CHAPTER 220: BELONGS TO ME

Hailee’s POV

The Alphas exchanged tense glances, each of them weighing whether to argue or obey, but even they couldn’t fight the authority in his tone. One by one, they turned toward the door.

I nodded to the boys, whispering softly, "Stay here. I’ll be right back, my loves." My voice trembled, but I forced a small smile before following the men out.

The hallway felt colder now. The tension followed us like a shadow—thick and suffocating. No one spoke as we walked down the long corridor until we reached the private waiting area near the garden, quiet, secluded, and far from curious ears.

Peter waited until everyone was inside before closing the glass door gently behind him. Then, he turned around, his expression composed but his eyes sharp.

He didn’t sit. He stood tall, commanding the space without saying a word. I looked at my brother and noticed how much had changed in him. Ten years ago, he carried this commanding aura around him, all thanks to Father’s brutal upbringing, but now there was something different about him. Yes, he was still Peter, but he seemed so different—maybe it was the title of Lycan King.

For a moment, the only sound was the distant hum of hospital machines and the soft rustle of wind outside.

Nathan was the first to speak, his tone composed. "You’ve made quite an entrance, Lycan King."

Peter’s gaze flicked to him—not unkind, but cold enough to remind everyone who he was. "I don’t make entrances," he said evenly. "I arrive when I’m needed."

Callum crossed his arms. "And you decided now was the right time to reveal that Hailee is your sister?"

Peter’s eyes softened slightly, though his jaw remained firm. "I didn’t decide it," he said quietly. "Circumstance did. You all forced her truth into the open when you cornered her, thinking she had no one."

Dane, who had been silent until now, frowned slightly. "So it’s true then? She’s of royal blood—Lycan blood?"

Peter nodded once. "Yes. Hailee Stones—my sister."

The room fell silent again.

Nathan blinked, disbelief flickering briefly in his hardened gaze. He looked at me with so many questions in his eyes, but I just looked away.

"You’re telling us she’s royalty—a Lycan princess—and she’s been living hidden among wolves all this time as a nobody?"

Peter’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Would you have treated her better if you’d known? Or just found a different way to cage her?"

Nathan’s jaw tightened. "Watch your tone, Lycan King."

Peter took a slow step forward, his presence radiating quiet dominance. "No. You watch yours. You stand here as Alphas—men who claim to lead—and yet you’ve forgotten what leadership means. My sister ran because she was terrified of what her truth would cost her children. Terrified of the same power you wear like armor."

None of them spoke. Callum’s gaze fell to the floor. Dane’s fingers flexed at his sides. Nathan’s eyes remained locked on Peter, but the anger there had dulled—replaced by something closer to shame.

Peter continued, his tone softening, though the edge never fully left his voice. "She’s made mistakes, yes. She lied—to protect, not to deceive. You can hate her for that if it makes you feel better. But what you won’t do is punish her or those boys for her fear."

Callum spoke. "What now?" he asked.

Peter nodded, his tone turning diplomatic. "We can decide what happens next with reason, not anger. The boys are heirs now, that much is true. But they are also children. They will not be torn apart like property."

Nathan frowned. "And who decides that? You?"

Peter’s eyes glinted. "No. The Council will. And me—as their bloodline’s guardian. Until they come of age, no Alpha will claim them fully without a lawful pact."

Callum’s jaw tightened. "That means—"

"That means," Peter interrupted calmly, "Hailee stays with them until the matter is resolved. She will not be separated from her sons. Not under my watch."

The room went tense. Peter’s words still hung in the air like thunder, but the three Alphas didn’t bow.

Nathan took a step forward, his eyes blazing. "Never happening," he said coldly. "No one—not even a Lycan King—will tell us what to do with our sons."

Callum’s voice joined, authoritative and sharp. "They are our blood. You can’t just walk in here and make claims over them."

Dane crossed his arms. "You might be king where you come from, but in our world, we are Alphas. We don’t take orders from anyone."

