Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 16: Marked by two

~Cayden’s POV~

Fuck. Damn it.

What just happened?

My breaths came in harsh, uneven bursts as I stared down at her—Hazel. Her lips were parted slightly, her breathing soft and peaceful as if she wasn’t lying in the wreckage of every choice I had ever made. Her bare shoulder peeked from the twisted sheets, and right there on her neck was my mark. Crimson, raw, and permanent.

Ragnar, my wolf, purred in satisfaction like a beast that had devoured his feast. But I? I was spiraling.

I mated her.

I. Mated. A human.

My gaze was glued to the spot where I’d claimed her, my own handiwork taunting me. The sharp bite was obvious, unmistakable—a public declaration to every pack member. She was mine. But Caspian’s mark was already there, faded but still visible underneath.

She was no longer the rejected Omega.

She was the Beta’s claimed mate.

And now... the Alpha’s too.

She was going to be Luna. My Luna.

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt bile rise. Not because of her—no, she was never the problem. It was me. The years I spent building my strength, my power, my image of the perfect leader... all shattered with a single mistake. A single day

A single bite.

I covered her with the blanket as gently as I could, though I left the bite mark exposed. Maybe part of me wanted to keep staring at it, to remind myself what I’d done. Maybe I wanted to remind the world.

Then—

A scream. A raw, broken sound that sliced through the thick silence like a blade.

I jerked around.

Natasha.

Her face crumbled, eyes wide with betrayal, heartbreak crashing over her in waves. And behind her stood my mother, her trembling hand covering her mouth, disbelief stamped across her face like an open wound.

she whispered, stumbling forward. "No... not you too." Her knees buckled, and

PROMISED ME!" Natasha screamed, her voice cracking into madness. "You said I would be

suddenly she lunged toward Hazel,

"You hate her, remember? You said she was filth! Why does she keep taking everything from me? My life, my father... and

me with everything she had, but I didn’t let

the truth was...

I marked Hazel, I’d sentenced her. Packs would revolt. Elders would question me. Other Alphas would see this as weakness. Mating a

This was war.

more figures entered the

the bite. He saw my bite.

he choked. "No,

the mark away, frantic hands clawing at her skin like he could undo what was done. But

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

connected with my

Chunks broke off and rained around me, dust rising in clouds as

supposed to touch her!" Caspian roared, standing over me, fists trembling. "She’s human, Cayden! She can’t be Luna. She can’t even survive the trials, the

from mine. "You hated her! You

force her," I whispered

twisted.

voice cracked. "She

and toward the staircase. Before I could catch myself, he was on me

Then snap.

pain blinding as my body crumpled like a

I didn’t fight back.

I wouldn’t. Ragnar didn’t help me. My wolf just... watched. Like he approved

blow after blow, his voice cracking

Then something changed.

A sound.

A breath.

Hazel.

were bloodied on the ground floor... we

with something ancient. Caspian bolted up the stairs, and I—broken, bleeding—dragged

the bed, sunlight casting across her like some ethereal being. The sheets fell away from

Her eyes opened.

Terrified. Shimmering with gold and silver hues like the moon and sun