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.

gently on his arm, grounding him. I knew she was doing everything in her power to keep him from losing control. One wrong look, one wrong breath, and Cayden could explode. And tonight wasn’t the night to battle his

between us...None

to the High House opened moments later. The Elders stepped out first, draped in ceremonial robes, followed by the silent procession

waiting for

She had collapsed and

above ground for more than two days, or its soul could become trapped between realms. Even magic

yet, we had no

sacred burial. Even if

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

breaths caught in their

bearers knelt to lower the coffins onto the

from her, Father leaned in,

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

her voice breaking with each syllable. "I can’t..." I clenched my fists at

sight of those three identical coffins...so small, too small was

the platform and turned to the

the departed children step forward," she

mother and father walked forward for

shoulders square, hands trembling at his sides, stepped

to the side, searching for Hazel. But I caught her attention with a slight shake

gave a small nod of understanding, though her mouth pressed

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

fingers never

a moment, then placed both hands on his twins’ coffins. His head

well, some whispering prayers of their