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 child and returned in seconds, dragging in the

with the twisted, dark leather strands. The one that knew every inch of my back—every rib, every

"Strip," Father commanded.

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

be fine,"

old dresses 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.

step.

Braced for the burn.

CRASH!

A maid skidded into the room, bowing low

panted. "Beta Caspian

Caspian is here.

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

was the

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

Natasha grabbed a scarf and quickly wrapped it

Father said, suddenly composed. "Go to your room. No

nodded and

turned to me. Fury

you later,"

added, voice

then they were

floor. Ariel rushed over and threw a thick blanket

family—they’re

took her hands

blue eyes eyes that mirrored the same

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

her tears. "Don’t

Her lips trembled. "Why?"

up like me. Don’t turn them against

"But Hazel..."

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

until I treat

ran out, then returned with

she said gently. "You can’t

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

Then she left.