Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers

Chapter 99: punishment

*~ Cyrius’s POV ~*

Hazel’s scent wasn’t everywhere...but it was enough.

Faint traces danced on the wind, almost deliberate, like someone had dragged it through the underbrush with a purpose. I knew what that meant. I could feel it. If Cayden and the others were tracking her and they were, no doubt..they wouldn’t need much. Not in this forest. The odds of them coming here alone were low, but not nothing.

And tonight... they’d be everything.

That’s why I hadn’t slept. My nerves were fraying. I’d waited for her to settle, for the babies to grow heavy in their sleep, for that brief illusion of peace. But it never came.

Hazel had said she caught her hand while slicing the deer meat earlier—but I didn’t smell it. Not then.

Only now, hours later, her scent had spread she did something and she had done it on purpose.

She had spread her scent through the woods. Probably while I was sleeping . Clever little traitor.

My heart began to race. Something primal stirred in my chest..panic, rage, the overwhelming instinct to flee before it was too late. I clenched my fists tightly at my sides, grounding myself, but it was no use.

Then I heard it. Faint movement. Leaves crunching. A shift of weight, somewhere deep in the trees.

They were here.. I knew it.

I stood quickly and turned toward Hazel and the babies, still curled in the corner of the hut. I knelt beside her, shaking her gently. "Hazel. Hazel...wake up. They’re here. We have to move. Now."

She startled awake with a gasp and nearly screamed, but I clamped my hand over her mouth before the sound escaped.

hissed, voice low but sharp. "You did this, didn’t you?

but the flicker of guilt in her eyes told me

worry. I’ll punish you for that. Thoroughly. But

twins..still asleep, thank the gods. How I was going to escape with a rebellious woman and two fragile, whimpering newborns, I had no idea. But I still had a sliver of time. A sliver

And I’d use it.

locked. "You will do exactly as I say," I whispered, letting the command bleed

it again," she breathed. "You’re compelling

replied coldly. "Because your will does not align with mine. So I’m shifting yours

resist, she stood up and without another word, she began

a flash of movement caught my eye..a carriage

wouldn’t get us far, but it would be enough

again, still under my control,

to outsmart me? I need to

the cruelest idea crept

to be clever, then fine. She’d learn what it meant

calm, sharp. "And once you’re up there, you’ll keep

turned to the tree, then back to

she whispered, voice breaking. "Cyrius, please... don’t do

against mine—but I pulled away like her touch burned me. My jaw clenched. The anger

in the sky. You wanted your little saviors to find you. Well, congratulations. They’re here. But

"Please," she whispered again,

upon yourself," I snapped. "Be thankful your hand has healed..they won’t be able to track

still shaking her head.

"Not another word."