Chapter 19: The coffin

Author’s Note: Bonus Chapter Because It’s My Birthday! 🖤

~ Caspian’s POV ~

The council meeting was short and precise and as soon as it ended, I rushed to my chambers. The door clicked shut behind me, and the weight of everything hit me like a steel wall. I ripped off my shirt and threw it aside, letting my skin finally breathe.

Nizen...

The shift still clung to me. I could feel my wolf pacing just beneath the surface, still too close, still too agitated. We hadn’t bonded fully in days. I needed to let him speak.

"Hazel." His voice came sharp and deep in my mind. My wolf’s voice was never soft, but this time it carried more than command. It carried longing. View the correct content at NovelFire.

I exhaled, rolling my shoulders.

I felt it too.

Meeting Hazel had changed everything. The moment I scented her, my body stopped moving on autopilot. The bond was undeniable. I had the maids send one of the best dresses in New Orleans for our wedding. But a question still needled at the back of my mind like a splinter I couldn’t remove.

Is she truly human?

Before I could spiral further, a gentle knock echoed against the door.

My brows furrowed. No one should be on this floor. "Who’s there?" I called out.

"Aurora."

That name was enough to jolt me upright.

Aurora wasn’t just anyone. She was the only witch allowed within our pack’s borders—hell, the only one welcome in all of New Orleans. And even then, barely. Wolves were still bitter about what the witches had done—trapping us in our wolf forms under the Blue Moon’s curse. It had taken years to break it.

Cayden broke it first.

But Aurora had helped him free the rest of us. Without her, we’d still be feral, buried in fur and madness.

Still, her presence here, alone, unguarded?

I yanked my shirt back on and flung open the door, grabbing her by the wrist and yanking her inside before anyone saw her.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I hissed, scanning the hallway before shutting the door. "You’re supposed to stay in your chambers. The others would tear you apart if they saw you roaming freely."

"I’d love to see them try," she said with that smirk that never seemed to fade. She walked further in, her movements slow and deliberate, like a queen entering her throne room. Her long red hair gleamed under the lantern light, and her emerald eyes were sharp enough to slice steel.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "You’re insane."

"No," she said smoothly, seating herself on the edge of my bed like she owned the place. "I’m here for something important."

I crossed my arms, waiting.

Then she reached into her cloak and drew out three strands glowing, silver-threaded strands of energy, hovering gently between her fingers. The air crackled.

"What is that?" I asked, eyes narrowing.

"Mating strands," she said, her voice unusually serious now. "Proof that the triplet brothers of this pack have each found their mates."

"Yes," I said cautiously. "We have."

My brows furrowed. Why was she telling me what I already knew?

"I said triplets, Caspian," she said, her tone deliberate, slow, and unnervingly calm. "Not two brothers."

I frowned. "We are triplets. Or we were. One died. Cyrius died. Cayden killed him."

She didn’t blink.

"Then explain why THREE strands are glowing." she emphasized on the ’Three’.

My entire body stilled. I stepped back slightly, unsure whether I’d heard her correctly.

"No," I muttered. "No, that’s not possible. He’s dead. Death doesn’t unlink a bond. That must be it. Even in death, we’re connected."

Aurora rose to her feet, slowly walking toward me. "These strands only appear for the living, Beta Caspian."

My breath hitched.

say?" I

that they’re gone. When triplet alphas are born, witches prepare their fated prophecies ahead of time. Three strands were made when you were born. When a mate

again. All three

alive. Breathing.

serrated blade. My legs buckled slightly as my mind tried

whispered. "Cayden said he killed

he thought

I growled, blood roaring in

stormed for the

"Versa!"

by magic. I snarled, my jaw tightening as I fought the invisible

she said softly, stepping forward. "Don’t tell him

waved her

word, she disappeared into the

I didn’t waste time.

bolted from my room and raced through the

I yelled, throwing open his chamber door.

Empty.

was always in one place after council meetings. The rooftop.

I didn’t walk.

I jumped.

body landed soundlessly on the rooftop, and there he was—sitting on the edge, bottle in hand, staring at the moon like it held the answers to his

didn’t even turn at the sound of

join me, brother?" he asked,

I didn’t reply.

I lunged at him.

back so fast the bottle shattered against the stone. His legs dangled over

widened in

fire in my

spiked. That was all

I

satisfy the fury clawing at my chest. Something to match the betrayal. And maybe a few hours’ worth

even

me. Correct

blood. No broken bones.

on the rooftop like

in the air, a reminder of who he truly was. Sometimes I forgot—forgot that Cayden had shifted early, that he became

my throat, nostrils flaring. "Where is

muttered. "But I didn’t think it’d be this

him again. My fist connected with his mouth, the

he didn’t

He retaliated.

up and gripped my throat.

Too tight.

choked, wheezing as I tasted copper in my mouth. Blood. I was choking on my blood while

"For days. You’ve

the rooftop. I landed hard on

I jumped back to my feet

kept our brother away from me!" I snarled in his face. "Where is he?

and for the

Remorse.

guilt. Not defiance. Just... exhaustion. Heavy, unbearable

Cayden said

I blinked. "What?"

repeat himself. Just turned

I followed him.

the

we stopped—at a small door under the

A hidden room.

But no one used it. We

Cayden opened the

is where

My brother.

him. While I fought beside Cayden, I thought the

and stepped

I walked in.

room was cold. Too cold. Not the

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