The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

”I’m not telling you to marry him. I’m asking you to meet him,” Aevia urged her.

Yuki clutched her skirt. She had been avoiding this conversation. ”I don’t want to be introduced to someone simply because everyone thinks I need a husband,” she spoke her thoughts aloud.

Aevia’s gaze flickered as she read Yuki’s expression. ”This isn’t about everyone,” she coaxed. Yuki’s stomach churned. ”It feels like it,” she voiced.

Aevia’s expression softened. ”Yuki, you need to move forward.” The words struck somewhere deeper than Yuki expected. Aevia reached across the table and rested her hand over Yuki’s. ”I’m not going to force you. Just meet him and talk to him. If you don’t like him, nothing happens. If you do, then perhaps you can consider giving him a chance.”

Yuki looked down at their hands. She knew what Aevia was doing. She was giving her just enough room to make the decision feel like her own. That was what made Aevia so persuasive. Yuki released a quiet breath. ”You really want me to meet him?” she said quietly.

”I think it would be good for you.”

Yuki hesitated before reluctantly nodding. ”Fine. I’ll meet him,” she finally agreed, and Aevia’s shoulders relaxed slightly. ”That’s all I’m asking.”

Yuki finished the rest of her meal in silence. She took a long drink before placing the cup back on the table.

”Thank you,” she murmured.

”You’re welcome.” Aevia reached for the tray, but before she could lift it, she noticed Yuki staring at her. She paused. ”You have that look again,” she spoke up.

Yuki blinked. ”What look?” A frown slowly settled on her face as her brows pulled together.

”The one you get when you have a hundred questions but don’t know how to ask any of them.” Yuki’s lips parted, then closed again. Aevia placed the tray back down and folded her arms. ”Come on. I have all night.”

Yuki looked away. For several seconds, she played with her fingers, gathering the courage to ask the question that had been sitting in her mind for days.

”Are you happy?” she suddenly asked. Aevia’s expression changed. The question had clearly caught her off guard.

”Happy?” she repeated.

Yuki nodded. ”With Alexander.”

Aevia didn’t answer. Yuki swallowed. ”Are you really happy marrying him? Is this what you wanted?” Yuki said slowly, nervousness filling her voice.

Aevia’s gaze dropped to the tray between them. Yuki’s stomach twisted. ”Or are you doing it because of me?” she added.

Aevia slowly looked back at her. Yuki’s fingers twisted together in her lap. ”I don’t want to sound like a brat or a traitor. I know how much the Ravencourts have done for us, and I know what this marriage could mean. But everyone is talking.” Her voice grew quieter. ”I just want to know if you love him.”

Aevia remained silent. Yuki forced herself to continue. ”I don’t want you trapped in a marriage because you think you have to protect me. You don’t have to involve yourself with people this complicated just because you want to make things easier for me.” Her eyes dropped to her hands. ”Especially because of what happened to Mum and Dad.”

The room went completely still. Aevia’s fingers tightened around the edge of the tray. Yuki finally looked up at her. ”I don’t want you making a decision you’ll regret because you feel guilty about their deaths.”

Aevia didn’t answer immediately. Yuki watched her fingers tighten around the edge of the tray, her knuckles paling slightly. That small reaction made something uncomfortable twist inside her. She had always known Aevia carried a certain guilt where she was concerned.

She had tried not to think about it too much, especially whenever rumours started circulating about the Ravencourts and the reasons behind Aevia’s decisions. But there had always been a quiet thought she couldn’t completely silence. Maybe Aevia was doing all of this because of her. Because their parents had died. Because their family had lost everything with them.

Their parents’ death had not only left them without a family. It had taken their estate with it, along with the security and future that should have belonged to them. Aevia had been forced to watch Yuki grow up without the life they were supposed to have, and Yuki sometimes wondered if her sister had spent all these years trying to repay a debt that had never been hers to carry.

A faint memory surfaced. It was from her thirteenth birthday. The memory was vague, and she could barely remember it, but it was one of the few times Aevia had openly spoken about their parents.

Aevia had returned to the pack especially to celebrate with her. Yuki remembered being ridiculously excited because Aevia rarely managed to stay for long, and having her there had already felt like the best part of her birthday.

Then Aevia had handed her a small gift box. Inside was a trendy hairband from one of those expensive brands every girl at school wanted. Yuki had been talking about it for weeks, but the price was ridiculous. She had stared at it before immediately putting it in her hair.

”Aevia, look!” thirteen-year-old Yuki had laughed, turning towards her sister. ”It’s the one I told you about.”

Aevia had smiled. Then her eyes had filled with tears. Yuki’s excitement faded. ”Aevia?” she called softly. Her sister had pulled her into a hug without saying anything.

”I’m sorry,” Aevia had whispered.

Yuki had blinked against her shoulder. ”For what?” she blurted.

”I should have given you more than this.” Aevia’s voice had cracked. ”You should have had so much more.”

Yuki had pulled back, confused. ”But I love it,” Yuki had muttered, the frown deepening between her brows. Aevia wiped quickly at her cheek, but more tears slipped down.

”If Mum and Dad were still alive, we would still have our home. Our estate. Everything they worked for would still belong to us.” Her voice trembled. ”You wouldn’t have grown up wondering what you lost.”

Yuki’s heart had ached at the sight of her crying. ”I don’t care about the estate,” she had said quickly. ”I don’t need all those things. I’m happy with what I have.”

”You shouldn’t have had to be.” Aevia’s voice had broken completely. Yuki had reached up and wiped the tear from her cheek.

”I’m happy because you’re here,” Yuki had said quietly. Aevia had stared at her for several seconds before pulling her close again.

”You deserve the life that was stolen from us,” she had whispered against her hair. ”I promise I’ll give it back to you.”

Yuki had frowned. ”How?”

Aevia had pulled away and pressed her forehead against hers. ”No matter what it takes.”

The memory faded, but the ache remained. Yuki looked at the woman sitting across from her now. Aevia had never spoken about that day again, but Yuki had never forgotten the look in her eyes. Perhaps that was why the thought of Aevia marrying Alexander frightened her. Maybe this was another attempt to give Yuki what she believed had been taken from her.

Aevia finally moved, picking up the tray as though she intended to end the conversation. ”Stop listening to gossip, Yuki,” she said quietly. ”People will always talk.”

Yuki’s heart sank. That wasn’t an answer. She wanted to ask again, but she knew Aevia well enough to realise she wouldn’t get one tonight.

”Okay,” she murmured.

Aevia gave her a faint smile. ”Is there anything else?” she asked.

Yuki hesitated. There was another question that had been sitting in the back of her mind for years. She lifted her gaze. ”Do you know why I was named Miyuki?”

Aevia stopped. Her fingers tightened around the tray. It was such a small movement, but Yuki noticed it immediately. Aevia’s gaze shifted towards the window before returning to her.

”Mum had someone close to her who was nicknamed Yuki,” she finally said.

Yuki’s heart skipped. ”Someone close to her?” she gasped.

Aevia nodded. ”Why?” Yuki asked.

Aevia’s expression became distant. Yuki leaned forward slightly, anticipation written on her face.

Aevia didn’t answer immediately. The silence stretched long enough for Yuki to wonder if she had pushed too far. Then Aevia finally spoke.

”His hair was white as snow.”

Yuki went still. She stared at her sister, waiting for more. Aevia’s eyes remained fixed on hers, but there was something buried behind them now. Something that made Yuki’s curiosity sharpen.

”Who was he?” Yuki asked quietly.