Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 18: Perfect dream

~Hazel’s POV~

I didn’t ask for this. Not any of it.

Not the fate that chained me to wolves. Not the marks that branded me like a possession. And certainly not a wedding that felt more like a punishment than a promise.

I never wanted to belong to a world where my value was discussed across council tables, where elders debated my worth like I was a commodity. A pawn on their board. Disposable. Replaceable.

What happened yesterday... shouldn’t have happened.

I had gone to Cayden with one purpose—to reject him. To sever that bond before it rooted too deeply. Before it swallowed me whole. But things didn’t go as planned. The room had felt too small, his presence too consuming, and the fire that passed between us—whether it was fate or foolishness—ended up sealing us instead of freeing me.

I could hate myself for it, but what use was hate now?

The deed was done.

And now... we move forward.

I stood before the tall mirror in the bridal chambers, surrounded by chaos. Maids pulled and tugged at my limbs as they tried on one gown after another. Silk scraped my skin, lace scratched at my ribs, and every dress felt like a costume tight, suffocating, all wrong. Not a single one made me feel like a bride.

Tomorrow was the wedding.

My wedding.

I tilted my head, staring at the reflection. Who was this girl staring back? She looked like a ghost pale, lifeless, silent. The two bite marks on her neck stood out like fresh ink on parchment. One from Cayden. One from Caspian. Proof that I no longer belonged to myself.

Step-mom Selene finally snapped.

"Which one of these will suit you, you shapeless girl?" she hissed, her eyes scanning me like I was a problem that couldn’t be solved. Then she pointed toward the corner of the room, to a faded yellow gown folded on a stool. It looked dusty and old, something pulled out of a forgotten closet.

"That one should do." NovelFire

I nodded.

Not because I agreed, but because I was tired of fighting. Tired of caring.

parted slightly, and the words almost escaped. I wanted to scream no. I might not want this wedding, I might hate everything it stood for, but even I deserved more than that ragged piece of

my head reminded me

Don’t beg...Don’t cry.

her see

would wear that dress with a

I had them.

I had their marks.

daughter Natasha wanted so

and zipped it up. I turned to the mirror. It wasn’t hideous, just wrong. It clung to me in all the wrong places, didn’t

like the dress I imagined as a little

sit by my window, staring out at the sky until the sun burned my eyes. I’d imagine my wedding day barefoot on a beach, a soft breeze playing with my veil, a man waiting for me at

that girl was long

was stitched together with

when the

faithful shadows, Lilian and Sophia. The scent

gown that sparkled with beads and gold embroidery. It shimmered like it cost

looked like the

I looked for help.

council’s decision to name her mistress didn’t surprise me. It was predictable. I was a human. She was a pure-blooded she-wolf. I couldn’t bear their heir—not unless a miracle occurred. But still, seeing her flaunt it, seeing the way she relished in my pain,

of a wife," she giggled,

I simply ignored it.

on the mirror, silently

in my fists, grounding myself. I wouldn’t let them break me. Not now. Not

in both hands. She bowed low. "Madam, a gift for you... from Beta

The room stilled.

box from the maid’s hands before

this?" she

it open and

hands

"What?! What is

she saw

So did I.