I carried inside me.

Frederick never asked again if I accepted his offer. He didn’t need to. Without saying a word, he had already stepped into the role.

He brought me food when I couldn’t stand the smell of the kitchen. He placed soft pillows behind my back when I sat too long. He kept the curious eyes of the house away, his quiet presence like a wall that no one dared cross.

And still, I hadn’t said yes. I hadn’t said no. I simply watched him—watched how he cared, how he shielded me, as though the decision had already been made without my voice.

He came into my room carrying a tray. Warm bread, fruit, and tea. "You didn’t eat much at dinner," he said calmly, setting the tray on the table by my bed.

I tried to smile, though my stomach churned again. "I can’t seem to keep anything down."

He gave a slow nod, his eyes softening. "Then you’ll try again. You need your strength."

I placed a hand over my stomach, biting my lip. Something strange had been happening lately—something I didn’t understand. My chest rose and fell quickly as I whispered, "Frederick... I think something is wrong."

At once, he turned, his sharp eyes fixed on me. "Wrong? Tell me."

I swallowed hard, tears stinging my eyes. "I don’t think it’s just one."

His brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

I gripped my gown tight, pressing both hands against my swollen stomach. "I feel them. Not one... but three. Three little hearts. Three little kicks. I feel them moving inside me, all at once."

For the first time since I’d met him, Frederick’s calm face cracked with something close to shock. He stepped forward quickly, his cool hand steadying mine over my stomach. His eyes searched me, searching for truth in my words.

"Three..." he repeated, his voice low.

I nodded, trembling. "Three pups."

Silence stretched, heavy and sharp, before Frederick pulled back. His jaw tightened, his voice turning serious. "I have to make a call. You need a doctor, Hailee. Someone who can confirm this."

I gripped his sleeve, panic rushing through me. "What if it’s three... what do I do..."

Frederick’s gaze stayed firm on mine. His voice was low but sure. "Nothing... you will do absolutely nothing, Hailee. Triplets are gifts. You should know that."

My lips parted, trembling. Gifts? That was not how my father would see it. That was not how the world would see it. But the steadiness in his eyes made something in my chest loosen, just a little.

"I’ll be back," he said, his tone clipped now. He gave me one last look before striding out of the room.

Not long after, the door opened again—Mother. Her face was pale, her eyes darting between me and the bed. She came closer, her skirts brushing softly against the floor.

"Frederick told me something," she said carefully.

My heart lurched. "I feel it, Mother," I whispered.

Mother’s brows knit tightly. She looked at my stomach, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I’ve been suspecting, Hailee. Your belly is bigger than it should be for three months. But hearing it now... it makes sense." She placed her hand lightly over my stomach, her touch shaking. "Three... I should have known."

Tears pricked my eyes as I lowered my gaze. "What do we do?"

Mother’s lips trembled, but she forced her voice to be steady. "We wait for Frederick."

Moments later, the door opened again, and he returned. His face was unreadable, but his voice left no space for questions. "We’re going to the hospital. Now."

The air shifted, thick and heavy, as he guided me to my feet. Mother wrapped a cloak around my shoulders, and before I knew it, we were in his car. The night air was cool, the world outside moving in shadows as the tires hummed against the road. Frederick drove in silence, his jaw tight, his hands steady on the wheel.

The hospital was not like the grand halls of our home. Its walls were pale cream, smelling faintly of herbs and clean linen. The lights buzzed softly overhead, and the air carried that sharp scent of medicine and metal.

Nurses in pale uniforms moved quickly through the halls, their shoes clicking softly against the polished floor. Some carried clipboards, others whispered to one another, their eyes curious but never lingering too long.

Frederick kept close, one hand guiding me gently by the arm as though shielding me from every stare. "This way," he murmured, leading us down a quieter corridor.

We entered a small room lit by a single lamp. The bed was neat, the sheets crisp and white. The hum of a machine filled the air, steady and low.

A doctor in a long white coat stepped inside, his hands gloved, his eyes sharp but kind. He gave Frederick a short nod before looking at me. "You must be Hailee," he said softly. "I’ve been told enough to know this is urgent. Please, lie down."

I obeyed, my heart pounding as Mother hovered near the foot of the bed, her hands wringing the fabric of her gown.

The doctor adjusted the machine beside him, the wires clicking softly into place. The room seemed to hold its breath as he placed the cool round device gently on my belly.

A sound filled the air—fast, steady, pulsing. Not one. Not two. But three.

Three tiny heartbeats.

Mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Frederick sucked a deep breath, but his eyes... they softened, almost in awe.

The doctor looked up, his voice calm. "It is confirmed. You are carrying triplets. Three boys."

The room spun around me, my breath catching in my throat.

My lips parted, but no sound came. My hands shook where they rested over my stomach. Three lives. Three sons.

Mother swayed where she stood, gripping the edge of the bed for support. "Three..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "Moon above..."

The doctor adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat, his tone calm but heavy with meaning. "They are strong. Their heartbeats are steady. But Hailee, you must understand what this means."

I blinked through my tears. "What... what do you mean?"

He folded his arms, his presence commanding though he never raised his voice. "You are not human, and neither are they. They are werewolves. Triplets like these will not follow the same time as ordinary children. They will not wait nine months."

My chest tightened. "Then...?"

"Three months more," he said firmly. "That is all. Your body will not hold them longer than that. By the turn of the season, these pups will be born."

Frederick’s jaw tightened as he stood beside me, his cool hand brushing mine for steadiness. His voice was low, serious. "Three months..." he repeated.

The doctor nodded. "They will come early, but strong. Already they grow faster than you realize. That is why your belly is larger than it should be."

I gasped softly, pressing both palms against my stomach, as though I could already feel them pushing forward. "So soon..." My voice cracked. "I thought I had more time."

The drive back was silent. My hands stayed pressed against my stomach the entire way, as if holding the truth in place. Mother sat in the backseat, her face pale and unreadable, her eyes lost somewhere far away. Frederick drove with the same steady calm as always, but I could feel it—the tension rolling off him in waves.

When we reached the house, he helped me out of the car, his cool hand steadying me until I was safe inside. Mother excused herself, muttering something about needing rest, and disappeared down the hall, leaving the two of us alone.

I sank onto my bed, my body heavy, my thoughts heavier. Three months. Just three months until everything changed. My heart raced with fear, but exhaustion weighed down my eyelids.

Frederick placed the cloak aside, then stood over me, silent for a moment. His eyes, usually unreadable, were softer now, watching me with a weight I didn’t understand.

Finally, he spoke. His voice was low, almost careful. "Hailee... I need you to know something."

I lifted my eyes to his, my chest tightening. "What is it?"

He hesitated, as though choosing his words, then exhaled slowly. "I like you." His voice was firm now, unshaken. "I really do."

My breath caught, my lips parting, but no words came. The world seemed to tilt around me, the weight of his confession pressing against the storm already inside my chest.

And before I could answer—before I could even breathe—he turned and walked toward the door, leaving me frozen on the bed, my heart pounding like a drum.