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.

continued facing me, "that’s fine. Nobody’s expecting you to play the

couldn’t even play it properly when it

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

The air grew still.

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

rang out from

ignored her. Everyone

"She’s not leaving anywhere with you, Caspian.

"It’s true, isn’t it? She’s my wife, right? That’s what you

letting my anger flood the room like wildfire. "And thank the gods it got revealed today. On our wedding

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

I snapped.

squaring

sure that child in her womb isn’t

didn’t blink. "Do you want us

Caspian said,

be told, we all turned toward the only person in the hall capable of settling

Aurora.

confidence, already knowing what was expected of her. The room gave way,

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

paused. "I need you both to stretch

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 much

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

to prove? That some monster is the father of my child? And

shook her

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

voice trembled now, just slightly. "Now look at what’s befallen me. I’ve seen exactly what

moved to walk away, but

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

grabbed her hand and yanked

leaving

hissed, her voice low

between us—the betrayal, the pain, the heat, the longing—hung in the air like

admitted everything. The night I let my guard down for

now... the rage burning

words cut deep. "Not until you get the punishment you

Her jaw clenched.

had 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

have started circling like vultures?

Hazel. You will

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

to face me fully, her chin