Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 17: Council meeting

~Caspian’s POV~

The room was brimming with tension the kind that clung to your skin like smoke. We were seated around the long, oak council table carved generations ago by the founding wolves of our pack.

To my right sat Cayden, rigid in his seat, his jaw set as hard as stone. Across from us, Leon, our Gamma, leaned forward, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. He didn’t speak much, but when he did, his words often cut deeper than fangs.

The elders filled the rest of the room—three wrinkled old wolves clinging to their pride like lifelines. Elder Austin is the loudest. Elder O’Brian, the cruelest. Elder Gina, the only one with any damn sense left. My parents sat in their usual place, mother with her ever-present silk handkerchief, dabbing at tears that never seemed real. And at the far end, cloaked in calm power, sat Aurora the only witch in our territory. She kept her coven under us, helped with spells, and mostly stayed out of our politics.

Mostly.

But not today.

"We can’t make Hazel our Luna. She’s weak." Elder Austin’s voice sliced through the quiet, rough as gravel.

Cayden’s eyes flared, but his tone was collected, cold. "She bears both our marks now. Like it or not, she is Luna. Denying that now would be foolish." He looked straight at Austin, and I watched the old man shrink back slightly—but only just.

Liar. Bloody liar.

I ground my teeth together to keep from growling aloud. This was the same man who’d sworn to reject Hazel, to stay away from her, but no—he’d broken his vow, taken her to bed, and now here we were. Caged by fate and Cayden’s impulsive desires.

Elder O’Brien slammed his hand on the table, rattling the old wood. "I say we kill her. Put an end to this madness so the mark will disappear and the moon goddess will realise her mistake and pick a she-wolf this time."

I flinched. So did Cayden. Our wolves immediately surged, snarling in protest. I clenched my fists beneath the table.

"Are you out of your damn mind?!" Elder Gina shot up from her seat, her voice fierce and sharp like a whip crack. "You’d suggest murdering an innocent girl because fate chose her?"

"She seduced the Alpha," Austin growled, jabbing a crooked finger toward Cayden. "In his room, in his bed. Ask yourself who caused this."

My chest tightened. Did he... tell them

that followed buzzed with

a decision-making ground, not a battlefield. If you came here to fight personal demons, do it

silent again, but

voice wasn’t loud, but it was final. "You caused this, son. You made your choice when you broke the news. And now you will pay the

eyes inwardly. The tears were

Hazel can’t even bear a child," O’Brien barked again. "She’s

I had had enough.

Moon Goddess for her

but this time Cayden’s glare shut him up before I had

want a grandchild. An heir. Who’s going to give

Leon, who had been

but a she-wolf should be chosen as the official

The room went still.

statue at the corner of the room, lifted

agree with Gamma Leon," she said

a moment, no longer than a heartbeat, something passed between them.

in that?" Austin bellowed, slamming his cane to

find sense in it," Gina said calmly,

and restrained, but genuine. Austin’s glare

then? Hazel marries both my sons. A mistress will be appointed for the sake of

I nodded.

So did Cayden.

damn word. But what choice did we have? We were bound now—her to me, and him. Our fate was sealed by the marks she bore and the