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.

by, her hand resting 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

words passed between us...None needed

out first, draped in ceremonial robes, followed by the silent procession of pack wolfes. Everyone

only waiting for

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,

traditions, a body must not remain above ground for more than two days, or its soul could become trapped

we

if their mother couldn’t be here

into a

caught

knelt to lower the coffins onto the sacred platform, I heard the first

Across from her, Father leaned in, whispering harshly

shaking. "If you are crying like this," he added, his voice low but firm, "then what do you expect

each syllable. "I can’t..." I clenched my fists at my

my chest 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, Elder Gina

just before the platform and turned to

the departed children step forward," she

mother and father walked forward

his sides, stepped forward

But I caught her attention with a slight shake

of understanding, though her mouth

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

Cyrius’ coffin. Her fingers never quite settled. It

his

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