The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

”To Alpha King Alexander and Luna Queen Aevia!”

Yuki lifted her glass as well. Everyone drank, the rich wine sliding down her throat with a pleasant warmth. A few guests coughed softly as the strong drink caught them by surprise, while others laughed and reached for their water. Across the room, however, the words ”second chance” had a very different effect on Estelle.

Her fingers curled tightly around the stem of her glass. She stared down at the wine for a moment, the crystal blurring slightly as an old memory surfaced. Another wedding. Another celebration. Another time when Reed had stood before their guests with a glass raised in his hand and offered a toast to her and Alexander. Her lips twitched into a bitter smile. Second chance.

The words felt like a cruel joke. She took another sip, her eyes shifting towards Aevia and Alexander. Unlike her, they were beaming, completely absorbed in each other as they accepted the congratulations surrounding them.

The reception continued despite the strange tension lingering beneath the surface. Yuki remained seated at the same table as the triplets, but surprisingly, they were civil. None of them spoke to her, yet none deliberately provoked her either.

They simply behaved as though she wasn’t there, which suited Yuki perfectly. She didn’t particularly care as long as Eloise wasn’t in her face, and her attention was centred on the wedding and the people around them rather than the three brothers.

Declan, meanwhile, continued chatting beside her, occasionally slipping in some ridiculous joke that earned a laugh from her. She laughed easily enough, but even as the sound left her lips, some distant part of her mind remained caught on the silver-haired man.

Where had he gone? She glanced around the dome several times without making it obvious, but there was no sign of him. By the time the wedding cake was brought out and the couple stood together to cut it, Yuki had already finished her fourth glass of wine.

Declan said something that made her burst into laughter, and she shook her head as she reached for another bite of cake. From anyone watching her, she looked like she was genuinely having fun. Perhaps that was easier than admitting how unsettled she still felt.

Then it was time for the bouquet toss. No matter how controversial the wedding had been, the announcement immediately brought excitement among the unmarried noble ladies. It wasn’t only the belief attached to catching the bouquet that had them eager.

Aevia’s bouquet was made from rare flowers, including priceless moon lilies, and several women looked ready to fight tooth and nail for the privilege of taking it home.

The MC stepped forward, gesturing towards the ladies gathered near the centre of the dome.

”Ladies, if you are hoping to be the next bride, this is your moment!” he announced brightly. ”Come forward and prepare yourselves.”

A chorus of laughter and excited squeals filled the room as women began leaving their tables. Aevia turned around, holding the elaborate bouquet in both hands.

The moon lilies shimmered beneath the chandelier light, their delicate petals catching silver and blue reflections as she walked towards the designated spot. Yuki remained comfortably seated. Declan glanced at the half-empty wine glass in her hand, then at her face. His brows furrowed slightly.

”You’re not going?” he asked, his voice amused.

Yuki looked at him. ”Going where?” she blurted, her glass inches from her lips.

”To fight for the bouquet,” he said evenly with a raised brow. He assumed girls were into things like this.

She glanced towards the growing crowd of noble ladies and then back at him. ”I’ll pass.”

Declan chuckled. ”You’re not even going to try?” He sounded genuinely surprised.

Yuki shook her head, taking another sip. ”Why would I?” she asked with an amused smile.

Declan smiled, finding her more interesting. ”Because apparently catching that bouquet means you’re next in line to get married.”

Yuki’s eyes narrowed playfully. ”Does it?” she drawled, finding the wine more interesting than the bouquet.

”That’s what everyone seems to believe,” he chimed.

She studied him for a second, her eyes already beginning to lose some of their usual sharpness. The wine had softened the edges of her thoughts, leaving a pleasant warmth in her limbs. Then a teasing smile slowly appeared.

”If I catch it,” she whispered, leaning closer, ”will you marry me?”

Declan froze. She had moved so close that the tip of her nose brushed against his. The faint scent of wine on her breath fanned across his face, and for one brief second, the usually composed Alpha’s mind simply stalled.

He had faced plenty of women who knew exactly how to use their beauty to get what they wanted. He had been the target of deliberate seduction more times than he cared to remember. Yet somehow, Yuki’s careless question affected him more.

Perhaps it was because she wasn’t trying, or perhaps she was just too stunning. She was simply looking at him with those slightly dazed eyes, waiting for his answer as though she had asked the most ordinary question in the world. Declan’s throat moved as he swallowed. Then he laughed softly, recovering his composure.

”If you’re ready,” he replied, his voice dropping into a teasing murmur.

Yuki stared at him for a second before her smile widened. ”Fair enough.” She patted his shoulder as though they had just concluded a serious business agreement, then lifted her glass and took another sip. ”Then there’s no need to get into a tug of war.” She shrugged casually. ”I don’t need a bouquet to get a match.”

Declan laughed, shaking his head. ”You’re quite confident.”

”Because I have reasons to be,” she said smugly.

Before Declan could respond, a calm voice cut across the conversation.

”That’s enough.” Kieran reached across the table and stopped Eloise’s hand just as she was about to pour herself another glass of wine. His fingers closed firmly around her wrist, the pressure controlled but unmistakable. Eloise blinked at him. ”What?” she blurted.

”You’ve had enough,” he stated. It was rare to see Kieran looking so firm. She glanced down at her glass, then back at him. ”I’ve only had two,” she whined in protest.

”And that’s enough.” Kieran’s tone remained calm, but there was no room for negotiation. Kieran couldn’t tell if what got on his nerves was Eloise drinking or the lady across from him who was twirling her fourth glass, and the cake hadn’t even been presented to the guests at their tables yet.

Regardless, his nerves were stretched thin.