Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Don’t Believe Me

Dane’s POV

"I have to go home... it’s late." She tried to sit up from the mat, but I gently pinned her down, climbing over her without putting any weight on her. Her brows furrowed, clearly confused by my sudden action, but I didn’t move further. I didn’t touch her inappropriately. I just... stared. God, she was beautiful. The way the moonlight kissed her skin, the little crease between her brows, her lips slightly parted—it was enough to knock the air out of my lungs. I could stay like this forever. And that flutter in my chest again... what the hell was that? Am I falling in love with her?

My wolf scoffed in the back of my mind. "Of course you are, idiot. It’s painfully obvious."

I swallowed hard, my heart racing as the words tumbled out before I could stop them. "I think I’m falling in love with you, Hailee."

Her eyes widened, stunned, her mouth opening just slightly in disbelief. She didn’t say anything for a second. I didn’t blame her—hell, I hadn’t expected to say that out loud either. I’d known her for only a few days, but it felt like she’d already carved a permanent space inside me.

Hailee suddenly scoffed, her tone sharp and disbelieving. "You can’t be serious."

"I am," I cut in, my voice firmer now. "I’m definitely serious. I’ve never been this serious in my entire life."

Her face twisted into a mix of frustration and disbelief. "Dane, we made out. That’s it. You don’t love me. You can’t fucking love me. That’s not what this is."

I blinked, her words hitting harder than I expected. But still... I shook my head. "Don’t tell me what I feel. I know what this is. It’s not just lust or a heat-of-the-moment thing. I feel something for you, Hailee. I don’t care how fast or reckless it seems—I know it’s real."

Her chest rose and fell as she exhaled sharply. Then her frown deepened.

"Please get off me," she said. "I need to get dressed. I need to go home."

I hesitated, not ready to move, not ready to let the moment end like this—but the look in her eyes left no room for argument. Reluctantly, I shifted off her and watched as she sat up, grabbing her clothes, her back to me now.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I grabbed my clothes and began dressing too. The ride back to her apartment was quiet. Too quiet. Hailee stared out the window the whole time, her arms folded tightly across her chest, lips pressed into a firm line. The glow from the passing streetlights flashed over her face, and every few seconds, I caught her brows twitching like she was in deep thought.

She didn’t say a single word, and I didn’t press her. But it was killing me. Was she refusing to believe I loved her... because she didn’t feel the same? Or worse—because she loved someone else?

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. That thought—that possibility—hurt at me like a damn parasite. I hated it. I hated that she made me feel this way. And still, I’d rather feel all of it than walk away from her.

When we pulled up in front of her apartment building, she reached for the door handle instantly, like she couldn’t get away fast enough.

"Hailee," I said, stopping her. My voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "Wait."

She paused but didn’t look at me.

"Just tell me," I said. "Are you pushing me away because you don’t believe me... or because your heart already belongs to someone else?"

That made her freeze. Her hand still on the door, her shoulders stiff. I could almost see the war happening inside her head.

"I..." she started, but her voice cracked. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I don’t know what you want me to say, Dane."

"I want the truth," I said. "Even if it’s ugly. Even if it hurts."

She finally turned her head slightly, her profile lit by the streetlamp. "I don’t know what I feel," she admitted softly. "You say you’re falling for me, but you don’t know me. Not really. You know what I showed you. What I let you see. And I can’t give you something real if I’m still figuring myself out."

That hurt, but at least it wasn’t another man.

Still, I had to know. "Is there someone else?"

She looked away for a moment as if deliberating in thought, then she looked at me finally, her gaze unreadable. "Thanks for the ride, Dane."

She opened the door and stepped out, and for a second I thought she’d leave it at that. But before she shut the door, she leaned back in just a little.

"Thanks... I had a great time.. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Then she closed the door gently and walked into the building without looking back.

And me? I just sat there like an idiot watching her until she got inside her apartment.

The drive back to the packhouse felt longer than it actually was. Every turn of the wheel, every bump in the road, just gave my mind more room to spiral. I kept replaying that one last glance she gave before stepping out of the car... God, I wanted to hold onto that forever. At least she didn’t walk away angry. At least she said she’d see me tomorrow.

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