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.

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

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

flexed, and his eyes flicked toward me. "I’ll be taking Hazel," he said,

The air grew still.

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

voice rang out from the

we both ignored her. Everyone

spoke "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?

thank the gods it got revealed today.

knew I was trying to convince myself

be punished," I snapped.

squaring his shoulders like

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

didn’t blink. "Do you want

here," Caspian said,

And without needing to be told, we all turned toward the only person in the hall capable of settling the

Aurora.

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

voice calm

paused. "I need you both to stretch

before anyone could move, Hazel

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

you’ve had enough. When the absurdity of it all becomes

voice cutting through the air. "No. I don’t

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

shook her

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

look at what’s befallen me. I’ve

to walk away,

it—her walking out, her disappearing. Some part of me not just my mind, but Ragnar—raged against the

her hand and yanked

not leaving

hissed, her voice low

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

night. The night I admitted everything. The night

now... the rage burning

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

Her jaw clenched.

now you think this is the perfect time

have started circling like vultures? You think you’ll walk

forward. "No, Hazel. You will

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

fully, her chin