Peter only smiled—calm, cool, but dangerous. The kind of smile that made the air grow heavy.

He folded his arms and tilted his head slightly. "Oh really?" he said slowly. "Then maybe you should check your facts before you roar."

Nathan frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Peter’s eyes darkened just a little. "Simple," he said. "None of you ever paid a bride price."

The room went completely still.

"What?" Callum asked, his tone suddenly unsure.

Peter nodded once. "You heard me. In Lycan law—and even in wolf tradition—a child becomes legitimately yours when the bride price is paid. And since none of you paid..."

He paused, letting the words sink in. "It means the children belong to the Stones. To my bloodline."

The Alphas froze, shock flashing across their faces.

Dane spoke first, his voice tight. "That’s not true."

Peter shrugged lightly. "Check your records. Check the archives. None of you went through the royal process."

Nathan’s jaw tightened. "That’s Lycan law," he growled. "Not ours."

Peter stepped closer, his voice lowering but full of quiet power. "Hailee is Lycan. Royal Lycan. Which means the moment she birthed those boys, they became heirs to the Stone bloodline. Whether you like it or not, my family’s laws apply."

The three men went silent, anger flickering behind their eyes.

Callum clenched his fists. "So what now? You’re saying the boys are yours?"

Peter’s voice was calm but firm. "No. I’m saying they belong to her family until she is married rightfully. And since you three never married her, they are under my protection—not yours."

Nathan let out a short, humorless laugh. "You must be fucking joking."

Peter smirked. "I’m not," he said smoothly. "I don’t make jokes."

The tension in the room rose like fire. No one spoke for a long time. The Alphas looked furious, cornered, and too stubborn to admit defeat.

But deep down, I could see the truth written on their faces. They knew Peter was right.

They had never paid my bride price.

They had never made it official.

And by law—by blood—the boys were mine.

Peter turned to me then, his tone soft but firm. "You don’t have to be afraid anymore, Hailee. No one can take your sons from you now."

I swallowed hard, my eyes filling with tears. For the first time since all this started, I finally felt like I could breathe.

Nathan, who was fuming with anger, spat, "It’s not happening," he said coldly. "You think you can walk in here and take our sons with your royal laws? No. This case goes to the Supernatural Council."

Peter didn’t flinch. He simply leaned back slightly, his hands clasped behind him, that calm, steady authority never leaving his face. "So be it," he said quietly. "Take it to the Council. But until that happens, the boys stay with Hailee. That’s final."

Nathan’s jaw tightened. His eyes flashed, full of restrained fury. "You don’t get to decide that—"

Peter cut him off smoothly, his tone like steel wrapped in velvet. "I just did."

The air thickened again, full of heated abhorrence.

Callum stepped forward now, his expression tight. "And what if the Council agrees with you, Lycan King? What then? Hailee will never want to marry any of us. So what happens when she doesn’t? Do her children just stay under your name forever?"

Peter arched an eyebrow, his lips twitching with a hint of a smirk. "Then they remain Stones—royal blood, born of my sister. And that’s something none of you can change."

Callum scoffed, shaking his head. "So what, you’re saying we lose them?"

Peter shrugged lightly. "Not lose—return them to where they belong. You men are Alphas, not fools. You understand how legacy works. And let’s be honest..." His eyes flicked over the three of them as if assessing them. "You’re not impotent. You can father other children—with other women."

"Don’t be silly," Nathan spat, taking a step forward toward my brother. "Oscar is my first seed—my heir."

Peter stepped forward until he was face-to-face with him. "Well," he said evenly, "he’s also the first grandchild of the Stones. Let that sink in. I’m not giving him up easily. So if I were you three, I’d start begging Hailee now. Maybe she’ll find one of you worthy of marriage. But if she doesn’t..." His smile faded, his tone turning to ice. "Then I’m sorry. Those children are not yours."

Nathan moved closer to attack peter but I quickly stepped between them... my heart racing.

"Please, stop. Both of you."