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.

"that’s fine. Nobody’s expecting you to

Hazel’s hand. "You couldn’t even play it

toward me. "I’ll be taking Hazel," he said, louder now. "And I’ll

The air grew still.

rawer. "And this pack? It’s lost its meaning

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

we both ignored her. Everyone

leaving anywhere with you, Caspian. Not until

her. "It’s true, isn’t it? She’s my wife,

wildfire. "And thank the gods it got revealed today. On our wedding

I was trying to

I snapped.

squaring his shoulders like he was preparing for a

you sure that child in her womb isn’t yours?" he

blink. "Do you want us to do

Caspian

And without needing to be told, we all turned toward

Aurora.

was expected of her. The room gave way, and her presence silenced the

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

both to stretch out

could move, Hazel

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

had enough. When the absurdity of it all becomes too

she said, her voice cutting through the air. "No.

lifted, eyes steady and unwavering. "What’s there to prove? That some monster is the father of my child? And that I’ll

her

coming, I am leaving. I’m done with this pack. I should’ve run away days ago.

slightly. "Now look at what’s befallen

walk away, but something

part of me not just my mind, but

her hand and yanked her

leaving anywhere," I

am leaving," she hissed, her

locked. The weight of everything between us—the betrayal, the pain, the heat, the longing—hung in the air like a

night I admitted everything. The

rage burning in

not leaving," I repeated, stepping closer, letting the words cut

Her jaw clenched.

And now you think this is the perfect time to walk away? After you’ve destroyed my name? After packs are on their way to challenge

started circling like vultures? You think you’ll

step forward. "No, Hazel. You will get the punishment

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

her

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