~Caspian’s POV~
Her body was limp in my arms, head resting lightly against my shoulder, but she clung to me like she belonged there. My fingers curled in the fabric of my shirt. Warm breath ghosted over my collarbone. My chest tightened. A hitch, like my heart, didn’t know what to do with the feeling that unfurled in me. It skipped just once and I almost stumbled.
I had never felt that before.
She was unconscious, unaware, and yet my wolf stirred like she had whispered his name. Nizen paced restlessly beneath the surface, humming in quiet agreement. Ours.
Behind me, Cayden’s voice kept grinding against my skull. "You know I didn’t mean to kill him, right?" he said. "He deserved it. Every single thing I did to him."
I didn’t stop walking. Couldn’t. If I did, I’d drop her or turn on him. Maybe both.
Then I lost it. I halted mid-step and turned halfway toward him with a snarl. My arms tightened protectively around her.
"But death?" I hissed, careful not to shake her. "Cayden—death? You killed our brother! We were triplets, for the Moon’s sake. You took one of us."
"He became a rogue," Cayden shot back, voice sharp, eyes dark. "He betrayed us. He betrayed everything we were meant to be."
I clenched my jaw, biting back what I really wanted to say. My fangs itched to break skin, but she was in my arms. I wouldn’t fight with her between us. Couldn’t.
"And you?" I ground out. "Aren’t you betraying the Moon Goddess too? By rejecting your mate?"
His eyes flared, but I didn’t care. "So this is about her, huh?" he spat. "Bringing back Cyrus’s dead memory because of a low-life human you met today? Are you even hearing yourself, brother?"
I didn’t respond. There was no point. I turned away from him, footsteps heavy as I walked on, shielding her with my body.
But it was like the land itself didn’t want her. Because the next moment, we were surrounded.
Growls erupted from the shadows, deep and furious. Wolves—at least six—emerged in full form, eyes locked on the girl in my arms. Lips curled, fangs gleaming beneath the moonlight, breath steaming in the cold night air. Ready to pounce.
My grip tightened. She whimpered, just the softest sound, and I held her closer.
"What is all this?" I barked, my voice echoing into the trees. "Aren’t you supposed to be finding your own damn mates?"
They didn’t move. It didn’t blink.
One of them stepped forward and growled low. My ears twitched. Nizen perked up. And then I understood.
"Sir Marcus told you to kill her?" I repeated, voice low, stunned. "He ordered you to bring her back dead?"
For one second—just one—my heart stopped. Then Nizen lost his mind.
My eyes shifted, vision sharpening. Fingernails lengthened into claws. Fangs pushed down over my lips, aching to be buried into flesh.
"You want to die tonight?" I growled, teeth bared. "Because you’re about two seconds away from it."
They did not move not even flinch
"She’s my mate," I snapped. "Your Beta’s mate. And your Alpha’s mate. So if you want to rethink your life choices, now would be the time."
Still, they didn’t move. One of them, larger than the rest, stepped forward and let out a deep snarl.
"A human?" it translated. "We’re not backing off. Beta Caspian, hand her over. You don’t want her blood on your hands."
Nizen howled inside me. My skin burned, my body aching to shift. But I couldn’t. Not here. Not with her clinging to me, still unconscious. Still fragile.
"Last chance," I said coldly, lowering her gently to the grass. I stood, cracked my neck, and let the change wash through me just enough to make it clear I wasn’t bluffing. "Say your last words."
My body tensed to leap—and then a voice broke through the rage.
"Be careful, brother."
Cayden.
The wolves stilled instantly.
He stepped through the trees, monstrous, blood dripping from his lips, his wolf barely restrained. He was always terrifying, but now? Now he looked like death incarnate. Like war.
He stopped beside me, eyes flicking to the girl on the ground.
Something passed through them. Then he looked up.
"Leave," he said simply.
And they did. No hesitation. No second guesses. They vanished into the trees like ghosts, their fury tucked beneath fear.
Of course, they feared him. Who wouldn’t fear Alpha Cayden?
He stood there for a moment, watching the empty forest, then turned to me. His hand rested on my shoulder, and I felt the weight of it.
"See?" he said quietly. "Even our own people want her dead. Let’s just... give her peace. A painless death. It’ll be a mercy."
I stared down at her. Her lashes fluttered, just barely. She looked so small, so human. So breakable.
And Cayden... was right.
She’d never be accepted. Not as Luna. Not even as an omega. Worse. They’d tear her apart. Not just the wolves. The council. The elders. The laws. Even Cayden himself, if his wolf took over.
Her whole life had been pain. Marcus and his family must have dealt with it all her life. The bastard even sent wolves to eat her alive? He would hear from me and Nizen.
My chest cracked open, and for a second I nearly agreed.
But no.
No.
"I’ll protect her," I whispered. "For the rest of her human days, I’ll protect her. I’ll give her the best life this cursed world can offer."
I bent and lifted her again, holding her like she was made of light. Cayden didn’t argue. Just followed behind me, muttering something under his breath.
We moved toward the High House, and as we approached the gates, the murmurs started. Eyes turned. Whispers bloomed like wildfire.
And then
A shrill scream.
"No! Caspain, you’re supposed to find me!"
A she-wolf, all powder and perfume, stumbled from the crowd. Her eyes scanned the crowd, wild and desperate until they landed on me.
More specifically, on her.
Her jaw dropped. She saw the way the girl fit into my arms. The way her head lolled against my chest like she belonged there.
"No," she gasped, voice breaking. "No. Not her."