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.

fine. Nobody’s expecting you

even play it

jaw flexed, and his eyes flicked toward me. "I’ll be taking Hazel," he said, louder now. "And I’ll be leaving

The air grew still.

lost everything," he added, his voice quieter, rawer. "And this pack?

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

we both ignored her. Everyone

"She’s not leaving anywhere with you, Caspian. Not until I’ve punished

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

thank the gods

I knew I was

punished," I snapped.

to me, squaring

child in her womb isn’t

blink. "Do you want us

here," Caspian

murmured in shock. And without needing to be told, we all turned toward

Aurora.

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

voice calm but commanding. "To

need you both

could move,

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

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

through the air. "No. I don’t want to

prove? That some monster is the father of my child? And that I’ll possibly bring another monster into this

her head.

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 don’t know why I

slightly. "Now look at what’s befallen me. I’ve seen exactly what I needed to

to walk away, but something inside

couldn’t take it—her walking out, her disappearing. Some part of me not just my mind,

her hand and

not leaving anywhere,"

her voice low

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

I admitted everything.

rage burning in her eyes

repeated, stepping closer, letting the words cut deep. "Not

Her jaw clenched.

the chance to run away all this time. But you didn’t. 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 me—because of

vultures? You think you’ll

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

you’ll be allowed to walk away—after you’ve birthed the child. Or refuse,

her chin high, her