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.

facing me, "that’s fine. Nobody’s expecting you

on Hazel’s hand. "You couldn’t even play it properly when it was your only

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

The air grew still.

rawer. "And

rang out from the upstairs balcony,

both ignored her.

not leaving anywhere with you, Caspian.

true, isn’t it? She’s my wife, right?

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

didn’t flicker. But inside, I knew I was trying to convince myself more

be punished," I snapped. "Right

squaring his shoulders like he was preparing for

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

you want us

Caspian

needing to be told, we all turned

Aurora.

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

her voice

you both to stretch

before anyone could

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

was the kind of laugh you let out when you’ve had enough. When the absurdity of it all becomes too

cutting through the air. "No. I don’t want to

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

shook her

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

at what’s befallen me.

moved to walk away, but something

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

her hand and yanked her

leaving anywhere,"

she hissed, her voice low and full of

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

like that night. The night I admitted everything. The night

burning

letting the words cut deep. "Not until

Her jaw clenched.

you think this is the perfect time to walk away? After you’ve destroyed my

enemies have started circling like vultures? You

another step forward. "No, Hazel. You will

maybe you’ll be

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