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.

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

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

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

The air grew still.

rawer. "And this pack? It’s lost its

rang

both ignored her. Everyone

not leaving anywhere with you,

isn’t it? She’s my wife, right? That’s what you said. Then

"And thank

didn’t flicker. But inside, I knew I was

I snapped. "Right here. Right

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

that child in her womb isn’t yours?"

want us to do

here," Caspian

crowd murmured in shock. And without needing to be told, we all turned toward the only person in the hall capable

Aurora.

what was expected

one way to find out," she said softly, her voice calm but commanding. "To see if Alpha Cayden

paused. "I need you both to stretch out your

could move, Hazel

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

when you’ve had enough. When the

the air. "No. I don’t want to prove

and unwavering. "What’s there to prove? That some monster is the father of my child? And that I’ll possibly bring another monster into

shook her head.

softening only slightly. "I suggest we leave. Even if you’re not coming, I am leaving. I’m

what’s befallen me. I’ve seen exactly what I needed to

away, but something

part of me not just my mind, but Ragnar—raged against the idea of never seeing

hand and

not leaving anywhere,"

leaving," she hissed, her voice low and

everything between us—the betrayal, the pain, the

exactly like that night. The night I admitted everything. The night I let my

rage burning

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

Her jaw clenched.

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

circling like vultures? You

"No, Hazel. You

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

turned to face me fully, her chin high, her eyes brighter