Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers
Chapter 22: Fallen bride

Chapter 22: Fallen bride

~Hazel’s POV~

I stood frozen before the grand ceremonial hall, my fingers trembling against the soft fabric of my dress. The towering door covered everyone from my sight. My breath caught in my throat as Selene, her pale fingers cold on my arm, gently pushed one door open with a slow creak.

A wave of murmured voices faded into hushed silence as every pair of eyes in the hall turned to us.

I could feel Father’s steady presence behind me, a wall of pride and expectation. Selene remained at his side, her gaze sharp as glass. Ariel moved closer to me, her arm brushing mine, offering a sliver of comfort. I took a single step forward. The soft click of my heels against the polished marble echoed through the tense air.

Ariel walked at my side, while Natasha followed just behind us, her posture arrogant and head held high. Sophia and Lilian flanked her, graceful as shadows.

I looked up at the aisle and saw the two brothers who had been waiting for me.

Caspian.

Cayden.

One smiled. One frowned.

Caspian’s eyes glowed the moment they met mine. I had always wondered how the infamous mating bond truly felt, how it drew two souls together. Now, I didn’t have to wonder anymore the warmth that bloomed in my chest was undeniable. We hadn’t spent much time together, hadn’t spoken of love or life or dreams. Yet, the bond between us is something I’ll never get used to.

Then there was Cayden.

A storm. A wildfire. A shadow that haunted my life.

He reminded me of the hell I had endured, of the nights spent trembling and the days swallowed by fear. Yet... that same fire burning in his eyes was mirrored deep inside me, no matter how I tried to smother it.

A single breath.

I stepped onto the aisle.

Caspian reached out, his palm open, steady, inviting. Cayden mirrored the gesture beside him — but not for me. Natasha’s eyes gleamed with triumph as she slid her hand into his. He handed her a bouquet of crimson roses, his jaw clenched but his posture relaxed. The sight burned through me like acid.

Rage clawed at my heart.

Caspian gently took my trembling hand and raised it to his lips, pressing a warm kiss to my skin. A soft shiver raced through me, igniting a slow heat bloom in my stomach. I curtsied, barely able to keep my knees from buckling. He leaned in close, his breath brushing my ear.

"You look ravishing," he whispered.

I couldn’t stop the small blush that rose to my cheeks. I caught a flicker of something dark in Cayden’s eyes across the aisle — his fists tightened at his sides.

Elder Gina, robed in deep blue, stepped forward. Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, eyes sharp with ancient wisdom. She addressed Natasha with a cool tone.

"Please step down for now. This is the time for the couple."

Natasha’s face twisted, but she complied with a huff, stepping back with venom in her gaze.

Elder Gina turned to me. "Take their hands."

I swallowed, my throat tight, and reached out. Caspian’s hand was warm and sure; Cayden’s was cold and rigid. Elder Gina whispered the vows softly, her voice weaving through my dazed mind.

I turned to Caspian first, my voice steady despite the whirlwind inside me.

"I, Hazel Gilbert, vow to be your wife, to uphold my duties as your partner, to rule beside you and become the mate of your dreams."

The words settled in my heart like a fragile promise.

Caspian smiled, his voice rich and true.

"I, Caspian Salvatore, Beta of the Blue Moon Pack, vow to become the husband of your dreams, to rule by your side, to fill your life with happiness and joy."

Elder Gina nodded solemnly. "So shall it be, in the name of the Goddess."

She drew a line of cool ointment across our joined hands, and a wave of chills swept through me, deep and strange. My body trembled. But there was no time to linger — I turned toward Cayden.

The cold grew sharper. My breath caught. His gaze pinned me in place, searing through my soul.

Elder Gina whispered the words, but suddenly my voice faltered. My stomach twisted, my head pounding.

"C-Come on, Hazel... you can do this," I whispered to myself. free\NovelFire.c o(m)

"I... Hazel Gilbert, vow to protect you and be the mate of your—"

Before I could finish, Cayden lifted his hand in a sharp wave. "That’s enough. I don’t do vows. Let’s get this over with," he said, voice harsh and unyielding.

I stood frozen, heart sinking.

"Any vows for me?" Natasha called sweetly from behind.

Cayden smiled, a cruel twist of his lips. My heart plummeted. He moved away from me without hesitation, standing before Natasha. The elder’s words repeated coldly from his mouth:

"I, Alpha Cayden, vow to be your legal protector and ensure you bear my children — the future heirs of this pack."

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the hall. I couldn’t move. Selene and her daughters beamed with satisfaction; I nearly broke under the weight of shame. How foolish I had been — expecting even a sliver of respect from him. After that night, when he had marked me, when his eyes had burned with hunger, when he had touched me as if I were the only thing that mattered...

It had all been a lie.

Cayden returned, shoving me slightly toward Caspian as though I were dirt beneath his boot. Caspian caught me with a gentle hold, entwining our fingers. His smile held a quiet strength, as though he understood the storm brewing inside me.

"You may kiss the bride," Elder Gina declared. View the correct content at NovelFire.

Natasha, emboldened, strode toward Cayden. Caspian intercepted her smoothly. "You’re not the bride," he said coolly.

Cayden’s eyes darkened. "You don’t make decisions for me, brother." He grabbed Natasha by the waist and kissed her deeply before the entire pack.

A sharp stab twisted in my chest. Tears burned behind my eyes.

Caspian turned me gently toward him, his sky-blue eyes soft and unwavering. His hand cupped the side of my neck, pulling me close.

"Breathe," he whispered. Then his lips met mine.

Warmth surged through me, filling every hollow space I hadn’t known was empty. The kiss was slow, deliberate, reverent. My heart stilled, then soared. The world narrowed to this moment his mouth on mine, the steady strength of his hold, the unexpected tenderness.

As the kiss deepened, heat coiled in my stomach, until my breath came in short gasps. Caspian broke the kiss reluctantly, cheeks flushed.

The hall buzzed with awe, but beside me, the air thickened with a dangerous aura. I turned ....Cayden. His jaw was clenched tight, fists trembling with restraint.

Then something sharp pierced through me.

An invisible blade. A burning coil in my chest.

"Hazel!" I heard Ariel’s frantic voice.

Selene’s cruel laugh rang out. "See? She can’t handle both marks. She’s dying already."

The room swayed. Caspian caught me as my legs gave way, worry etching deep lines in his face.

Pain blossomed through my body, heavier, sharper. My vision blurred, faces melted into shadow.

I reached for breath. Couldn’t find it.

And then darkness.

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