Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 2: Beta Caspian

Her eyes were wide like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she stepped forward, slow and calculating, scanning the room. Then she locked eyes with me bleeding, broken, barely standing.

"No..." she whispered, voice trembling. "No, it can’t be..."

And then the scream tore from her throat.

"WHO DID THIS TO YOU?!"

Father instantly rushed to her side, that fake calm mask plastered on his face.

"Darling, it’s fine," he said, touching her arms as if that would soothe her wrath. "It’s just hair. It’ll grow back"

"I SAID WHO DID THIS!" she roared, eyes burning.

Lilian didn’t hesitate.

She pointed directly at me, where I lay crumpled on the floor with Ariel wrapped protectively around my body.

Stepmother’s face twisted. "The ruin of the litter? The bastard did this to mychild?"

Her heels clicked again as she stalked toward me, venom in her eyes.

"You.."

But Ariel jumped up and blocked her path. "Mum, please! She’s weak—she needs the healer"

"She needs death!" Stepmother shrieked. "That’s what she needs!"

She turned on Father like a wild flame. "Marcus! How could you let this happen?! How can she be the Moon Chosen with her hair like that?!" She gestured dramatically toward Natasha, who—of course—took that cue to ramp up her performance.

"She ruined me!" Natasha wailed. "Cayden and his brother will never love me now! How can I be Luna with my hair butchered like this?! Let’s kill her!"

"YES!" Sophia squealed, clapping like it was a party game.

Father swallowed hard, eyes on me. I saw the way he looked at me—like I wasn’t even human. Like I wasn’t his blood. NovelFire

"No," he said finally. "We can’t kill her. She’s part of the pack, technically. They’ll question us."

Relief almost hit me until he spoke again.

"But she’ll definitely be punished." His eyes narrowed. "Bring me the whips."

"NO!" Ariel screamed.

a giddy child and returned in seconds, dragging in the

whip. The one with the twisted, dark leather strands. The one that knew every

"Strip," Father commanded.

to me, sobbing, but I gently took her hand and smiled through the

fine," I

gown—one of the few old dresses I’d been allowed to keep. I stood there in my bra and panties, chest rising and falling,

"Come forward," Father ordered.

step.

Braced for the burn.

CRASH!

footsteps. A maid skidded into the room, bowing low with her

"Beta Caspian is

Caspian is here.

I turned slowly to Father. Silence stretched between us, thick and dangerous, as everyone held eye contact—no one daring

was the

that gown I got

scarf and quickly

dear," Father said, suddenly composed. "Go to your room. No one must see

nodded and

he turned to me. Fury replaced every trace of

you

better," Selene added, voice sharp as

they were

floor. Ariel rushed over and

whispered, eyes flooding. "My family—they’re horrible to you. And you’ve

took her hands

golden hair and piercing blue eyes eyes that mirrored the same bloodline as the

You always say that, but it’s not." Her voice cracked.

her tears. "Don’t ever stand up for me again. You hear me?

Her lips trembled. "Why?"

want you to end up like me. Don’t turn them

"But Hazel..."

okay. Really." I forced a smile. "Go before your mother or father comes back. You’ll only be in

"Not until I treat your injuries

ran out, then

gently. "You can’t

across my forehead. Her touch was soft,

Then she left.