Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 23: Our Little Mate

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Chapter 23

~Jade’s POV~

I exhaled through my nose. "That much is obvious."

She leaned against the edge of the desk, arms folded. "In the past, I faced something similar." My eyes narrowed, clearly not sure she may have.

She rolled her eyes and continued. "My ex at the time did not take kindly to the fact that I was mated to someone powerful, my husband."

I looked up sharply.

"He tried to harm me, and by that, I mean rape," she continued evenly. "Thought his father’s Beta’s position would shield him. It did not. My mate, an alpha, dealt with him to the brink of death, fully aware that his rank was on the line."

I clenched my jaw.

"The mate bond’s possessiveness," she went on, eyes sharp on mine, "can do a great deal to a man. Even one of your calibre, Cold Strategist."

I sighed and looked away. That nickname reminded me of my loss of control.

"I was wrong to let my emotions take control," I admitted, then leaned forward, placing my elbows on her desk. "However, mate bond or not, I would have dealt with Troy the same way."

Principal Vale’s eyes narrowed, but I continued. "No one should ever be put in that position. Ever."

She studied me for a long moment, then asked quietly, "Because of what happened to Xade?"

My shoulders stiffened for a second there. I did not answer.

Ace stirred inside my mind, but I shut him out. Instead, uninvitedly, the past came anyway.

Ten days. That was how long Xade had been gone. Ten days before we found him. He was barely thirteen years old. And when he came, his body had been bruised and broken.

Xade’s eyes were too old for his face, and silence was carved deep into him where trust used to live.

"Irrespective of the past," Principal Vale said gently, and as if reading my thoughts, she added, "he turned out well."

A sharp scoff left me before I could stop it. "He survived," I corrected. "That is not the same thing."

She did not argue. I pushed back my chair and stood. "I need to go."

She inclined her head. "Very well. But Xavier?" I paused at the door. "You are not wrong for protecting what is yours. Just remember that strength also lies in restraint."

I nodded once without turning back, then walked out. My thoughts already elsewhere, pulled inevitably toward the one person who could unmake my control with a single breath.

Jade Snow.

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The balcony doors were wide open, allowing the cool afternoon breeze to drift in from the pool below. Sunlight reflected off the water in lazy ripples, but it did nothing to calm the storm churning inside me.

Ever since I left Principal Vale’s office, my entire being haven’t been okay. I was glad I had no more classes after that and left the school on time.

I paced slowly, a glass of wine held loosely in my hand. I took a sip of my wine, the warm liquid burning my throat harshly.

I rarely drank during the day without reason. Yet here I was, replaying Principal Vale’s words over and over again in my mind—I understand... but it could have been handled better.

Handled better, restraint, control... My grip tightened around the glass.

About thirty seconds later, footsteps approached from behind. I did not need to turn to know my brother’s presence.

"Welcome home," I said calmly.

A hand came to rest on my shoulder. "You do not drink in the afternoon unless something is bothering you," Xander stated as he stepped to my right, his gaze following mine toward the pool below.

"What is it, big bro?" Xade asked, coming to stand on my left.

I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders once before answering. "Troy."

The shift was instant.

Xade’s aura spiked sharply, his wolf surging to the surface dangerously. "What happened?" he demanded.

"He crossed a line," I said evenly. "Verbally insulted our mate and implied that I..." I shook my head once.

"Tell us. What exactly did he say?"

"He cllled her a cheap whore, mentioned I fucked her in privte in school and... I lost control and hurt him. Principal Vale walked in shortly after."

Xade’s jaw clenched. "I have been silent," he said darkly, "but it seems Troy does not understand that an insult to Jade is an insult to us all."

Xander nodded, his expression thoughtful rather than explosive. "Is that all that is bothering you?"

Xade turned sharply. "Isn’t that enough to..."

Xander lifted his hand, stopping him mid-sentence. His gaze never left me. "Pray, do tell."

I hesitated, then finally spoke. "She reminded me of restraint," I said quietly. "And of what happened to Xade."

The air shifted immediately. I turned to look at my youngest brother. Xade met my gaze for a brief second before looking away, his shoulders tightening.

"I see," Xander murmured, exhaling slowly.

We all turned our attention to the pool with different thoughts filling our mind.

Then, as if deliberately changing course, Xander spoke again. "The King mentioned something before. About one of us marrying Jade."

Xade stiffened. "And?"

"Do you not think," Xander continued calmly, "that it is time we inform him of our mate bond to his daughter?"

"No," Xade replied immediately.

Xander raised a brow. "You are certain?"

"Absolutely," Xade said. "We have not even claimed her yet."

"And," I added, "we still have a curse to break."

Xander nodded once. "True."

"But after today, there is no way the King will not hear of his daughter having three mates. Incidents like this do not remain buried," I added.

"So what do we do?" Xade asked. "Wait and hope it does not explode in our faces?"

Before I could answer, Xade’s gaze shifted to Xander. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Then again... you seem rather calm."

Xander said nothing.

I inhaled slowly, testing the air, and frowned. "I believe," I said carefully, "that Xander is gaining ground with her."

Xade’s head snapped toward me. "How?"

"I can smell her on him."

Xander froze. He did not turn, nor deny it. Both of us stared at his back now.

"Makes one wonder," I said slowly, my voice edged with warning, "what exactly Xander has been doing with our little mate."

The corner of Xander’s mouth twitched, but he still did not look at us. And somehow, that worried me more than any answer could have.

"He kissed her?" Xander’s eyes widened at Xade’s accusation. "You did, didn’t you?"