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.

from the room like a giddy child and

leather strands. The one that knew every inch of my back—every

"Strip," Father commanded.

stood up slowly. My whole body trembled. Ariel clung to me, sobbing, but I gently took her hand and

fine," I

the few old dresses I’d been allowed to keep. I stood there

"Come forward," Father ordered.

one step. Closed my

Braced for the burn.

CRASH!

the rush of footsteps. A maid skidded into the room, bowing low

panted. "Beta

Caspian is here.

dangerous, as everyone held eye contact—no one daring to move. Then, out of sheer

was the

Sophia. "Go put on that gown I got you last spring!" she

scarf and quickly wrapped it

suddenly composed. "Go to your room. No one must see

and darted

turned to me. Fury replaced every trace

you later," he

better," Selene added, voice sharp

then they were

the floor. Ariel rushed over and threw a

family—they’re horrible to you. And you’ve

hands gently. "It’s

with her golden hair and piercing blue eyes eyes that mirrored the same bloodline as the ones who

say that, but it’s not." Her

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

Her lips trembled. "Why?"

end up like me. Don’t turn them against

"But Hazel..."

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

"Not until I

ran out, then returned with

will help," she said gently. "You can’t heal yourself...you’re

the tin and gently dabbed the ointment across my forehead. Her touch was soft, careful, almost

Then she left.