Alpha Hayley’s Destined Mate

Chapter 633: A Random Excuse

Hayley’s POV:

As Virginia spoke, I could see the years of hardship reflected in her eyes, their depth filled with the weight of unspoken emotions. The sight of unshed tears made my heart ache, as though something heavy were pressing on it. Inside me, Hera was growing agitated, and I struggled to calm her down. Her unease mirrored my own.

I quickly tried to reassure Virginia. “He just passed out for a moment. He’ll wake up soon. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Virginia let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. That’s a relief!” she said, patting her chest, although her furrowed brows showed she was still concerned. Her worry tugged at my heart, and I knew I had to give her some space. I found a random excuse to send the nurse and Virginia out of the room, hoping for a moment of calm. Finally, the room grew quiet.

Half an hour later, I removed the needles from Peter’s body, and he began to stir. His foot twitched, and he seemed to be testing his ankle, the subtle movement showing that it was responding. A brief look of joy crossed his face as he tried to sit up, but then he paused, lying back down, suddenly still.

I felt a wave of panic rush over me, wondering if something had gone wrong. Leaning in, I anxiously asked, “What’s wrong? Is it not working yet?”

Peter chuckled awkwardly. “Hayley, I’m not wearing anything from the waist down. It’s kind of awkward to—stand up with you here.”

I blinked, caught off guard. Then I quickly turned away. “I’ll step outside for a minute.”

Once outside in the front yard, Hera’s heightened senses flared, and she began to voice her complaints. “Why is that bitch here?”

I glanced up and saw Freya walking toward me, with Daniel trailing behind, his back turned, deep in thought. The sight of them both instantly made me uncomfortable. As their footsteps grew closer, Daniel looked up first, subtly tugging at Freya’s sleeve.

Freya, realizing we were there, turned and approached with an overly warm smile. “Mom, Hayley, how’s Peter doing?”

Virginia dismissed her with a sharp wave, brushing off Freya’s attempt to reach out. “What? Are you worried that if your brother can stand again, he might give you a run for your money?”

I caught a flicker of resentment in Freya’s eyes, though it vanished just as quickly. She then adopted a helpless expression. “Mom, you’re misunderstanding. Peter’s always been kind to me—how could I wish anything bad for him?”

Virginia’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Some people act all high and mighty, like top-tier Betas, but their hearts are darker than those low-ranking Omegas,” she said as she pulled me toward the living room.

Soon after, Peter changed into fresh clothes and joined us. “Peter!” Freya exclaimed, rushing to him and giving him a hug, just like old times, her excitement clearly showing. “I’m so happy for you!”

Peter, caught off guard, froze momentarily before gently pulling her arms off him. He smiled, though there was no warmth in it. “Freya, are you really happy for me?”

Freya caught the hidden meaning in his words. Her smile stiffened as her brows furrowed. “Of course, Peter. Why would you think otherwise?” she replied, her voice slightly tight.

Peter studied her with a sharp gaze, his eyes cold as he observed her. “Well, now that you’re an adult, maybe we should keep some distance. After all, you’re engaged now.”

“You’re lucky. Dad can’t stop you from being with him because you’re not related by blood. He can’t work with the elders to take your wolf from you,” Peter said, clearly addressing Daniel but aimed at the entire situation. Peter had been paying close attention to the recent events. While Alan might be kept in the dark, Peter wasn’t. He understood who could be trusted and who couldn’t.

Freya, flustered, quickly withdrew her hands from Peter and forced a smile. “Peter, you’re just teasing.”

“I’m still a Sanders, no matter who I marry. I’ll always be your little sister,” she said, trying to sound cheerful, though her words lacked sincerity.

Peter’s smile was thin and lacked warmth. “That may not always be the case,” he said. “The interests of the Sanders and the safety of the werewolves in our pack come first. We would never act out of selfishness, putting our own desires above family.”

Freya’s smile faltered completely, and she stepped back, her voice suddenly cold. “I can handle my own business, thank you.”

Peter’s response was equally distant. “I didn’t intend to get involved.” With that, he turned and walked toward me. Before I could react, he opened his arms and pulled me into a warm embrace.