Mated to the Triplet Alphas Chapter 137: Surrounded by Love

His kiss was desperate, bordering on furious—the kiss of a soul long at war with itself. And for all the complications, for every valid reason this was a terrible idea, I found myself returning his ardor.

Leo’s grip on my waist intensified, drawing me nearer as if he feared I would vanish. The rich aroma of sandalwood washed over me, potent and comforting. My fingers threaded into his hair, my body responding instinctively to his touch with a fervor that took me by surprise.

When we finally parted, ragged breaths were our only soundtrack. Leo’s forehead met mine, his eyes shut, seemingly cherishing the moment.

“That wasn’t a dismissal,” he rasped, his voice thick.

A small, involuntary laugh escaped me. “No, it wasn’t.”

His eyes fluttered open, those smoky, grayish-brown depths scrutinizing me with a penetrating gaze that sent my pulse racing. “Are you truly certain about this, Hazel? There is no turning back from this path.”

Before I could offer a reply, the cell door was violently flung open, accompanied by a resounding bang. Three identical figures strode in, their momentum faltering as their eyes took in the scene before them.

“We noticed you both had gone silent and became concerned—” Lucas began, his words trailing off abruptly.

A profound blush crept up my neck as I grasped what they were witnessing. Leo and I remained in close proximity, my lips still tender from his kiss, both of us appearing thoroughly ruffled.

“Well, well,” Liam commented, a leisurely smirk unfurling across his features. “It appears someone finally shed their stubborn facade.”

Lucas folded his arms, his expression momentarily inscrutable before melting into a semblance of relief. “It was high time.”

I blinked, surprised by their reaction. “You’re… not displeased?”

“What reason would we have for displeasure?” Lucas inquired, one eyebrow arching. “We’ve been anticipating the moment you two would cease this prolonged avoidance.”

“It was becoming quite tiresome observing your mutual emotional inhibition,” Liam added with a hearty laugh.

I observed that Levi remained uncharacteristically silent, which struck me as odd. His gaze was serious as he intently studied Leo and me.

“Levi?” I questioned hesitantly.

Without preamble, Levi surged forward. I instinctively tensed, unsure of his intent. However, instead of separating me from Leo as I’d anticipated, he enveloped me in a protective embrace, not forcefully pulling me away.

“Should you cause her pain,” he stated to Leo, his tone lighthearted yet underscored with steely resolve, “we will pursue you relentlessly.”

Leo let out a short, derisive laugh. “How truly frightening.”

“I am entirely serious,” Levi continued, tightening his hold around me. “Our collective attention is fixed upon you, cousin. You will need to exert considerable effort if you intend to win her away.”

“As if I would desire to steal someone so remarkably obstinate,” Leo retorted with his characteristic sarcasm, yet his arm subtly encircled my waist, a silent contradiction to his words.

Lucas emitted a low chuckle, a rare smile gracing his lips. “Four mates. The Moon Goddess possesses a rather peculiar sense of humor.”

“Or perhaps she discerns precisely the needs of our dear Hazel,” Liam remarked, bestowing a wink in my direction.

My gaze swept over the four men who now surrounded me—the triplets, who had transitioned from my adversaries to my guardians, and Leo, who had evolved from my captor into something far more complex.

A laugh erupted from the depths of my being, a sound that surprised even myself. After enduring so much—all the pain, the terror, the profound confusion—here I stood, enveloped by a magnitude of love I had never dared to imagine.

“What prompts such amusement?” Leo inquired, his brow furrowing in curiosity.

I simply shook my head, the feeling too profound for words. “It’s just… life. Fate. Everything.”

Levi’s grin widened as he squeezed me gently. “She has indeed lost her mind. Far too many attractive males vying for her attention.”

“Who exactly is vying?” Liam inquired with feigned innocence. “We seem to be sharing quite harmoniously.”

The sheer absurdity of the situation—four formidable alpha wolves agreeing to share a single mate—triggered another wave of laughter. After a moment, they too joined in, their deep, resonant chuckles mingling with mine, filling the confined space with an unexpected warmth.

In that precious instant, I felt an overwhelming sense of blessedness.

+++

“Hold perfectly still, Hazel! I vow, if you twitch again, this particular curl will be irrevocably misplaced.”

