Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 9: The Human in My Arms

~Caspian’s POV~

Her body was limp in my arms, head resting lightly against my shoulder, but she clung to me like she belonged there. My fingers curled in the fabric of my shirt. Warm breath ghosted over my collarbone. My chest tightened. A hitch, like my heart, didn’t know what to do with the feeling that unfurled in me. It skipped just once and I almost stumbled.

I had never felt that before.

She was unconscious, unaware, and yet my wolf stirred like she had whispered his name. Nizen paced restlessly beneath the surface, humming in quiet agreement. Ours.

Behind me, Cayden’s voice kept grinding against my skull. "You know I didn’t mean to kill him, right?" he said. "He deserved it. Every single thing I did to him."

I didn’t stop walking. Couldn’t. If I did, I’d drop her or turn on him. Maybe both.

Then I lost it. I halted mid-step and turned halfway toward him with a snarl. My arms tightened protectively around her.

"But death?" I hissed, careful not to shake her. "Cayden—death? You killed our brother! We were triplets, for the Moon’s sake. You took one of us."

"He became a rogue," Cayden shot back, voice sharp, eyes dark. "He betrayed us. He betrayed everything we were meant to be."

I clenched my jaw, biting back what I really wanted to say. My fangs itched to break skin, but she was in my arms. I wouldn’t fight with her between us. Couldn’t.

"And you?" I ground out. "Aren’t you betraying the Moon Goddess too? By rejecting your mate?"

His eyes flared, but I didn’t care. "So this is about her, huh?" he spat. "Bringing back Cyrus’s dead memory because of a low-life human you met today? Are you even hearing yourself, brother?"

I didn’t respond. There was no point. I turned away from him, footsteps heavy as I walked on, shielding her with my body.

But it was like the land itself didn’t want her. Because the next moment, we were surrounded.

Growls erupted from the shadows, deep and furious. Wolves—at least six—emerged in full form, eyes locked on the girl in my arms. Lips curled, fangs gleaming beneath the moonlight, breath steaming in the cold night air. Ready to pounce.

tightened. She whimpered, just the softest sound,

into the trees. "Aren’t you supposed to

move. It

growled low. My ears twitched. Nizen perked up.

to kill her?" I repeated, voice

second—just one—my heart stopped. Then

eyes shifted, vision sharpening. Fingernails lengthened into claws. Fangs pushed down over my lips,

to die tonight?" I growled, teeth bared. "Because you’re about two seconds away from

move

I snapped. "Your Beta’s mate. And your Alpha’s mate. So if you

didn’t move. One of them, larger than the rest, stepped forward and let out

translated. "We’re not backing off. Beta Caspian, hand her over. You don’t want her blood on your

aching to shift. But I couldn’t.

to the grass. I stood, cracked my neck, and let the change wash through me just enough to make it clear I wasn’t bluffing. "Say your last

to leap—and then a voice broke

"Be careful, brother."

Cayden.

The wolves stilled instantly.

from his lips, his wolf barely restrained. He was always terrifying, but now? Now he looked like

flicking to the girl on the

them. Then he

"Leave," he said simply.

did. No hesitation. No second guesses. They vanished into the trees like ghosts, their fury tucked beneath

him. Who wouldn’t

watching the empty forest, then turned to me. His hand rested on