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.

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

"You couldn’t even play it properly when it was

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

The air grew still.

his voice quieter, rawer. "And

you saying, Caspian?" my mother’s voice rang out from the upstairs

both ignored her. Everyone

leaving anywhere with

eyes with her. "It’s true, isn’t it? She’s my wife, right? That’s what you said. Then she’s cheated on me. She’s carrying another man’s

like wildfire. "And thank the

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

punished," I snapped. "Right here.

to me, squaring his shoulders like

child in her

didn’t blink. "Do you want us to

Caspian said,

needing to be told, we all turned toward the only person in

Aurora.

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

softly, her voice calm but commanding. "To see if Alpha Cayden is

need you both to

anyone could move, Hazel

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

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

she said, her voice cutting through the air. "No. I don’t want to prove

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

her

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

"Now look at what’s befallen me.

moved to walk away, but something inside

part of me not just

hand and yanked her

not leaving anywhere," I

am leaving," she hissed, her voice low and

everything between us—the betrayal, the pain, the heat, the longing—hung in

admitted

the rage burning in her eyes mirrored

words cut deep. "Not until you get the punishment

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

have started circling like vultures? You think

"No, Hazel. You

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

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