I winced slightly as Sophia artfully manipulated my hair, securing another lock in its designated position. The dressing room hummed with a warm atmosphere, permeated by the distinct aromas of hairspray and delicate floral perfume.

“My apologies,” I mumbled, consciously forcing myself to remain immobile despite the escalating flutter of nerves within me.

Sophia stepped back, her eyes alight with satisfaction as she admired her handiwork. “You appear utterly breathtaking. It is truly high time you embarked upon marital bliss, you know.”

A wave of heat flooded my cheeks. A full month had elapsed since that transformative day within the cell. Merely four weeks had passed since the adjustment to a life shared with four mates, a significant shift from three. I would be remiss if I claimed the transition had been entirely effortless. Yet, we persevered, and our arrangement flourished.

Life had undergone a radical alteration since that juncture—it had unequivocally improved.

“The triplets were driving everyone to distraction with the wedding arrangements,” Sophia continued, delicately adjusting my veil. “Lucas came perilously close to dismissing the florist outright when they presented roses of the incorrect hue.”

I let out a sound of amusement, vividly picturing Lucas’s stern countenance as he delivered a lecture to some unfortunate florist regarding the precise nuances of color coordination. “That description is perfectly fitting for him.”

A knock at the door broke our moment. Sophia opened it to find Callum and Leo standing there, both impeccably dressed in well-fitted suits. Leo held a delicate box and what appeared to be my bridal bouquet.

“A gift from the grooms,” Callum announced with a wide smile. “Apparently, they had quite a discussion about which blooms would best enhance your eyes.”

Leo let out an exasperated sigh. “Trying to get three alphas to agree on wedding details is an absolute nightmare. Never again.”

He strode towards me, his gaze softening as he took in my appearance. As he leaned in to plant a kiss on my lips, Sophia playfully smacked his arm.

“Absolutely not! I just finished your makeup, and I refuse to redo it because you can’t restrain yourself for a mere five minutes.”

Leo grumbled under his breath but pulled back, opting instead to press a swift, tender kiss to my hand. “You look absolutely stunning, sweetheart.”

Callum let out a laugh, finding amusement in Leo’s slightly disgruntled expression. “You will have the entirety of your lives together for that.”

While Sophia returned to adjusting a few strands of my hair, I noticed Leo and Callum exchanging a subtle glance. The look passing between them gave me pause, a flicker of unease stirring within me.

“What is it?” I inquired, a sudden nervousness taking hold. “Is everything alright? Please tell me the triplets aren’t bickering again.”

“Everything is perfectly fine,” Leo reassured me swiftly. “Your three other soon-to-be husbands are behaving impeccably.”

Despite his words, an odd feeling persisted. I studied Callum’s face intently, noticing a faint line of tension etched around his eyes.

“You look like you have something you need to say,” I ventured hesitantly.

Callum simply shook his head. “It’s your wedding day. Let’s keep the focus on this magnificent occasion.”

I bit my lip, my gaze shifting between my two friends. “No, something is definitely bothering you. You have to tell me.”

“It’s truly nothing of consequence,” Callum insisted, though his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Callum.”

He let out a long sigh and shared another meaningful look with Leo. “It’s just a touch of pre-wedding jitters. Perfectly normal for anyone.”

I remained unconvinced. The persistent feeling that they were withholding crucial information from me intensified.

“You’re not the one getting married today, so I’m not entirely sure what ‘pre-wedding jitters’ you might be experiencing,” I remarked, raising a skeptical eyebrow. Folding my arms, I declared, “I’m not walking down that aisle until you tell me precisely what is going on.”

Leo let out a soft chuckle. “As stubborn as ever, my dear.”

Sophia placed the final hairpin, then stepped back, admiring her handiwork. “There. Absolutely perfect. I’ll go see how the guests are doing while you three… resolve this.” She cast Callum and Leo a meaningful, warning glance before discreetly exiting the room.

In the ensuing quiet, I summoned my courage. One question had been weighing heavily on my mind for the entire week, a question I had been too afraid to voice. I had a strong suspicion that this very question might be the source of Callum’s evident conflict.

“Is…” I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “Is Kendra going to be attending the wedding?”

Callum’s entire body stiffened at my words, and a small part of me instantly regretted having asked.