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.

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

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

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

The air grew still.

voice quieter, rawer. "And this

you saying, Caspian?" my mother’s voice rang

we both ignored her. Everyone

then I spoke "She’s not leaving anywhere with you, Caspian. Not until I’ve

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

room like wildfire. "And thank the gods

But inside, I knew I was

be punished," I snapped. "Right

stepped closer to me, squaring his

in her womb isn’t yours?" he asked

"Do you want us

Caspian said,

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

Aurora.

crowd with quiet confidence, already knowing what was expected

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

you both to stretch out your

anyone could move,

Not hysterically. Not nervously.

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

said, her voice cutting through the

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

shook her head.

she turned to Caspian, eyes softening only slightly. "I suggest we leave. Even if you’re not coming, I am leaving. I’m done with this pack. I should’ve

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

moved to walk away, but something

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

her hand and yanked her

not leaving

leaving," she hissed, her voice low and

the pain,

night. The night I admitted everything. The night I let

now... the rage burning

words cut

Her jaw clenched.

chance to run away all this time. But you didn’t. And now you think this is the perfect time to walk away?

have started circling like vultures?

forward. "No, Hazel. You will get the

turned back to Aurora. "Take this test. Prove I’m the father. Then maybe you’ll be allowed to walk away—after you’ve birthed the

fully, her