Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 48: Admit It

**************

Chapter 48

~Dean’s POV~

Four sets of eyes turned toward me as though I had grown a second head or said something out of it.

"There is too much at stake right now," I continued evenly. "Mock trials are in two weeks. The academy’s reputation is already strained. The last thing we need is chaos fueled by scandal and politics."

I stood, moving toward the window that overlooked the courtyard where students milled about, whispering in clusters.

"Jade Snow may not have started this," I said, "but trouble seems to find her regardless. And wherever power gathers, instability follows."

I turned back to them.

"I will keep my eyes on her."

Ivy’s lips curved slowly. "This is the first time I have seen our Student Council President take a personal interest in someone."

Dominica hummed in agreement. "Is it academic interest," she teased lightly, "or something else?"

The temperature in the room dropped. My gaze hardened instantly. "Focus," I said coldly. "We do not have time for idle gossip."

Silence fell at once. There was too much at stake for distractions.

And whatever Jade Snow represented—Lycan, scandal, or something far more dangerous—I intended to understand it before it disrupted my school.

—

~Author’s POV~

The gates of Beta Nick’s estate burst open before the guards could properly announce the arrival of the Alpha triplets.

As soon as the car came to a halt, Xade walked in first, his expression carved from pure fury.

Xavier followed at his right, eyes blazing beneath the afternoon sun. Xander moved at the centre, his presence alone was enough to make the air feel thinner.

The butler, who had been supervising a maid while she arranged flowers in the foyer, froze at the sight of them.

"A–Alphas," he stammered, bowing so quickly he nearly lost his balance. The maid followed suit. "Had we known of your visit—"

"Summon Troy," Xavier cut in coldly.

The man trembled. "Young Master Troy is..." he gulped and gestured with his hand for the maid to go away. "Is there any problem? Perhaps I can be of assistance and summon the Master. I am sure he would be more than glad to —"

"By the pool," Xade’s voice cut through their minds sharply. "The bastard is laughing."

"He sure as hell wouldn’t be doing that for much longer," Xavier assured them.

The three of them turned without another word and headed toward the back of the house.

The butler stood there for a second, stunned by how completely he had been dismissed. Then panic set in. He rushed toward the staircase, calling out for Beta Nick as he ran.

Outside, by the shimmering pool, Troy lounged in a chair with his phone in hand, unaware of the storm approaching him.

He only realised something was wrong when the sunlight dimmed.

He looked up and saw them. The phone slipped from his fingers as dread settled in his eyes and panic kicked in.

"What are you—"

Xade did not let him finish.

He yanked Troy up by the collar and slammed him against the stone pillar near the poolside. The impact echoed sharply.

Troy coughed out, but before he understood what the fuck was going on, Xavier’s fist connected with Troy’s jaw a second later, snapping his head sideways.

Troy cried out, blood instantly staining his lip.

"You think it is amusing?" Xavier growled, voice vibrating with restrained shift. "Framing our mate?"

"I—I don’t know what you’re talking about—"

Xander’s punch drove into his stomach, cutting off his lie.

"Ask him," Xavier snarled as footsteps thundered from inside the house.

"Butler Jeff... call for the warriors!" Following his order, Beta Nick stormed onto the patio, fury written across his face. "What is the meaning of this!"

He rushed forward and pulled Troy from Xade’s grip, shoving him behind his own body and creating distance between his son and the three enraged Alphas.

"What has my son done to warrant this?" Nick demanded. "How dare you three invade my privacy and burst into my territory?"

"Your territory? You seem to forget who rules the Lycans and werewolves," Xander refuted.

"King Asherion Storm, the Lycan King, I know, but that’s nowhere near you lot."

As if to show his dominance, he let his eyes flash amber and took a protective stance before them.

Immediately, Xavier’s eyes flashed dangerously red. H unleashed the full force of his wolf’s aura. Troy choked on air as he fought to breathe from the sheer pressure of Xavier’s aura.

"Ask your son who gave him the audacity to frame and post fabricated nudes of our mate."

The words landed heavily. Nick turned slowly toward Troy. "Is that true?"

Troy’s mouth opened. He stammered, shaking. "I—I—" Guilt and fear filled his eyes. He wanted to deny it, but seeing the rage brimming from all three, he found it hard to utter any lie.

The slap came so fast it cracked across the patio like a gunshot. Troy hit the ground hard, blood spilling from his mouth.

"How dare you!" Nick roared.

He grabbed his son by the front of his shirt and punched him across the face. Then again. And again. A kick to the stomach followed, forcing the air from Troy’s lungs as he curled onto his side, wheezing and clutching himself in agony.

"When you’re done, hand him over to be killed," Xavier ordered coldly.

The maids screamed, their bodies trembling as their knees gave way. Butler Jeff fell to his knees as well

Nick suddenly dropped down before the Alpha triplets, his anger shifting into desperation. "Please," he begged hoarsely. "Have mercy. I will deal with him myself. I swear to you, he will be punished. Forgive him and allow me to handle this."

Xade glanced at his brothers. They were still vibrating with rage, wolves pressing hard against their control.

But around them, the household staff had gone to their knees, trembling and pleading, some even bowing.

Xander exhaled slowly. "If I so much as hear a breath of trouble from your son toward our mate again," he said quietly, "you can forget your business, your pack, and even his life. I will erase every trace from this realm."

Nick’s face drained of color.

"Understood?" Xade asked coldly.

Nick nodded rapidly. "Understood."

"Let’s go," Xavier voiced, jaw tight. "Before I make good on Xander’s promise, and before Troy gets the chance to do something stupid again."

The three Alphas turned and walked out, leaving silence and fear in their wake. The moment the gates shut behind their car, Nick stood.

His restraint shattered. Without waiting for Troy to rise, he lunged and began beating him again, pouring every ounce of humiliation and fury into each strike. Troy cried out weakly, barely able to shield himself.

Jeff tried to intervene. "Sir, please—" But Nick did not respond. "Master Nick, please, you’re going to..."

He barely got his plea out when a woman rushed from around the side of the house and threw herself between them, shoving Nick back with surprising force.

"Are you mad?" she screamed. "Do you want to kill my son?" Nick’s mother’s voice trembled with rage and fear.

"If that is what it takes to save this family from ruin and death, then so be it. Step away before I unleash my wrath on you too," Nick commanded.

Before anyone could respond, one of the maids shrieked. "He’s collapsed!"

Every head snapped in Troy’s direction to see him lying motionless on the ground, blood pooling beside his cheek.

—

~Jade’s POV~

I knew Kael was not asleep when I stepped into the living room. His voice carried from the hallway, but there was something strained beneath it.

"Yes, I know," he was saying. "I will not stay longer than necessary."

I slowed my steps. Necessary? Who was he talking to?

There was a pause, then a softer tone. "It is not like that. You know that, love. She needed help."

There was silence before he added, "Babe, I love you, okay. Alnna and I are just friends. Since I was around, thought I’d catch up with Jade."

My chest tightened slightly. I did not need to be a genius to know who was on the other end of that call.

His wife.

I shifted my weight, unsure whether to retreat to my room or announce my presence. Before I could decide, he turned the corner and saw me standing there.

For a split second, guilt flashed across his face. Then he ended the call.

"Jade," he said, clearing his throat. "You’re back."

I nodded and stepped fully into the room. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to overhear."

He gave a small smile, but it did not quite reach his eyes. "You did not."

There was a brief silence before I asked the question that had lingered in my mind for years. "Why are you here, Kael? Do you still care about my mum?"

He looked at me, but his eyes held a mix of emotion I couldn’t explain.

"If I did not," he replied calmly, "I would not have left my family to come here."