His Daddy’s Fated Mate

18: Being a friend

Hannah’s POV

Taylor and I step forward in unison, our strides syncing as we navigate the forest floor. The canopy above filters the sunlight into shifting patterns, like shadows dancing on a restless sea. The air is heavy with unspoken words, a quiet anticipation threading through the soft rustle of leaves beneath our feet. It feels like all those years ago only this time, one set of footsteps is missing.

The stone looms ahead, weathered by years and secrets, standing solemnly as if holding its breath for our arrival. This place feels untouched, sacred a slice of the world that belongs only to us. Taylor and I have returned alone this time, and no one else knows this place exists.

Taylor’s presence beside me is steady, her silhouette a comforting reminder of laughter and shared whispers. Her hand is warm in mine, a small but grounding connection. I glance at her, offering a faint smile, and she squeezes my hand in return. In this moment, it’s enough.

As we approach the stone by the waterfall, the rush of water creates a symphony of sound, drowning out the rest of the world. Taylor sinks down onto the stone, her shoulders slumping under the weight of grief. Her gaze is distant, fixed on the cascading water as if it holds answers she can’t find.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Taylor says, breaking the silence with a soft sigh. Her voice is barely audible over the roaring water. “I was... lost in my head.”

I take her hand again, offering a small, reassuring squeeze. Taylor hasn’t changed, and for that, I’m grateful. Everyone else seems different now, but she’s my anchor the one thing that feels familiar in a world that’s shifting beneath my feet.

“Tay,” I say quietly, “how are you holding up? Really?”

She exhales a shaky breath, her voice raw with pain. “I feel... lost, Hans. Like a part of me is gone. I never imagined life without her not like this.”

Her words settle heavily between us, the ache in her voice cutting deep. Taylor was always so close to her mother, and the loss has left a hollow space she doesn’t know how to fill.

“I can’t imagine how hard this is for you,” I murmur, my voice trembling with empathy. “Jane was... she was amazing. It’s a loss for all of us.”

Tears well up in Taylor’s eyes, and I instinctively reach out, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Her grief is palpable, pressing against my own heartache. I’ve lost my parents too because my mother and father both gone in a single moment. And on top of that, my mate.

“It’s not fair,” Taylor whispers, her voice cracking. “I need her, Hans. I need her so much. She should be here.”

Her vulnerability struck a chord in me, and I struggled with my own guilt over being involved with her mother's mate. How would she feel if she found out about that? Is she also going to hate something I have no control over? Thought for another day because I don't want to ruin this moment with my best friend

“I know,” I say softly, resting my chin on the top of her head. “She should be.”

For a moment, we sit in silence, the waterfall’s steady roar filling the space between us. I wish I could take her pain away, but I can’t even fix my own. My chest tightens as guilt creeps in guilt for the secrets I’m keeping, guilt for the mark hidden beneath my collar, and guilt for the part I played in this mess.

The weight of her gratitude was both comforting and agonizing. I longed to confess the truth, but the words remained trapped, tangled in a web of guilt and fear. I cannot tell her anything about that. At least not right now when she is mourning.

Eventually, I pull back, brushing her hair away from her face. “We’ll get through this, Tay. Together. Like always.”

Her lips tremble, but she nods, her eyes glistening. “Thanks, Hans. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I hesitate, the weight of my own secret pressing down on me. I need to tell her something at least part of the truth. She deserves that much.

As I tried to console her, the unspoken truth lingered like a shadow over our shared grief. The stone, witness to countless memories, now held the weight of our unspoken secrets.

I have one thing to confess to her though. I don't want her hearing it from her father cause God knows what he would tell her. If he will lie straight between his obnoxious white straight teeth.

The heavy weight pressed upon my shoulders, and I hesitated before breaking the news to Taylor. The crunch of leaves beneath our feet seemed to echo the gravity of my words. Maybe she will take this piece lighter than the one that would hit in the future?

“Tay,” I start carefully, my voice wavering. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Her head tilts, curiosity flickering in her tear-streaked face. “What is it?”

I lick my lips, stalling. “I... I won’t be going back to the human world.”

Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “What? Why?”

“I made a mistake,” I admit, my hands fidgeting. “A stupid, reckless mistake. The Alpha is... punishing me for it. I’m not allowed to leave the pack.”

Taylor’s expression shifts from shock to anger in an instant. “He can’t do that! He’s my dad and he knows you’re like family to me. This is bullshit!”

Oh, if only she knew. She hasn’t seen the mark yet, and I’m doing everything I can to keep it hidden.

“Tay, please,” I said quickly. “Don’t make it worse. My parents agreed to this too. It’s... it’s done.”

Her arms cross over her chest, a defiant gleam in her eyes. “I’m talking to him. This isn’t fair.”

“No, Tay,” I say firmly. “It’s done. Talking won’t change anything it’ll just make things worse.”

She studies me for a moment, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “Fine,” she finally mutters. “But when you’re ready to tell me what really happened, I’ll be here.”

I nod, relief washing over me. “Thank you.”

But even as the tension eases, I know this is just the beginning. The truth will come out eventually, and when it does, everything will change.