His Daddy’s Fated Mate

10: The parents

Liam’s POV

I leaned against the window, arms folded across my chest, watching Hannah as she sat there with her back impossibly straight. She was trying so hard to look unfazed, but her sharp eyes betrayed her emotions swirling beneath the surface she was desperate to keep hidden.

This wasn’t the girl who had left the pack, head bowed and tears streaming. No, this was someone different. That quiet, reserved version of her was long gone. What sat in front of me was the sassy, rebellious girl I remembered from years ago, her spirit now layered with something darker, something I wasn’t sure how to navigate.

The girl that ran out of this very mansion crying four years ago was nowhere to be seen and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. I always knew Hannah is hiding a side of hers no one knows because of her parents.

She desperately wants to make them proud at every turn.

I wanted to ask her where her damn clothes were. The thought of her underneath that flimsy outfit, possibly without anything else made my blood heat in ways I had no right to feel. But the timing was terrible her parents would be here any second and I didn’t need that kind of distraction.

Instead, I moved to the desk, settling into the leather chair with feigned nonchalance. From here, I could keep an eye on her, even though I knew that was a dangerous game to play.

She hasn’t taken her panties has she?

A sharp knock echoed through the room, and Hannah tensed. Her posture, already rigid, straightened further, as if she were bracing for an impact.

“Come in” I called, keeping my tone neutral.

The door opened to reveal James and Juliet Voss. Their expressions were solemn, their movements cautious. Juliet’s eyes were red and James looked as though he hadn’t slept in days. They weren’t here for pleasantries.

They were all mourning the lost of their Luna like every other wolf in the pack. This all made it more complicated because they’d be mad.

“Alpha Liam” James started as he stepped forward. His voice was steady but there was a rawness to it. “We’re deeply sorry for your loss. Jane was… an incredible woman.”

Juliet nodded, her hand clutching a tissue she hadn’t realized she was still holding. “She was like family to us, and we’ll miss her terribly. If there’s anything you need, anything at all please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you” I replied. “Your support means a lot.”

The room fell into an uneasy silence. I hadn’t told them why I’d called them here yet, and the weight of what I was about to say made my chest feel tight. Hannah hadn’t moved, her figure still as a statue on the couch.

James’s brow furrowed, his gaze flicking between me and the room. “You mentioned Hannah. Is something wrong? Have you found her?”

“She’s here” I said simply, gesturing toward the couch.

Both of them froze, their heads snapping toward her so quickly it was almost comical. Juliet gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, while James’s expression shifted into something unreadable.

“Hannah?” Juliet’s voice cracked as she said her daughter’s name and it wasn’t a question… it was a plea.

Hannah rose slowly, her movements stiff. “Mom. Dad.” Her voice was quiet but steady, and she gave them a small, awkward wave.

It wasn’t the reaction I’d expected. No tears, no rushed embrace. Just… stillness.

Juliet recovered first, crossing the room in a few quick steps to pull Hannah into a crushing hug. “Oh, my sweet girl! Look at you. You’ve grown so much. And these tattoos Hannah, what were you thinking?”

Hannah’s laugh was brittle, her arms hanging limply at her sides. “It’s a long story, Mom. Let’s not get into it now.”

James didn’t move. He stood rooted in place, his eyes scanning Hannah as if she were a puzzle he couldn’t solve. His frown deepened but he said nothing. He was deeply disappointed from the looks of things.

“Your father and I have missed you so much” Juliet continued, brushing a strand of hair from Hannah’s face. “You don’t know how worried we’ve been.”

“I’m fine, Mom. Really” Hannah replied, finally stepping out of her mother’s embrace. Her tone was clipped, and the tension in her shoulders hadn’t eased.

I watched the scene unfold, my jaw tightening. Something was off. Hannah’s reaction wasn’t what it should’ve been. And her parents well, they didn’t seem like the overjoyed family I’d expected either.

“Why did you leave, Hannah?” James’s voice broke the quiet, his tone sharper than Juliet’s. He wasn’t here for pleasantries.

Hannah hesitated, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. “I needed space. Time to figure things out.”

“Figure what out?” James pressed, his expression hardening.

“That’s between me and myself” she shot back, her voice gaining an edge. The Hannah before would never have done this so I know I had to do something before it escalated

“Enough” I said, cutting in before things spiraled further. “This isn’t the time for interrogations.”

James’s gaze snapped to mine, his eyes narrowing. “Why is she here, Alpha Liam? And why now?”

I leaned back in my chair, my expression carefully neutral. “Hannah is staying here for the time being. It’s for her safety.”

“Her safety?” Juliet’s voice rose, panic creeping into her tone. “What’s happened?”

“It’s a precaution” I said smoothly. “Nothing to be concerned about.”

That was a lie, of course. There was plenty to be concerned about, but I wasn’t about to explain the whole mess in front of Hannah’s parents.

Hannah shot me a glare, clearly unimpressed with my evasiveness. It’s either that or I place the blame on her and you know what? That is exactly what I’m going to do to avoid getting questioned by the pack.

“Alpha Liam” James said, his voice low and warning. “If you’re withholding something, I’ll find out. This is my daughter we’re talking about.”

“Your daughter is safe” I said firmly. “That’s all that matters.”

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the tension so thick it was almost suffocating.

Hannah looked at her parents, then at me, and for the first time, I saw something flicker in her eyes something fragile and uncertain.