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

words passed between us...None needed

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

were only waiting

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 one could tell me when or if she would., Still, it didn’t sit right

more than two days, or its soul could become trapped between realms. Even magic wouldn’t be able to bring peace then. But

yet, we had no

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

were carried out, the entire courtyard fell into a heavy silence. Not a single

caught in their

knelt to lower the coffins onto

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

voice low but firm, "then what do you expect of Cayden? Or the mother who is not even here to weep for

voice breaking with each syllable. "I can’t..."

was unbearable. The sight of those three identical coffins...so small, too small was enough to make even the most stone-hearted Elder pause. Then,

just before the platform and

departed children step forward,"

mother and father walked forward

shoulders square, hands trembling at his sides, stepped forward alone for the

Hazel. But I caught her attention with a slight shake

a small nod of understanding, though her

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

it hovered over the lid of Cyrius’ coffin. Her fingers never quite settled. It was Father who gently laid his palm across the polished

his twins’ coffins. His head dipped low, lips moving

as well, some whispering prayers of their own, others simply closing