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

his grip on Hazel’s hand. "You couldn’t even play it properly when it

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

The air grew still.

he added, his voice quieter, rawer. "And this pack? It’s

voice rang out

we both ignored her. Everyone

leaving anywhere with you, Caspian. Not until

isn’t it? She’s my

thank the gods it got revealed

inside, I knew I

punished," I snapped.

squaring his shoulders like he was preparing

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

didn’t blink. "Do you want us to do a

here," Caspian

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

Aurora.

stepped forward from the crowd with quiet confidence, already knowing what was expected of her. The room

find out," she said softly, her voice calm but commanding. "To see if Alpha Cayden is truly

both to stretch out

could move, Hazel

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

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

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

lifted, eyes steady and unwavering. "What’s there to prove? That some monster is the father of my

shook her head.

I am leaving. I’m done with this pack. I should’ve run away days ago. I don’t know

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

away, but something

of me couldn’t take it—her walking out, her disappearing. Some part of me not just my mind, but Ragnar—raged against the idea of never

her hand and

not leaving anywhere,"

am leaving," she hissed, her voice low and full

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

night I admitted everything. The night I let my

rage burning

words cut deep. "Not

Her jaw clenched.

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

enemies have started circling like vultures?

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

test. Prove I’m the father. Then maybe you’ll be allowed to walk away—after you’ve birthed the child. Or refuse,

turned to face me fully, her chin high, her