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.

low but sharp. "You did this, didn’t you? You spread your scent. Thought

didn’t answer, but the flicker of guilt

"Don’t worry. I’ll punish you for that. Thoroughly. But not here.

reached down and scooped up the twins..still asleep, thank the gods. How I was going to escape with a rebellious woman and two fragile,

And I’d use it.

turned back to Hazel, gripping her chin and lifting her face to mine. Our eyes locked. "You will do exactly as I say," I

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

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

up and without another word,

woods until a flash of movement caught my eye..a carriage

us far, but it

Hazel again, still under my

something twisted inside me—aHow dare she try to outsmart me? I need to teach her a lesson so she wouldn’t do it

when the cruelest

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

the tallest tree ahead, its branches stretching like skeletal arms into the dawn-stained sky. "Climb it," I said, my voice calm, sharp. "And once you’re up there, you’ll keep your eyes on the path. They will come—yes, they will call your name, they will search... but they will not find you. And

She turned to the tree, then back to

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

fingers trembling as they brushed against mine—but I pulled away like her touch burned me. My jaw clenched. The anger

I hissed. "You spread your scent like a flare in the sky. You wanted your little saviors to

her eyes, those stubborn eyes that always held too much fire. "Please," she whispered again,

thankful your hand has healed..they won’t be

sob, still shaking her head.

"Not another word."