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

with the twisted, dark leather strands. The

"Strip," Father commanded.

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

fine," I

I’d been allowed to keep. I stood there in my bra and panties, chest rising and falling, exposed and trembling

"Come forward," Father ordered.

one step. Closed my

Braced for the burn.

CRASH!

of footsteps. A maid skidded into the room,

she panted. "Beta

Caspian is here.

breath caught. I turned slowly to Father. Silence stretched between us, thick and dangerous, as everyone held eye

was the first to

is here!" she gasped, whirling on Sophia. "Go put on that

scarf and quickly wrapped

composed. "Go to your room.

nodded and

me. Fury replaced every trace of

deal with you

added, voice

then they

the floor. Ariel rushed over and threw a thick blanket around

"My family—they’re horrible

hands gently. "It’s

eyes that mirrored the same bloodline

but it’s

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

Her lips trembled. "Why?"

end up like me. Don’t

"But Hazel..."

"Go before your mother or father comes

she nodded. "Not until I treat

ran out, then returned

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

tin and gently dabbed the ointment across my forehead. Her touch was soft, careful, almost reverent. When she finished, she leaned down and kissed

Then she left.