Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

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 asked, my voice

their fated prophecies ahead of time. Three strands were made when you were born. When a

raised them again. All three pulsed with

is alive. Breathing.

serrated blade. My legs buckled slightly as my mind

killed him. I remember—he said—he saw it

"Or he thought he killed him

growled, blood roaring in

for

"Versa!"

snarled, my jaw tightening as I fought the

"Don’t tell him I told

waved her hand,

she disappeared into the shadows, cloak swirling behind

I didn’t waste time.

room and raced through the hallways, storming

yelled, throwing open his chamber

Empty.

in one place after council meetings.

I didn’t walk.

I jumped.

rooftop, and there he was—sitting on the edge, bottle in hand, staring at the moon like it

turn at the sound

to join me, brother?" he asked, voice

I didn’t reply.

I lunged at him.

hand wrapped around his throat and shoved him back so fast the bottle shattered against the stone. His legs dangled

eyes widened in pure

voice like fire in my throat.

heartbeat spiked. That was all the answer

sheer, burning rage, I

snap, maybe a scream, at least a hard thud—anything that would satisfy the fury clawing at my chest. Something to match the betrayal. And maybe a few hours’ worth of

even a second

was behind me. Correct content is

No blood. No broken bones.

the rooftop like nothing had

him. I didn’t have to. I could feel the force of his power behind me like static in the air, a reminder of who he truly was. Sometimes I forgot—forgot that Cayden had shifted early, that

my throat,

figure it out someday," Cayden muttered. "But I didn’t think

at him again. My fist connected with his

he didn’t

He retaliated.

up and gripped

Too tight.

wheezing as I tasted copper in my mouth. Blood. I was choking on my blood while he looked at me like I was a child throwing

coldly. "For days. You’ve been

flung me across the rooftop. I landed hard on my back, wind knocked out of me. Pain radiated

back to

from me!" I snarled in his face. "Where is he? Tell

looked at me... and for the first time, I

Remorse.

defiance. Just...

Cayden said

I blinked. "What?"

himself. Just turned

I followed him.

the stairwell of the high house, the echo of our steps bouncing

we stopped—at a small door under the main

A hidden room.

of it. We all did. But no one used it. We never

Cayden opened

where Cyrius had

My brother.

dark. While we mourned him. While I fought beside Cayden, I thought the worst of Cyrius

opened the door and stepped aside,

I walked in.

cold. Not the cold of winter—this was something