Chapter four

~HAZEL~

As we rode silently in Tristan's car, I couldn't stop myself from fidgeting on my seat. What if something happened? What if I saw more familiar faces and they tried to disgrace me or something? Was this really a good idea?

Tristan placed his hand over mine and gave it a little squeeze, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Are you okay? If you don't want to go then I won't force you Hazel" He murmured as he stared at him with concern on his face and I flashed him a tight smile.

“We are already almost there, no use turning back now" I uttered then let out a sigh. He stared at me for a while then his hands tightened on mine.

“You know you can always tell me anything, right? If something is going on with you,I can help" He uttered and I turned to him with a genuine smile this time.

“Yeah I know that, thank you but I'm already too indebted to you and I don't want to burden you with my problems" I murmured and he frowned.

“You can never be a burden to me, Hazel. Never" He muttered and I stared into his eyes for a while before the car came to a halt and the driver announced that we had arrived.

The driver opened the car door for me and I was about to climb out but noticed Tristan was still holding my hand. I turned to him and saw that he was staring at me.

“You look breathtaking tonight. I almost don't want any other man to see you like this. Just me" He murmured softly and for a second, I let the warm fuzzy feeling envelope me. The feeling of knowing you are wanted by somebody but I quickly shook it off as I pulled my hand out his grip and flashed him a tight lipped smile.

He smiled back at me and we both climbed out of the car and immediately, we were almost attacked by the paparazzi.

Tristan was the Lycan king and in this part of the world, he was the most popular and most important person so everyone wanted a piece of him.

He rounded the car and stood beside me then arched his elbow at me and I interlocked our arms as we walked up the stairs. The reporters kept asking us all sorts of questions but I tuned them out and tried not to cower at the flashing lights.

As soon as we got into the building, I was about to take a sigh of relief when I noticed we weren't just in any room but a freaking ball room with lights and all. Those ballrooms in movies. It was fancy, a little too fancy for me.

“Don't be overwhelmed, I'll be by your side the whole time" Tristan murmured in my ear then grabbed my hand as we walked deeper into the ballroom.

I saw a lot of familiar faces but not the faces I dreaded which was good. Hopefully, I won't have to face him.

I saw some confused looks being thrown my way by other Alphas probably because they were surprised to see me on another guy's arm but they didn't voice their confusion and just spoke to me like I was new.

“Where is Alpha Asher? He's the one I want to see" Tristan suddenly uttered and my eyes snapped towards him. I wasn't surprised, Asher was the most powerful Alpha. He might even be more powerful and influential than Tristan so without Asher, this treaty couldn't be signed.

“The party started without me? Shameful" Everyone turned to the voice but I knew the voice by heart and I could feel his Aura fighting dominance in the huge ball room.

“Alpha Asher, we meet again under better circumstances this time" Tristan uttered and I clenched my fist. I didn't want to turn around but I could already feel his eyes on my back. He already recognized me.

I slowly turned around and my eyes quickly connected with Asher's silver eyes and the shock on his face was priceless. If I wasn't trying so hard to suppress the anger and hate rising up in my chest, I could have laughed.

My eyes darted towards Claire who looked like she had seen a ghost and her arms clung onto Asher's tightly. His Beta and Gamma also had the same reaction but I ignored all of them as I turned towards Tristan who seemed to have noticed the rising tension.

“Hazel…" Asher called out my name and I bit my lower lip as Tristan glanced between the two of us suspiciously.

“You know her?" Tristan questioned.

“She…"

“He was my Alpha, not anymore" I interjected before Asher could say anything. Everyone was silent for a while till Tristan cleared his throat.

“Very well then. Let's go have a little drink, shall we?" Tristan placed his arm on my shoulder as he led me towards a table that had his name and Asher's name on it.

Asher walked over to the table and dismissed Beta Ross and Gamma Leo before settling down with Claire.

“Are you okay?" Tristan questioned as soon as we sat down and I smiled at him before nodding. I turned towards Asher and Claire and noticed Asher was glaring directly at Tristan who was oblivious to what was happening.

Claire was glaring at me and I resisted the urge to slap her across the face. I didn't think I could last another minute on this table without clawing their eyes out.

A waiter placed two bottles of an expensive wine on our table and Tristan immediately poured me a glass before pouring himself a glass.

“She doesn't drink alcohol. You don't know that?" Asher suddenly uttered, turning Tristan's and my attention to him.

So I wouldn't have to agree with him, I took the glass filled with wine and downed the entire contents in the glass and immediately regretted my actions. I hated the way it tasted and I hated the way it made me feel but I was able to put up a front in front of them and by the look on Asher's face, he wasn't happy about what I had just done. Good.

My phone suddenly started ringing in my purse and when I pulled it out and saw Rose's name on the screen, I immediately stood up.

“It's Rose, I'll be right back" I said to Tristan then immediately walked away as I received the call.

“What is it? Is Jaden okay?" I questioned immediately.

“Oh he's asleep. I just wanted to know how things were going? Have you met him? Them? Tell me the juicy details" Rose squealed and I rolled my eyes.

“Rose, I can't…" Before I could process what was happening,I was suddenly pushed against the wall as two large hands grabbed onto mine and pinned them above my head as he pressed his body against mine.

I stared up at Asher's face with wide eyes while he stared down at me with an expression I couldn't decipher.

“What are you doing here and why are you with him?"...