Chapter 197: A sharp idea.
*~Hazel’s POV~*
"You know what?" I snapped, my voice raw with fire and heartbreak. "If you’re ready to sacrifice your souls for nothing, then I’m not going to let you go."
I turned to Caspian. "You used to say, ’It’s either we win or we win.’ There’s no losing. So why are you going against your own words now?" My voice cracked. "Why are you breaking the very principle that defined you?"
Then I looked to Cyrius, tears welling in my eyes.
"And you. You promised me you’d be with me forever. You promised we’d build a life together, that we’d live together. You said we’d be more than tragedy—you said we’d be happy."
I turned sharply to Cayden, my throat tightening.
"And what about you, Cayden? What happened to being a good parent? What happened to being the father who’d always be there? Is this how a good father behaves?"
"Hazel—"
"Don’t Hazel me!" I roared.
I stepped back, chest heaving. "You’re not asking me to lose one of you. Or even two. You’re asking me to lose all three. At once."
My voice fell, barely a whisper now. "When you died, I couldn’t even process it. I couldn’t mourn. I couldn’t believe it. I kept telling myself you weren’t truly gone. You couldn’t be."
I swallowed hard.
"And when Lilith said she found a way—that you were only trapped in the afterlife—I was relieved. I was hopeful. I thought maybe the goddess was giving me one more chance."
I looked at them all, trembling. "So I came here for you. I came here to bring you home. And now you’re telling me... you’ve already decided to throw it all away."
My fists clenched at my sides. "No. All three of you are coming back with me. We are not leaving each other. This—" I pointed to the barren land around us, "—is not our home."
Caspian stepped forward then, gently taking my hand.
"Yes," he said softly. "I used to say it’s either we win or we lose."
He smiled, eyes glistening. "And we are still winning."
He stretched his other hand toward Cyrius and Cayden, pulling all of us into one small, trembling circle.
"We are beating nature. She gave us a choice: you and the babies, or everyone. We chose ourselves. We gave her what she asked for. There is no loss in that."
I looked into Caspian’s soft blue eyes, knowing deep down this would be the last time I ever saw them.
"You’re wrong," I whispered. "I’ll have the babies. I’ll have Aurora. My mother. Leon. The pack. But nothing—" my voice cracked— "nothing compares to the three of you. You are my home. You are my love. I love you."
A sad chuckle escaped Cyrius. "So this is how you finally confess your feelings? When we’re about to die?"
Cayden rolled his eyes but his voice was tight. "It’s cruel. To hear it now. I almost wish you hadn’t said it. Because it makes leaving a thousand times harder."
I turned my gaze to the three of them—so similar, yet so unique. Their bond, their shared blood, their love for me... it melted every wall I’d ever built.
And this would be the last time I saw it.
I shook my head, tears streaming. "I still don’t want to accept it."
"But maybe... maybe you’re right."
I took a slow breath. Maybe if I brought them home, I’d lose my babies. My twins.
Cayden reached out and gently touched my chest.
"We’re not truly gone," he whispered. "We can never truly die."
He tapped over my heart.
"We’re always here. Always... and forever."
I hugged all three of them tightly, wrapping my arms around them like I’d never let go. I turned to Caspian first, hugging him close. Then Cyrius. Then Cayden. Each one of them pressed a kiss to my cheek, gently, like it would be the last.
"Go, Hazel," Caspian whispered. "Go live a life."
I started walking away, my heart crumbling with every step.
Nature... I will never forgive you for this. Never. Not Mother Nature. Not the Moon Goddess. Not anyone.
But then... A thought hit me.
I froze, My eyes widened as an idea sparked like lightning in my mind.
Slowly, I turned back.
"Hazel," Caspian growled, already sensing the madness in my silence. "Go."
"No," I said, stepping forward. "You said nature wants me. Or my babies. Or all supernatural creatures. By its your bond as alpha triplets that makes you powerful enough to satisfy her, right?"
"Yes," Cayden replied cautiously, twisting his head back. "But.."
I raised my hand. "Vampires."
Cyrius raised an eyebrow. "What about them?"
"Vampires are new creatures entirely. They weren’t born of the moon goddess. They’re outsiders to the original supernatural balance. What if... what if we give nature the vampires instead? All of them."
Caspian stiffened. "Cyrius is a vampire."
"But he wasn’t born one," I snapped. "Magic made him that. Just like my babies—they created the vampire bloodline. If nature takes vampires, Cyrius will only lose his vampiric side. My twins will lose their vampire powers too."
I stepped closer, my voice rising with passion. "That means my babies won’t be a threat anymore. They won’t carry a whole bloodline on their backs. They’ll still be special—but not strong enough to defy nature. Nature will be in control again."
The three of them looked at each other. I could see it in their eyes—my plan made sense. They just didn’t want to accept it.
"Hazel..." Cyrius finally said, "That’s a clever idea. But it’s risky. This is a baby’s life we’re talking about."
"I know," I said. "But my twins are not full vampires. They’re part wolf, part Crescent, part witch. Losing their vampire half won’t kill them. And as for Cyrius, you’re still a werewolf. Nature can take your dark side—but it doesn’t need to take you."
Cayden’s voice dropped. "The vampires are with Dahlia now."
"Exactly," I said. "If we destroy Dahlia, the vampires she commands will return to their origin—my twins. And then we offer them all to nature. The bloodline will end. You won’t have to die."
A tense silence filled the air.
"We will go," I said, straightening my spine. "We will destroy Dahlia. C’mon letsqqaa
"You don’t understand," Caspian murmured. "We can’t leave this place until nature takes something. It’s a law. A spiritual lock."
"Then I’ll give her something," I growled. "I’ll drag Dahlia down myself. I’ll burn with her in hell if I have to—just to bring my husbands home."
"Hazel..."
"I have your entire pack under my control now," I said with fire in my chest. "I am Alpha. And not just of the wolves—I’m going to rule the Crescents too. And with the witches, thanks to Aurora... I will end Dahlia."
Cyrius whistled low. "Damn. She really is our mate."
I smirked, lifting my chin proudly. "I’m not just your mate. I’m the Alpha. And I’m taking back everything that was stolen from us."
Caspian’s eyes gleamed faintly with pride. "I’m not fully betting on this plan..." he said softly, "but if you manage to pull it off—and come back alive..."
He paused.
"I’ll owe you my entire life."