Entangled With My Alpha Triplets

Thirty

~Hazel~

The chapel was stifling, every glance from the guests cutting into me like shards of glass. I'd always pictured my wedding day as something magical, but the reality was twisted. Whispers floated around me, each one louder in my head:  "She's no better than a whore," "How could Asher want her?"  I forced myself to keep walking, step by step, ignoring the judgment and the way my heart pounded against my ribs.

One of the maids had tried to stop me earlier, pulling me aside with a hushed, urgent message. "Tyler's waiting for you at the border," she'd whispered, her face full of concern.

I hesitated, but only for a second. Tyler's name was like a bruise pressed too hard. A reminder of things I should have buried. But I pushed it down, ignored her, and headed into the ceremony. This wasn't about Tyler. Not anymore. I had made my choice.

Asher's gaze was unflinching and icy as I stood beside him, my hand slipping into his. I tried to find something in his eyes that would tell me he didn't believe them but there was none. His lips barely moved as he repeated his vows, his grip on my hand almost like a robot. And then, just like that, it was over. The vows spoken, rings exchanged, and a cheer that felt hollow filled the room.

When the ceremony was done, people came forward, congratulating us. But I could feel their eyes on me, each smile too tight, each handshake hesitant. Just as I thought I might get through it, Zane appeared in front of me, his face solemn. "Hazel," he murmured, pulling me aside.

I stiffened, my pulse quickening. "Zane?"

He looked at me with something I couldn't read—maybe regret, maybe pity. "You know, I wish I'd had the guts to step in and stop this," he said, his tone low and full of something dark. "A part of me still thinks I could have saved you from...all of this."

I swallowed, unsure how to respond. "It's too late, Zane and besides, you are a married man too."

"Is it?" he murmured, his gaze intense. "Well, I hope you're happy, Hazel. I mean that. Even if it's a happiness I couldn't give you." He paused, his gaze hardening as it flicked over my shoulder to where Asher was. "Just...watch your back."

His words hung in the air like a warning, and I couldn't shake the chill they left behind. I nodded, offering a stiff smile, then quickly made my way through the crowd. I'd done enough smiling for the day. My head was spinning, nerves winding tighter and tighter. And as the evening stretched on, Asher was nowhere to be found.

By the time I retreated to our new castle, it was well past midnight. I waited alone, pacing, my thoughts racing. The maids had told me Asher would be here soon, but it was nearly 2 a.m., and there was still no sign of him. The bed was right in front of me, untouched in the candlelight and roses.

Then finally, a maid knocked at the door. "He's here," she whispered, a strange smile playing at her lips.

Relief crashed over me. I rushed into the bedroom, heart pounding, ready to finally speak with him, to clear the air. But as I entered, I froze. A man stood in the room, dressed in dark clothes, a mask covering his face. My breath caught, heart stuttering as I took a step back.

"Asher?" I whispered, confused.

He didn't answer, just gestured for me to come closer. I took a reluctant step forward, every part of me tense.

"Why the mask?" I asked, trying to laugh it off, but the unease clung to me.

"It doesn't matter." His voice was low, rough, familiar but...off. "I've been waiting for you."

He reached out, pulling me close, his hands firm against my waist. I wanted to pull back, to ask him why he'd vanished for so long, why he was acting so strange. But with his lips brushing my ear, murmuring possessive words that sent a strange thrill through me despite my confusion.

"Let's save all those questions for later, my pretty little..." Then he claimed my lips, diving his tongue into my pool of wetness and I let him.

"I have waited too long to have you and I won't let anyone else take you from me now." He whispered, softly biting my ears and spooning me into sleep.

***

I was jarred awake by the sound of the door creaking open, a dark figure stepping inside. My heart leapt into my throat, and I bolted upright. "Asher?" I called, my voice hoarse, confused.

There he was, standing in the doorway, but his clothes were different. His face was hard, his eyes flashing with something dark. He stalked toward me, and the look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

"What...what's wrong?" I managed to ask, my voice shaky.

He didn't answer at first, just kept coming closer, until he was looming over me, his gaze drilling into mine. "Don't act innocent, mate," he finally said, his tone biting. "I've seen the tape."

My stomach dropped. "The...what?"

"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about." His voice was dangerously low, his hand snaking out to grip my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "You thought you could keep that little secret from me?"

I shook my head, panicking.  The tape?  My mind raced. I hadn't known anyone had seen it. I'd thought that— "Asher, please, I can explain—"

"Save it," he cut me off. His grip tightened, his thumb pressing against my pulse, feeling the rapid beat. "You think I don't know where you were? With him? How you let him touch you?"

"It wasn't like that," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I...I made a mistake—"

"A mistake?" He laughed, a dark, humorless sound. "Funny. You didn't seem to mind it too much at the time."

He stepped back, his gaze raking over me with cold disdain. "You have the nerve to show up at our wedding after that? And here I thought you were smarter."

My face flushed with shame and anger. "Asher, I... I didn't mean—"

"Stop." His voice was ice. "I don't care what you meant. You gave yourself to him, and you still had the audacity to stand there with me, pretending to be my bride." He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. "But I guess that's what I get for thinking you'd be any different."

His words cut deeper than I expected, and I flinched, trying to hold back the sting of tears. "Why are you doing this?" I whispered, barely able to keep my voice steady.

"Why?" He chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "Because I don't like being made a fool of, Hazel. And if you think for one second that I'll forget this, you're sorely mistaken."

He stepped back, "And don't worry. Tyler's been taken care of. You'll never see him again."

I gasped, horror washing over me. "What...what do you mean?"

"I don't have to explain to you what I do with my brother." His eyes narrowed, and he smirked, taking one step closer. "And I don't want to hear any of your apologies, Hazel. But I do expect one thing."

I swallowed, my throat tight. "What?"

"Loyalty." His hand moved to the collar of my dress, fingers trailing down slowly, possessively. "If you're going to be mine, then you're going to be mine. And tonight, you're going to show me just how much you regret what you did."

Before I could respond, he stripped me of the dress, the fabric slipping from my shoulders, leaving me feeling exposed, vulnerable, and helpless under his dominant, cold gaze.

"I don't want to hear a word," he murmured. "Get on the fucking bed."

"You want to be a slut so bad? I will make it full time." He yanked me by the hair and directed me over to the bed.

Face down, ass up and handcuffs on my wrist with an angry husband.