Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 81: Sacrifice

**~ Cyrius’s POV ~**

They told me to stand back as they lit the candles around the half-fallen tree—where they had placed the babies. The air shifted, thick with incantations and strange power. The atmosphere was no longer natural; it had turned darker, heavier.

Then they started crying.

First Heather, then her brother.

Sharp, guttural cries. Cries that pierced through me like daggers.

I stepped forward immediately, heart racing, but one of the witches held me back.

"Don’t worry," she said quickly, her voice calm but her eyes watching me closely. "They’re fine. It’s just the beginning of the sacrifice. I’m sure they’ll survive it."

Survive it? The hell did she mean by that?

She could see it in my eyes—I wasn’t playing around. I didn’t care how powerful their little spell was. I wasn’t about to let these babies suffer.

They’re like mine now.. I’ve been with them since birth. I know their cries, habits, what makes them calm down, and what triggers them. I kept my damn sanity because of them.

But the witches didn’t stop. They began circling the tree stump, forming a tight barrier around the twins until I could no longer see them. Only their cries echoed back to me, muffled, but real. Painful.

I gritted my teeth.

"Calm down, Cyrius," I whispered to myself. "This is for the greater good. Think about the future. Think about the power."

But my heart was pounding like war drums. My whole body was on edge.

"Are you sure nothing’s going to happen to them?" I turned to the witch who was still standing beside me.

"I’m sure," she nodded softly. "You just need to breathe. If you need a break, take one—"

And then Heather let out a scream. Not just a cry.

A scream and it was high-pitched. Guttural. Painful. Before I even realized it, I snapped.

I shoved past the witches, ignoring their protests. I tore into the circle and grabbed both babies from the half-tree, wrapping them into my arms. Their cries began to settle immediately as I cradled them against my chest.

"You idiot!" one of the witches shouted. "You ruined the sacrifice! We’ll have to start all over!"

"I don’t give a damn," I snapped, glaring at them. "I said no pain. I meant it."

Their chanting stopped. I walked away from the circle, still holding the twins close. Their bodies were warm against mine, still a little shaken, but safe.

both of them close, I reached into the small cloth pouch at my side and brought out the

slowly. "You’re

me. "You’re quite the passionate

The one who had first brought me

added quickly, raising her hands. "If anything, I should be afraid of you. You’re stronger than me right

be sitting so

faintly. "I’m Davina, by the way." She offered a

bit occupied." I said

this," she admitted. "That was, you know, until

after a pause. "She’s my mate. That

tilted her head. "So

nodded. "The

god," she breathed, "It

looked down at the boy, still unsure. "I haven’t named

she offered..."Sebastian?" I

"It feels right. That scowl? He’s definitely going

huffed. "I’ll think about

not trying to harm the babies. The scream you heard from Heather? That wasn’t pain—it was power.

right. They looked

"you’re going to need to decide if you’re strong enough to finish

down

Heather. Sebastian?

what I’d become.

anyone else touch her—she was stubborn, just like her mother.

the spell again," one of them snapped, glaring

babies back down. Heather whimpered slightly, and it

wind shifted sharply. The atmosphere turned electric and heavy—like the very air was pulsing. I stiffened. Something didn’t feel

turned to Davina beside me. Her bow was already in her hand, her fingers tense against the string. Her eyes darted toward the trees, and

her breath.

"How?" I

damn Aurora...

home. My prison. "They’d figure it out eventually," I muttered. "Caspian’s probably with them. Maybe

and gave a quiet signal. I watched the witches spring into motion—scaling trees, blending into the shadows. I joined her atop one of the thicker branches, crouching low

they spotted us?" she

yet," I

it—the scent. That

friend. Out of the three of us, I had always preferred him.