Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 14: The Rejection of the Alpha

~Hazel’s POV~

I wasn’t ready for what I saw.

The door creaked open just slightly but enough to unveil the unholy sight that slammed against my chest like a hammer to glass. There he was. My mate. The Alpha. The man I had walked miles barefoot and escaped my father’s mansion, tangled in sheets with my step-sister, Natasha, draped across him like she belonged.

And for a moment, I forgot why I came.

My breath caught so violently it hurt. My heart... it stung. Like a blade slid right between my ribs and twisted slowly. For a reason I didn’t understand, I wanted to scream. Not because I was surprised—no. I knew who he was. I knew who she was. But the ache came anyway. That disgusting, hollow ache that curled around my lungs and squeezed.

Natasha’s laugh snapped through the tension. Sharp. Poisoned. "And what are the ruins of the litter doing here?" she sneered, curling the sheet tighter around herself like she needed to protect something.

I didn’t flinch.

My fists clenched by my sides, nails cutting into my palm but my face remained still. If she thought words could bruise me, she hadn’t met the version of me that survived last night. I didn’t run out of the servant quarters and scale the side of the eastern wall for nothing. Ariel and I hadn’t risked our lives slipping past the guards and their scent markers just for me to turn back now. No.

I was here for business.

I didn’t care how warm their bed was or how damp the room smelled of lust. I came to reject him. To look into the eyes of the one who discarded me like trash... and throw him away, too.

The second Natasha left huffing, swaying her hips in that performative way of hers. I straightened my spine.

This was my moment. And I would not waste it. NovelFire

But then he moved.

"You must be brave," Cayden drawled, his voice lazy and amused, "to enter this place... alone."

And then he rose from the bed.

Naked. Completely. Naked.

Oh, moon goddess.

by firelight—a black tattoo crawling from beneath his collarbone, coiling around his ribs like a serpent guarding secrets, then vanishing deep into the V of his abs. His long black hair clung to his face, damp and wild, framing eyes that burned like ruin. He looked like sin—a fallen god draped in darkness, wearing nothing but temptation and the scent

heart kicked up like a hummingbird caught in a cage. I forgot how to breathe. I forgot how to stand. My knees buckled slightly, but I locked them, refusing to give him the satisfaction. Still, my traitorous

He was massive

eyes dipped

I gasped.

He was hard. Already.

like I was

a step

the cold stone

was nowhere left to

were turning, and I was sure my face was as red as the color

Thick eyelashes, Full brow, and perfect Siren eyes. His

me

flamed with heat. My pride

him. Hard. Or as hard as

reject you," I

it out. I didn’t open my eyes after I said it. I

And then..

he asked, voice

I opened my eyes.

normal. They

didn’t shrink. Not this

Alpha’s discarded mate. I refuse to carry that title. You, Cayden Salvatore, will

His breath hitched.

behind his