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.

bolted from the room like a giddy

The one that knew every inch of my back—every rib,

"Strip," Father commanded.

My whole body trembled. Ariel clung to me, sobbing, but

fine,"

off the shredded, wine-soaked gown—one of the few old dresses I’d been allowed to keep. I stood there in my bra and panties,

"Come forward," Father ordered.

took one step.

Braced for the burn.

CRASH!

by the rush of footsteps. A maid skidded into the

"Beta Caspian is

Caspian is here.

to Father. Silence stretched between us, thick and dangerous, as everyone held eye contact—no one daring to move. Then, out of

was the first to

god—your Beta is here!" she gasped, whirling on Sophia. "Go put on that gown I got you last spring!" she snapped, and Lilian rushed to

a scarf and quickly wrapped

"Go to your room. No

and

to me. Fury replaced every

you

better," Selene added, voice

then they

to the floor. Ariel rushed over and threw a thick

family—they’re horrible to

hands gently.

and piercing blue eyes eyes that mirrored the same bloodline as the ones

It’s not fine. You always say that, but

cupped her cheeks and wiped away her tears. "Don’t ever stand up for me again. You hear

Her lips trembled. "Why?"

to end up like me. Don’t

"But Hazel..."

Really." I forced a smile. "Go before your mother or father comes

"Not until I treat

then returned with

gently. "You can’t

my forehead. Her touch was soft, careful, almost reverent. When she finished, she leaned down and kissed my

Then she left.