Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 105: Preparations

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Chapter 105

~Author’s POV~

A Day To The Party.

Dean let out a long breath as he pressed his seal against the final document. The stack of approved papers beside him had grown considerably, most of them tied to preparations for the Valentine’s party.

Laughter drifted in from the courtyard, and even from this distance, it was obvious where everyone’s attention lay.

For the umpteenth time that afternoon, Dean sighed. While he was tucked in the office sorting through documents, the students were busy enjoying their break. At times like this, he almost regretted becoming president of the student body.

But when he thought of leaving his affairs and those of all students in someone else’s hands, he only became more determined.

Kai, who stood a few steps away reviewing another set of documents, cleared his throat lightly. "The treasurer already confirmed the disbursement. The decorations team should be able to proceed without delays."

Dean leaned back slightly in his chair, rubbing his temple before glancing toward the door.

"Good. At least something is moving as it should." His gaze shifted back to Kai. "Where is the financial secretary? Has she resumed yet? I remember she was absent last week because of her mother."

Kai hesitated for a brief moment, his grip tightening slightly around the papers in his hand. Then he exhaled quietly.

"There’s been... an incident," he said carefully.

Dean’s expression sharpened immediately. "What kind of incident?"

Kai lifted his head, meeting his gaze directly. "Lady Artemis Isolde Vermillion lost her mother."

For a moment, the room seemed to fall completely silent. Dean froze, the words settling heavily before his eyes widened in shock. "What?"

Kai gave a slow nod. "It happened two days ago."

Dean dragged his palm down his face before releasing a deep sigh that carried more weight than his usual composure allowed. It was not an expression Kai saw often, and it spoke volumes.

"When was this?" Dean asked again, his voice lower now.

"Two days ago," Kai repeated. "We were only officially informed this morning. Around 8:15 a.m."

Dean’s jaw tightened. He leaned forward, placing both hands firmly on the desk as frustration crept into his tone. "And no one thought it was important to inform the council immediately?"

Kai’s shoulders dipped slightly. "It wasn’t communicated to us earlier."

"Well," Dean muttered, shaking his head as he exhaled sharply, "that says a lot about how ineffective our welfare system has become. We should have known. We should have been there for her. She maybe nicknamed the Ice Queen, but even she deserves some show of love."

He paused briefly, then looked up again. "Was anyone assigned to take notes to her while she was away?"

Kai nodded, though there was hesitation in his response. "We had arrangements in place, but Professor Aqua stepped in and decided to handle it herself."

Dean’s brows furrowed deeply as he leaned back. It wasn’t common for the Professors to handle such requests, especially voluntarily. "Professor Aqua?"

Kai nodded again. "She seemed... unusually invested."

Dean leaned back into his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest as he processed the information. After a moment, he gave a slow nod, though his eyes had darkened with thought.

"Then it seems we need to pay her a visit as well," he said calmly, but Kai couldn’t mistake the underlying edge to his tone. "If she knew two days ago, there’s more to this than what we’ve been told."

"As you wish," Kai replied, lowering his head respectfully.

A brief silence followed before Dean straightened slightly, his expression shifting back into something more composed, even though the tension had not fully left his features.

"For now," he continued, "contact Artemis. Arrange a visit to the Vermillion household right after school."

"But some of the committee members would be busy with the preparation. The Vermillion household isn’t just a five-minute drive," Kai aired his concern.

"Pick two people." As soon as Dean said that, he paused. "Fine. Clear your schedule. We will both go. We cannot delay this any further."

Kai nodded, already making a mental note. "Understood. Should we bring anything?"

Dean’s gaze softened just slightly, though his voice remained firm. "White roses. Make sure they are fresh."

"Noted, President."

As Kai turned to leave, Dean’s eyes drifted briefly toward the window again and his expression tightened faintly.

"Students are too focused on this party," he murmured under his breath. "They’re forgetting what truly matters."

Kai paused at the door but said nothing, leaving Dean alone.

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~Jade’s POV~

Today, being Friday, the excitement for the Valentine’s party had reached a level that was impossible to ignore.

It felt like every conversation in school somehow circled back to outfits, dates, or plans for the night. Even during lectures, I caught people whispering or passing notes, their attention anywhere but where it was supposed to be.

And to make matters worse, training was mostly cancelled for the last two days to enable preparation.

By the end of the day, I was more than ready to get out of class.

"Shopping," Ziva announced the moment the final bell rang, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she grabbed her bag. "We are not stepping into that party looking basic."

I laughed lightly, glancing at Isadora, who still looked like she had not fully come down from the high of saying yes to Pen.

"You don’t look basic," I told her, nudging her shoulder gently. "Relax."

"That’s exactly why she needs us," Ziva cut in, already dragging us toward the exit. "Confidence is good, but presentation is better."

The drive to the boutique was quick, and the moment we stepped inside, I understood exactly why Ziva had chosen the place.

Soft golden lights illuminated the space, reflecting off polished floors and neatly arranged racks filled with dresses that looked far too expensive for comfort.

The scent of a faint mix of perfume and new fabric filled the air, and everything about the store screamed elegance.

"Okay," Ziva breathed, already scanning the racks. "This would be my first official werewolf school party, and we, my ladies, are not leaving here without something that makes heads turn."

I chuckled despite myself. I barely saw this side of Ziva.

Either that or I barely saw her at all before. She was... no, she had an infectious energy.

"I feel underdressed just standing here," Isadora muttered quietly, glancing around.

"You’ll survive," I said with a small smile, though I could not deny that the place made me slightly self-conscious, but compared to the array of clothes I got during my one-month stay in the palace, this was mid-level.

We split up not long after, each of us drifting toward different sections.

I ran my fingers lightly across a row of dresses, pausing when one caught my attention. The fabric was soft, smooth beneath my touch, and for a moment, I found myself imagining what it would look like on.

"Thinking of getting that?"

The familiar voice came from behind me. My body stilled before I even turned.

Slowly, I glanced over my shoulder as my nostrils carried his scent. Drake.

He stood there like he had every right to be in my space, his gaze fixed on me in a way that made my chest tighten instantly.

There was something unreadable in his eyes, something that sent a warning through me even as my heart began to pick up its pace.

"What are you doing here?" I kept my voice cool despite the tension creeping in.

"Shopping," he replied simply, though the faint curve of his lips suggested otherwise.

I turned back toward the rack, forcing myself to focus on the dresses instead of him. "There are other sections."

"I’m aware." His voice came closer.

"This line is for female wear. Now, except you want to buy for your girlfriend, sis or mum, or better still want to start wearing dresses, I suggest you check another section."

Before I could step away, his hand caught my wrist.

My breath hitched slightly at the contact. The warmth of his touch sent a rush of sensations through me.

"Drake—"

I barely got his name out before he pulled me toward him, leaving no room for resistance, and the next thing I knew, the distance between us had disappeared completely.

My heart slammed against my chest.

"Don’t walk away from me." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words never came, because the next moment his lips were on mine.