His Daddy’s Fated Mate

15: Old friend

Hannah’s POV

After seeing Meritt off down the street, I continued my journey, my bare feet pressing against the earth, each step a reminder of the weight on my mind. I hoped I wouldn't find either Tucker or Taylor at the hideout. it would make things even worse than they already were. My exhausted body carried me to our secret spot in less than a minute, the pain from the rough ground unnoticed, though I knew my feet would tell a different story later.

The hideout, nestled deep within the heart of the White Canines Pack, had once been a sanctuary, a place of peace where Taylor, Tucker, and I had found solace. Now, the air here carried the bittersweet echoes of a time when we were carefree and happy, before life turned our bond into something complicated.

At the center of it all was a small waterfall, its green-tinged water cascading over moss-covered rocks, the sound soft yet vibrant. It had always been a calming presence, the serene melody reverberating through the trees. It was a wonder no one had discovered this place yet, but we had claimed it as our own, a secret we kept tightly guarded.

I sank down onto the familiar stone, my gaze lost in the steady flow of water. I thought back to the days when we had believed we'd always be together, when we had been invincible in our youthful certainty. Now, that belief felt so far away, the weight of everything that had happened since pressing on my chest.

The hideout held the remnants of our friendship with laughter, tears, whispered promises. It reminded me of the times we had worried about Taylor finding her mate and leaving the pack for good.

Tucker had once shoved me into the pool beneath the waterfall, his mischievous grin lighting up his face. Taylor, always more reserved, would sit on the stone, watching us with a playful smile, though she never joined in the chaos. Those were the days.

But now, as I sat there, everything felt different. There was an unease in the air, a heaviness that had replaced the carefree atmosphere we once shared. This place, which had once been our refuge, now seemed to hold more weight than I was prepared for. And the truth was, returning here made me feel as though I was unraveling, piece by piece.

I sighed, my thoughts drifting back to the mansion, to the horrors of the day. I tried not to think about it—I had been thinking about it all day, replaying it in my mind over and over. But now, it was done. Nothing would change what had already happened.

The idea of being called his "personal maid" gnawed at me. What did that even mean? Was I supposed to be a constant fixture in his life, catering to his every whim, never leaving his side? The thought made my stomach turn. I could never be that. I couldn't become a shadow, clinging to him, always at his beck and call. The mere idea was suffocating, and I refused to let it define me.

He didn’t deserve that from me not after everything he had done. The idea of spending my days helping him with his needs, being at his side constantly, was revolting. I could already feel my patience fraying at the thought. How was I supposed to endure that without losing my mind?

He wanted me to be his maid, but the "personal" part? That was just to humiliate me. He wanted everyone to know that I had wronged him, even though he wouldn't explain how. The truth didn’t matter to him. He just wanted control, wanted to see me suffer.

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the anger bubbling inside me. "I’ve been making excuses for him until now," Mara, my wolf, murmured inside my head, her voice heavy with disbelief.

"Yeah, I told you he was a monster," I muttered. "The man I left behind isn’t the same as the one who’s running that mansion. He’s not even a man anymore. He blames me for everything, like I forced myself on him."

"I can’t believe I got drunk like that," Mara said. "I’ve never done anything like that before. But still, I always knew what was going on." Her voice softened with a hint of sadness.

I shrugged. "It doesn’t matter now. What happened, happened. We can’t change it, but I’ll make him regret everything. That’s a promise."

"Uh, you don’t mean physically, right?" Mara teased, giving me a mental side-eye. "You’ve never trained a day in your life. Workout, sure, but never trained."

"Stop trying to ruin my revenge fantasies, Mara. It won’t work." My fists tightened again. "I don’t care that he’s our mate. He certainly doesn’t care about that. I’ll destroy his life without a second thought."

Mara’s voice was amused. "Calm down, lioness. I wasn’t trying to kill your spirit. I’m just curious how you plan to make him pay. How can I help?"

I rolled my eyes. "There are plenty of ways. I could poison him—nothing deadly, of course, but something to make him regret every moment. Something that'll leave him sleepless, anxious. Or..."

I didn’t get to finish my thought. The snap of a twig broke through the silence, pulling my attention to the figure approaching from behind. At first, I saw nothing, but then a pair of red boots appeared, followed by the silhouette of a woman in a black lace dress. A bonnet perched atop her head, hiding most of her face, but I recognized her instantly.

Taylor.

She stood there for a moment, seemingly unaware of my presence. Her black lace dress clung to her figure, flowing gracefully with each step. The contrast of her red boots against the muted forest surroundings struck me vibrant, bold, unmistakably her. I could tell this was her mourning outfit, a striking blend of elegance and sorrow.

She hadn’t noticed me yet, but as soon as she stepped into view, I couldn’t contain myself. My excitement bubbled over, and I rushed toward her, arms open wide. I almost tripped as I ran, but I didn’t care. I was ready to wrap her in a hug, to feel the warmth of her presence again.

But when I reached her, she didn’t return the embrace. Her eyes locked onto mine with an unsettling coolness, and for a moment, I was frozen in confusion. Did she not recognize me? Had something happened to her in the time I’d been away?

I pulled back, my heart sinking as I looked into her face. "Tay! It’s me, Hannah! I’ve missed you!" I exclaimed, my joy undeterred despite the growing unease.

She didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on me, as if she didn’t know who I was. I repeated her name, my confusion deepening with each passing second.

And then, without warning, she shoved me away with surprising strength. I fell hard to the ground, my body hitting the dirt with a painful thud. I groaned as I shifted, trying to rub the pain out of my backside.

"What the hell, Tay?" I sputtered, shock overtaking my joy.

She stood over me, her expression unreadable, and I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. This wasn’t the Taylor I knew, the Taylor who used to be full of warmth and affection. What had happened to her? Did she know about Liam and me? Was she angry at me, too?

I couldn’t understand. Had everything really changed so much in the year I’d been gone?