Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 26: Hard-headed Girl...

~Cayden’s POV~

"I disown you!"

Hazel stood there, frozen for a moment. Her breathing was shaky, her eyes glistening with tears—but not from sorrow. No. Not anymore.

She smiled.

Soft at first. Then it bloomed, wider. Calmer. Almost serene. Like she’d finally realized something for the first time.

And then she spoke, voice steady, rising with each word.

"That would be the biggest favor you’ve ever done me," she said, almost like she was thanking him. "Because since when have I ever been considered your daughter? Since when have I ever been considered a Gilbert?"

She let the words breathe, stepping closer. Her voice sharpened, trembled at the edge but didn’t falter.

"So you disowning me... you think that’s something, right, Father?"

She laughed, the sound hollow, aching. "You don’t even deserve that title. You’ve done nothing but bring pain into my life. Nothing but pain!" she yelled, her voice cracking now. Years of agony poured out in that sentence.

Marcus’s face reddened, fists clenched at his sides.

"And what are you bringing to the High House now, huh?" he snapped back. "Shame."

He pointed a finger at her stomach like it was poison. "That bastard," Marcus said, gesturing toward me. "Would you allow your own wife—the one you just wedded—to be embarrassed publicly, carrying a child? A mistake in her womb? Is that what this has become?"

The words barely left his mouth when a voice cut across the room. It was low at first, but every syllable carried razor-edge command.

"Do you want me to repeat myself again, Marcus?"

The room shifted. Everyone turned.

Caspian.

He stood tall, voice calm but steel beneath it. His eyes burned like fire, not a trace of hesitation in his stance.

"Haven’t I told you not to speak ill of my wife like that again?"

The silence that followed wasn’t shocked—it was deadly.

Marcus flinched. That was all it took. He shut his mouth, jaw tightening, pride swallowed.

Then Caspian stepped forward—past me, past the crowd—and took Hazel gently by the hand. Without a word, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her temple. Then her forehead. And finally, her lips.

He held her like she was the only thing that mattered. And then—he looked directly at Marcus, his voice cold and clear:

"She is carrying your grandson."

The entire hall gasped again, some wolves murmuring, others too stunned to move.

you’re not accepting," Caspian continued facing me, "that’s fine. Nobody’s expecting you

hand. "You couldn’t even play it properly when it was your

and his eyes flicked toward me. "I’ll be taking Hazel," he said, louder

The air grew still.

his voice quieter, rawer. "And this pack? It’s

you saying, Caspian?" my mother’s voice rang out

both ignored

anywhere with you, Caspian. Not until

turned to the crowd, then back to Hazel, locking eyes with her. "It’s true, isn’t it? She’s my wife, right? That’s what you said. Then she’s cheated on me.

"And thank the gods

inside, I knew I

I snapped. "Right here. Right

and stepped closer to me, squaring his shoulders like he was preparing for a

in her womb isn’t yours?" he

blink. "Do you want us to do a

here," Caspian said,

we all turned toward the only person in the

Aurora.

crowd with quiet confidence, already knowing what was expected of her. The room gave way, and her presence

said softly, her voice calm but commanding. "To see if Alpha Cayden is truly

"I need you both to

before anyone could

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

of laugh you let out when you’ve had enough. When the absurdity

the

prove? That some monster is the father

her head.

only slightly. "I suggest we leave. Even if you’re not coming, I am leaving. I’m done with this pack. I should’ve run away days ago. I

now, just slightly. "Now look at what’s

away, but something inside

of me not just my mind, but Ragnar—raged against the idea

hand

not leaving anywhere," I

am leaving," she hissed, her voice low and full

The weight of everything between us—the betrayal, the pain, the

admitted everything. The night I let my

burning in

closer, letting the words cut deep. "Not until you get the punishment you

Her jaw clenched.

chance to run away all this time. But you didn’t. And now you think this is the perfect time to

started circling like vultures? You think

step forward. "No, Hazel. You will

Aurora. "Take this test. Prove I’m the father. Then maybe you’ll be allowed to walk away—after you’ve birthed the child.

me fully, her chin high, her eyes