Chapter 019
HANNAH
Most people tell you that high school is where you get to figure out yourself and teenagehood is the best stage of your life, but honestly, that's bollocks.
I think high school was a place where everyone got picked on depending on how popular they were. There was a hierarchy; the rich and famous sitting at the top of the list with their huge ego.
And then, there was me, Hannah Baker.
I lacked the three keys of coolness in high school, and I'll tell you what they are.
One, don't try hard at anything. Unfortunately, I tried too hard at everything, especially my grades. I'd won best student of the year three consecutive times in a row and was best friends with most of my teachers. I also tried hard to stay out of Arlene's way, you know, big pudgy Arlene, who liked to pick on people.
Two, make fun of people who do try. I bet you already know the drill. In high school, everybody made somebody's life hell—except me. Everyone made my life hell.
I was at the bottom of every social list, and my life was constantly a whirlwind. One minute, I was kissing my gorgeous mates even though my life was in danger, and next, I was at their pack, sitting in a meeting room, and waiting for their father, whom I'd never met, to see me.
I believe these are my prime suffering years.
I sighed and adjusted my dress, feeling incredibly nervous as time passed in the silent meeting room. It was past eight already, and I tried so hard to think of dinner, hoping it would distract me. But it didn't. I wanted to know why Alpha Wallace wanted to see me. I wanted to know why Jace wouldn't meet my eyes, but I already sensed he knew something I didn't know.
The silence in the room was deafening; the only sounds to be heard were the distant rustling of leaves and the soft whooshing of the wind outside. Inside, the maids scurried about with quiet efficiency, and the triplets tried to pretend I was invisible. I already imagined their father forbade them from telling me what the meeting was about.
Still, I was curious and a little bit scared. Perhaps, terrified.
"Ummm, Jace, are you—"
My voice trailed off as the door swung open with an announcement from one of the guards that Alpha Wallace had arrived. The triplets jumped to their feet, and I did so, too, wondering why they had to greet their father that way.
But once he entered the room, I understood why.
Alpha Wallace was a formidable man. His aura filled the room immediately after he walked in, and I cowered. I could feel Mace fighting to keep us strong despite the dominating force around us, and I bowed my head, too small to meet his eyes as he walked past.
"You may sit," he said slowly after he sat. I quietly settled into my seat, feeling smaller and smaller with each passing second. My heart raced as I stole a glance at him, his form betraying everything the triplets told me. Why would they ever accept me as their mate if he was their father?
I didn't need anyone to tell me that such a man would desire a better mate for his sons—someone strong, beautiful, and of royal blood—someone who wasn't a foot rag for others.
And then it struck me—Jace had been avoiding my gaze for a reason. The triplets knew their father's intentions to break us apart. At that moment, my stomach dropped, and I felt goosebumps masking my skin.
"Hannah."
"Hannah, are you listening?"
I was so lost in thought that I didn't even hear them calling my name.
"Huh?" I blinked, finally snapping back to reality. "Oh, sorry, I didn't hear you."
Alpha Wallace smiled and shook his head. Great! I had already ruined my first impression.
"How are you, Hannah?" he asked.
I swallowed. "I'm fine, Sir—Alpha."
My replies were almost comical. I could tell from his calmed aura and smile. He had probably realized I was a clown and wasn't worth his energy.
"I know it's quite late for this meeting, but I have some important things to discuss with you." He started, and the room fell silent. I could hear my heartbeat rising, and I gulped. "You may not wish to hear such news now, but I cannot change the circumstances."
No.
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest as I waited for his next words. I could almost hear them rolling off his lips, and my eyes filled with tears.
I couldn't take another rejection, not now that my life was finally starting to change. I couldn't.
I waited, each second feeling like a century. And then he finally spoke.
"I received a letter from Dawson," he gestured to a footman who handed him an envelope. "And I want you all to read it."
My jaw dropped. A letter? I blinked, trying to wrap my head around my reality. Was this meeting really about a letter? Did I spend the last five minutes judging myself for nothing?
A smile crept to my face, small at first, but then widened until I was grinning like a fool. I could breathe again; the worst-case scenario hadn't come true, which was good enough. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders even though I didn't know the content of the letter.
I turned to Alpha Wallace. "I—I believe this letter revolves around me, right?"
He nodded and passed the envelope to Cade, who took out the letter immediately. I watched as his eyes roamed the piece of paper, and slowly, a frown crept to his lips.
"This is bullshit," Cade muttered, then kissed his teeth. He glanced at me briefly before passing the letter to Chase.
Puzzled, I watched for his reaction as well, and it was the same. Once they read through it, their expression suddenly turned dark and angry.
When the letter was finally passed down to me, I was nearly dizzy from the mix of tension and curiosity that I all but snatched it from Chase. I scanned the page in a few seconds and instantly understood why the triplets were enraged.
My chest felt tight as I slowly reread the letter. It was from Alpha Dawson, just like they said. The letter was long, but only a part of it caught my interest, shattering my heart like a delicate glass.
'Hannah Baker must be returned to my son, Asher Dawson, the heir of Breakstone pack. Their mating ceremony must take place soon, and I expect full compliance with this request.'
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