Entangled With My Alpha Triplets

Twenty nine

~Hazel~

Asher was going on about the wedding plans while my heart hammered louder than anything else in the room. My mind was stuck somewhere else—on Tyler. The memory of his touch and threat lingered over than I expected.

"Asher, are you sure we can pull this off tonight?" My voice was too shaky for someone who instigated the idea.

He smiled down at me, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "As much as I wanted this to be your dream wedding, I'll have to make the designers sleep over against tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? But Asher, we agreed on tonight."

"Babe, it's almost evening, there's no way we are going to pull it off unless you really want a mere exchange of vows." He was so insistent on making it blissful.

I finally nodded in defeat, but my stomach churned. It wasn't the wedding that had me in knots—it was the fear that Tyler would say something, that he'd ruin everything.

"You are still not okay with that?" Asher asked. He tilted his head, eyes filled with concern.

"I'm fine with it," I forced out, managing a weak smile. But it wasn't convincing. I knew it. He knew it. And just as he was about to ask again, when someone's footsteps stopped him.

Tyler.

I froze as he walked in, his eyes trailing all over me immediately. My heart lurched in my chest, and I forced myself to look away. Asher didn't seem to notice the shift in the air, but I did.

Tyler smiled, that easy grin that always had an edge of evil. "What's all this about a wedding tonight? You two couldn't wait?"

Asher chuckled, pulling me a little closer. "Yeah, figured we'd skip the long engagement part. Get right to it."

Tyler's gaze flicked over me again, making my legs wobble from a mere stare. "Interesting choice," he drawled. "Hope everyone's on the same page with it."

"You know, marriage is a long term commitment,"

"You wouldn't want to get involved with someone you barely know anything about."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my breathing normal. The way he said it—it was almost like a warning, like he was about to lay it all out for Asher right then and there.

Asher must've noticed the tension between us because he stiffened slightly, glancing at me before looking back at Tyler. "Why wouldn't we be?"

Tyler shrugged, pushing off and walking toward us. "I don't know, just seems like... maybe it's all a little rushed. Are you sure everything's good, Hazel?"

"You look rather unwell for a wedding, every other girl would have the brightest smile considering they are marrying the one and only most powerful Alpha Asher."

I couldn't breathe. Asher looked at me, waiting for an answer. "Yeah... everything's fine," I whispered, my voice so small I barely believed it myself.

But Tyler wasn't done. He circled us slowly, his hands in his pockets. "I mean, I get it. You and Hazel have always been... close. But sometimes, things come up, you know?" He stopped behind me, close enough that I could feel the heat of him without turning around. "Secrets, a past that one can be ashamed of...they have a way of sneaking up."

My entire body went cold. Asher tensed beside me, his grip on my hand tightening. He shot a glance at Tyler, then at me. "What are you talking about?"

Tyler smiled, a slow, deliberate smile. "Nothing, just thinking out loud." He met my eyes, his meaning clear. "I'm sure you two are solid. Right, Hazel?"

I could barely swallow, my throat tight. I nodded quickly, looking down at my feet, hoping the floor would swallow me whole. Asher was still staring at me, confused, suspicious.

Before he could say anything else, I gasped softly, clutching my stomach. "Asher... I don't feel well." I pressed a hand to my temple, hoping the act was convincing enough. "I need—"

Instantly, his focus shifted from suspicion to concern. "Are you okay? Do you need to lie down?"

I nodded, feigning weakness. "I think I need a minute. Maybe away from here."

He wrapped an arm around me, his gaze softening, but I could feel the question hidden behind his eyes. I leaned into him, hoping to distract him before he asked anything more. I pulled him down for a kiss, my lips desperate against his, hoping it would make his mind settled on it than on Tyler.

He  kissed me back, but there was something different about it—like he was trying to read me, trying to understand what was going on in my head. I held him tighter, needing him to believe I was okay. Needing him to believe that nothing was wrong.

When I finally pulled back, breathless, I whispered, "I'm fine, I promise. Just... so nervous that I'm going to be your wife tomorrow."

He studied me, concern still etched into his features, but before he could say more, Tyler's voice shattered. "That was one hell of an intense kiss, you both could have gotten a room instead."

Asher chuckled, "My bad, bro."

"We forgot you were still here."

"You should take care of her, Asher. You never know what kind of pressure people are under." Tyler replied.

I stiffened in Asher's arms, my heart pounding. Tyler's words sat in the air, laced with danger. Asher's jaw clenched, his hand resting protectively on my waist. "I've got her, Ty. Don't worry about it."

Tyler gave a slow nod, his eyes roving to me one last time. "Good. I'd hate to see anyone crack under the weight of a bad decision." His smile widened just a little, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Goodnight, future sister in law."

Then he turned and left, disappearing through the yard.

Asher fell silent to an extent that I burst out with another lie to convince him.

"Asher," I whispered, pulling him close again, "I'm sorry for being all over the place today. I just... I'm scared."

His brow furrowed, and he looked at me, softening. "Scared? Of what?"

"Of everything changing," I said quickly, the lie slipping out before I could stop it. "Of messing this up, of not being enough for you." I forced myself to look into his eyes, hoping he'd believe me. "But I love you. And I want this. I do."

His arms wrapped around me again, and he kissed my forehead. "You don't have to be scared, Hazel. We're in this together, okay? I love you."

I nodded, pressing my face into his chest, but I couldn't stop the guilt from imprisoning me.

Later, as the house filled with noise and the preparations for the rushed wedding between me and Asher, Zane and Trisha, were in full swing, I tried to distract myself. People were excited, bustling around with last-minute details, but all I could think about was Tyler.

I slipped out of the commotion, needing a moment to clear my head. But then, when I was alone, Tyler appeared.

He grabbed my wrist, dragging me into the dark silence. "How's my pretty little thing doing? Avoiding me all day won't keep me away from you; you know?" he grinned, not even angry at all.

"What was that cute little stunt you were trying to pull with my brother? Make him marry you tonight so you can escape me? Oh come on," he snorted.

"That's a foolish game to play with me."

"Tyler, I beg of you." I fell to my knees, clasping my palms together.

"There has got to be another way, I can't do what you are asking of me."

"Then you'll have to live in misery with a man who will hate you on the first night."

"Who knows? He probably already knows and he's just playing the game like the rest of us. Asher wants something and it's not you." Tyler repeated the same words he had told me earlier.

Could it really be true? No!

I could see the sincerity in Asher's eyes whenever he confessed to me, he has changed for good but it was too soon for me not to suspect.