Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 90: Cruel joke

**~ Caspian’s POV ~**

Not long after Aurora and I stepped away from Hazel’s side, I felt the weight of it settle over me again.

She was right...Hazel needed rest. Whatever had broken inside her had shattered too hard, too fast. Her body was forcing her to stop, even if her mind wouldn’t. But while she slept, we had a funeral to attend.

My room felt colder than usual as I stepped inside, the shadows already lengthening across the floor. I walked toward the tall wardrobe and reached for my black cloak. the traditional mourning robe reserved for full moons, deaths, and disgrace. Tonight was all three.

The cloak felt heavier than usual as I slipped it over my shoulders.

It would soon be evening. The Blue Moon would rise. And under its light... we would bury them.

I swallowed hard. I didn’t know which part ached more burying my brother... or burying her babies.

I had failed...It was my fault.

If only I had gotten there faster... If only I hadn’t hesitated. If I had pushed harder, run quicker, sensed something was wrong before it happened.

They would still be alive. Hazel would be awake. Laughing. Holding them. Smiling at me with that light in her eyes I barely ever saw but would’ve died to protect. But I had let it all crumble. I had let it happen.

My jaw clenched. My fingers twitched at my side, aching to rip something apart.

When I stepped outside, the air was still. Too quiet. As if the entire realm was holding its breath.

Cayden was already there, dressed in black, standing like a statue by the edge of the gathering field. He hadn’t said a word to me since that day. None of us had. Not really.

His eyes were swollen...something I’d never seen before. My brother, the coldest of us, the most ruthless, had cried. He wasn’t crying now, but he had.

And the thought that the only thing powerful enough to break him was the loss of his children... it made my throat close.

him from losing control. One wrong look, one wrong breath, and Cayden could explode. And tonight wasn’t the night to battle his grief. His gaze

passed between

moments later. The Elders stepped out first, draped in ceremonial robes, followed by the

waiting for the

standing beside us, even if only to whisper one last goodbye. But her body had shut down completely. She had collapsed and hadn’t woken up since. And no

traditions, a body must not remain above ground for more than two days, or its soul could become trapped between realms. Even magic wouldn’t be able to bring peace then. But this... this felt too soon. Too

we

a sacred burial. Even if their mother couldn’t be here to

coffins were carried out, the entire courtyard fell into a heavy silence. Not a single sound, not even

caught in their

as the bearers knelt to lower the coffins onto the

came from my mother. Across from her, Father leaned in, whispering harshly under his breath, "Enough,

first. Just kept shaking. "If you are crying like this," he added, his voice low but firm, "then what do you expect of Cayden? Or the mother who is not even here to weep for

can’t," she stammered, her voice breaking with each syllable. "I

in my chest was unbearable. The sight of those three identical coffins...so small, too small was enough to make even the

before the platform and turned to the

departed children step forward,"

mother and father walked forward for

hands trembling at his sides,

But I caught her attention with

understanding, though her mouth pressed into a sad

your child’s casket," Gina instructed, "and whisper their name. Say your silent prayer, and let your

trembled violently as it hovered over the lid of Cyrius’ coffin. Her fingers never quite settled. It was

still for a moment, then placed both hands on his twins’ coffins. His head dipped low, lips moving

as well, some whispering prayers of their own,