Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 54: This is Bad

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Chapter 54

~Jade’s POV~

For a moment, none of them moved or said anything. They clearly had not expected dismissal.

Ignoring their shock, I turned toward the door and reached for the handle. Before I could close it, footsteps approached quickly.

A hand caught the door, making me turn, only to have Xade’s lips press against mine.

His hand slid behind my neck, pulling me closer as his lips captured mine with reckless certainty. The kiss was warm, intense, and shockingly familiar, sending a rush of heat through my body that made my knees weaken.

Behind us, Xavier and Xander inhaled sharply. Immediately, reality snapped back. I pulled away, breathless, but shot him a glare nonetheless. However, Xade looked anything but apologetic.

He looked relieved. "You wanted honesty," he said quietly. "That is why I came."

Xavier stared at him, disbelief flashing across his face before settling into something heavier. Jealousy flickered there, restrained but undeniable.

Xander’s hands curled into fists at his sides, and his breathing became uneven as he watched us.

Xavier’s gaze returned to me. "Is that what you want?" he asked gently.

The question struck deeper than the kiss itself. I opened my mouth to speak when headlights turned onto the street.

My heart dropped as the thought of Kael coming and meeting them crossed my mind. I did not wait to see if he was the one and hurriedly sent them off.

"You guys need to go. Now." This time, none of them argued. Xavier nodded first and stepped back from the porch.

Xade lingered a moment longer, his eyes searching mine as if committing me to memory. Xander hesitated, jaw tight, before finally turning away as well.

I did not spare a second to think or second-guess myself. Immediately, I closed the door quickly and locked it.

Outside, the sound of an approaching car grew louder. Leaning against the door, my pulse raced wildly. My mind flickered to everything that happened just now... then back to the obvious arousal they were having as well as the reason for it.

I glanced down at my blouse. Thanks to my kiss and closeness with Xade, my nipples strained against the fabric.

It was revealing. The last thing I wanted was to have Kael return to see me dressed this way. Earlier on, I only came for some snacks and planned on disappearing to my room before his return.

But now... Ding Dong!

As soon as the doorbell rang, my heart skipped several beats, and panic set in. I unlocked the door and bolted to my room before he could push it.

—

The weekend breezed by far too quickly, and before I could properly process everything that had happened, I was back inside the familiar four walls of school.

For the past few weeks now, my life had felt like it was spiralling into something bigger than I could manage. Training, secrets, bonds, mates. Even my friendship with Isadora had started to strain under the weight of everything I was not telling her.

It was not because I did not trust her. It was because telling her even one truth could unravel all the others.

I had just gotten to school and was about to prepare for class. Thankfully, I hadn’t seen my mates yet. Not that I was entirely happy, no. I just... it meant they weren’t entirely okay, and they wouldn’t be kissing me randomly in school.

I had just reached my locker and unlocked it when I felt someone slam into me from the side.

My shoulder hit the metal door, and my books slipped from my arms, scattering across the hallway floor.

"Oh, sorry," Vera said without sounding sorry at all.

She laughed, linking her arm through Vani’s as they continued walking like nothing had happened.

I stared at their retreating backs for a second before sighing and bending down to pick up my books. Before my fingers could touch them, another hand reached for the top one.

I looked up to see Ziva hovering over me. She gave me a small, warm smile. "Hey."

I could not help returning it. "Looks like you are helping me again."

She shrugged lightly as she gathered the rest of my books. "If you keep dropping things like this, then yeah, it would soon become a routine."

"I do not drop things," I defended mildly. "People crash into me."

"That too," she said with a soft laugh.

We stood, and she handed my books back to me. "Thank you," I said sincerely.

"You are welcome."

There was a small thoughtful pause between us.

"How are you settling in?" I asked before she could walk away. "New school, new chaos. Surviving?"

Her smile shifted into something shy but brave at the same time. "It is not too bad. I am still learning who to avoid."

I huffed softly. "If you figure that out, tell me too."

She tilted her head. "You do not seem like someone who avoids."

"In the past, yes, but now trouble seems to chase me like a magnet," I admitted.

Something flickered in her eyes, like she understood more than I had said aloud.

"Well," she replied, adjusting her bag on her shoulder, "I guess I am getting the hang of things."

"If you would like," I said quickly, "I could show you around properly sometime. It would also be my way of saying thank you for the times you helped me."

She looked almost surprised. "You do not owe me anything."

"I know," I countered. "But I would like to. Especially for not ratting us out."

Her lips curved again. "It was not help. I just did the right thing. Besides, it is not my business what mates do."

Heat rushed into my cheeks so quickly I felt it burn. Before I could respond, someone called out from down the hallway.

"Jade!"

I looked up to see Adrian waving enthusiastically.

I waved back with a smile. Even though it had only been the weekend, it felt like I had been gone from school for months.

"Well," Ziva said softly, "thanks for the offer, but I should head to class. You seem busy."

"Nah," I said quickly. "We still have twenty minutes. Take it as me trying to get to know you better. Friends?"

I extended my hand. For a brief second, something like disbelief crossed her face. Then joy flickered through her eyes. She took my hand firmly. "Then I am in your care."

"Dangerous choice," I teased. "And since we have time," I added, gesturing down the hallway, "shall we start the grand tour?"

She nodded, and we walked side by side, talking about teachers to avoid and the best vending machines to use when the cafeteria food failed us.

It felt normal to have a simple conversation. I had almost forgotten what that felt like. We were nearing the intersection that led toward the staff room when a loud bang echoed down the corridor.

Ziva and I both froze before glancing at each other slowly. Another crash followed, and like flies to a moth, we slowly took a step in that direction.

"That does not sound good," she muttered.

We hurried forward, not wanting to skip any details. As soon as we turned the corner, my breathing stilled.

Xavier stood towering over a student who looked like he might collapse at any second. The boy was pressed against the lockers, his face pale, his hands raised defensively.

Xavier’s posture was rigid, his shoulders tight, his presence suffocating. "Say it again," Xavier said quietly.

"I did not mean—" the boy stammered.

"Say. It. Again."

My stomach dropped. Dread filled my chest as I stepped forward, wanting to stop him from losing control and making a scene. However, rather than call out his name, the word hung on my lips.

As if on cue, he snapped his head in our direction. The moment our eyes met, my breath caught.

His eyes were glowing red. I stopped walking altogether.

"This is bad," Javelin whispered inside my mind.