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 lower,

to the coven’s ancient spellwork now that they’re gone. When triplet alphas are born, witches prepare their fated prophecies ahead of time. Three strands were made when you

them again. All three pulsed with

is alive.

sliced through me like a serrated blade. My legs

I whispered. "Cayden said he killed him. I

lied," she said. "Or he thought

him," I growled, blood roaring in my

for

"Versa!"

instantly, I froze—paralyzed by magic. I snarled, my jaw tightening as I fought the invisible

"Don’t tell him I told you. He might come for

her hand, releasing

into the shadows, cloak

I didn’t waste time.

from my room and raced through the hallways, storming past stunned guards and

throwing open

Empty.

meetings. The rooftop. His sanctuary. His

I didn’t walk.

I jumped.

bottle in hand, staring at the moon like it held the answers to his

even turn at

me, brother?" he asked, voice too

I didn’t reply.

I lunged at him.

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

widened in

growled, voice like fire in

heartbeat spiked. That was

burning rage, I shoved Cayden off

a scream, at least a hard thud—anything that would satisfy the fury clawing at my chest. Something to match the betrayal. And

even a second

me. Correct content is

No broken

rooftop

of who he truly was. Sometimes I forgot—forgot that Cayden had shifted early, that he became an Alpha at just fourteen, that

growled low in my throat, nostrils flaring.

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

fist connected with his mouth, the

time, he

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

said coldly. "For days. You’ve been spiraling, Caspian. Be

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

didn’t wait. I jumped back to my

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

at me... and for the first time,

Remorse.

guilt. Not defiance. Just... exhaustion.

here," Cayden

I blinked. "What?"

didn’t repeat himself.

I followed him.

and tense. Down the stairwell of the high house, the echo of

stopped—at a small door under the

A hidden room.

used it. We never stored anything

Cayden opened the

where

My brother.

away in the dark. While we mourned him. While I fought beside Cayden, I thought the worst of Cyrius had already come to pass. While we

stepped aside, letting me enter

I walked in.

Not the cold of winter—this was