Entangled With My Alpha Triplets

Twenty eight

~Hazel~

I stared at Tyler, my heart drumming in my chest. He wasn't just joking anymore—he was dead serious. I'd asked him to give me some time to think, to process everything, but he refused, his tone final.

"No, Hazel, we don't have time for that. You have two options, either I make a public proposal tonight, or we run away to my private island. Nobody will find you there and you don't have to suffer Asher's bullying."

"He's only acting right till you both have exchanged vows."

A shiver ran down my spine at how serious he sounded. His eyes didn't waver, and for the first time, I truly felt scared. This wasn't some petty manipulation to get back at his brother—Tyler believed what he was saying. He was completely committed to this twisted fantasy of us running away together, as if nothing else mattered.

"Tyler, wait.."

"Pack your bags," he interrupted, walking toward the door without a second glance. "We leave by midnight."

Before I could respond, he left the room, the click of the door echoing in the silence. I stood there, frozen for a moment, my mind all over the place.

I couldn't stay here. I had to get out, think of a way to stop this madness. Running off with Tyler wasn't an option—I couldn't be with him.

I pushed open the door after a minute, my feet moving almost on autopilot down the hall. I needed air, space to think, but as I turned the corner, I almost ran into Trisha.

Her smug smile was the last thing I needed right now. She looked me up and down, her expression full of contempt. "You know, Hazel," she started, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, "if I were you, I'd pick Tyler."

"What?" I blinked, barely able to process her words.

"Asher will always belong to me. You don't stand a chance. Tyler seems... obsessed with you. Might as well take what you can get, right?"

I stared at her, unable to believe the audacity. She was trying to push me toward Tyler, to claim Asher for herself. "Trisha, I'm not listening to this. You—"

"You'll regret it if you don't, Hazel," she cut me off, her tone darkening. "I'll destroy you."

"I know more about you than you do."

"Don't push me, Asher was mine before you came along so keep your filthy hands off my property."

"I don't care if his mark is on your neck, there's always a ritual to take it off."

"Reject him." She finally concluded.

"You have until evening to do as I say or I am going to turn your world upside down." She warned me before pushing past me.

I winced, caressing my shoulder before my legs carried me to Asher. My heart needed to be nursed by only him.

I had to tell him everything. I had to break it off. This was all too much. As I ran through the halls, a mix of panic and guilt peaked  together. I had just been with Tyler, and now I was going to see Asher. How could I face him after that? How could I tell him everything? My stomach churned at the thought.

I found Asher in the courtyard, pacing by the fountain. He stopped when he saw me, his brows furrowing in concern. "Princess?"

"You look stressed,  did my brothers do something to you in my absence?"

He was so sweet now and I felt like a whore for getting down with his brother. He never for once shared me with any of them or insinuated such.

I pushed down the lump in my throat, "Asher, we need to talk."

He stepped closer, reaching out to hold my waist. "I'm all ears, my love."

I could hear my heart crack into pieces, but I wasn't sure how to prevent his own from suffering the same fate. "Asher, I think we need to call off the engagement."

His hand dropped, and his face hardened. "What? Why would we do that?"

"But everyone is against us, Asher." I forced the words out, even though it was more of my own fear speaking. "Your family, everyone... they don't want us to be together."

He shook his head. "I don't care what they think. I'm the one marrying you, Hazel, not them. My father has already accepted our mate bond. Zane is going to marry Trisha. It's done. You have nothing to worry about."

I flinched at the mention of Trisha, but I pushed through. "What about Tyler?"

Asher scoffed, dismissing the idea instantly. "Tyler? He doesn't care. He's too busy with other girls to give a damn about us."

My heart raced faster, the fear growing. He didn't know. He didn't know what had happened, what Tyler had done—what I had done.

"I don't know, Asher... I just... I feel like something bad is going to happen."

He frowned, stepping closer again, his hands resting on my face. "Princess, what is this really about? We're getting married. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. We've already planned everything."

"No," I interrupted, panic tugging at me like there was an invisible force ready to hit me. "We should get married now. Tonight. Let's have a private ceremony. Just us."

He looked confused, shaking his head. "What? We've planned for a grand wedding this weekend. Why are you rushing this all of a sudden?"

"I just... I feel like something bad is going to happen if we don't. Please, Asher. Let's do it tonight. I can't wait any longer."

He searched my face, clearly trying to understand where this was coming from. I couldn't tell him the real reason. I couldn't confess what I had done with Tyler, the betrayal hanging over me like a dark storm. He couldn't know—not yet. But I couldn't let him find out another way, not from Tyler, not from anyone else.

"Hazel," Asher said slowly, "you're acting strange. What's going on?"

"Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Just trust me. Let's get married tonight."

His eyes softened, and I could see him struggling with the decision. He was confused, and I didn't blame him. But the last thing I needed was to give Tyler or Trisha more time, more power. If I married Asher tonight, it would stop everything.

"All right," Asher finally agreed. "If this is what you want, we'll do it. But you need to tell me what's really going on. After the wedding, no more secrets."

I nodded quickly, wishing that I could make it happen right now. He was giving me a chance, one last chance to make things right. I just hoped I could figure out what to do before it all fell apart.