Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 57: In Trouble

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Chapter 57

~Xavier’s POV~

Immediately after school, I mindlinked my brothers.

"I’m heading out," I said, shutting my office drawer harder than necessary. "Going home to change, then straight to the forest. I need to run. I need to let Ace out."

There was a brief silence before Xander answered.

"Finally," he muttered. "Apex has been clawing at me all day. This is a good idea. It’s not safe for us to stay around people like this."

"He’s right," Xade added, his tone calmer but strained. "Ares keeps pushing forward. The longer we suppress them, the worse it gets."

"The pressure building under my skin had been getting worse these past few days, and maybe shifting would help ease this phase of the curse."

"Obviously. It was our last resort sometimes, and it helped," Xade agreed.

I leaned back against my desk, rubbing a hand over my jaw and exhaling slowly. "A lot happened today. It took everything in me to keep control after this morning."

"What happened?" Xander asked immediately.

I hesitated for half a second. "I lost my temper with a student."

"How bad?" Xade’s voice sharpened.

"I didn’t hit him," I replied, keeping my eyes on the files I was packing away. "I just made it very clear he should never cross Jade again."

A brief pause followed. "You threatened him. No wonder little Missy was angry," Xade added.

A low chuckle slipped through the link.

"What’s funny?" I asked sharply.

"Nothing," Xander said quickly, though I could hear the grin in his voice. "Now I understand why you want to shift. Apex would’ve snapped someone’s neck for less. He’s been pushing me too."

"Good to know we’re all losing our minds faster now."

"Don’t worry. I’m packing up too," Xander continued. "Let’s skip home. We meet at the northern forest entrance. I doubt our wolves can wait."

"Agreed," Xade added, "I’m locking my office now. Ares wants out the moment you mentioned shifting. I’m locking up now. I can’t stay in this office any longer."

"Fine. Ten minutes. Don’t keep me waiting."

I cut the link and finished packing. I grabbed my keys and left the office, the hallway lights buzzing faintly above me. The silence that followed felt too loud, and my control felt thin. Too thin.

I walked across the parking lot and slid into my car. Once inside, I fastened my seat belt and pulled out of the parking lot.

The moment the road cleared, my thoughts drifted to the conversation with Father a few days ago.

"Hello, sons?" Father continued, barely giving us time to adjust. "The king knows about Jade being your mate."

All three of us had glanced at each other. There had been a beat of silence. Then I chuckled dryly.

"It’s about time His Majesty knew," I had said. I mean, after our claim when she resumed school, it was hard to keep things under wraps again. The king had eyes everywhere.

No more hiding or pretending distance. We could claim her openly.

Xander had smirked, but Xade had gone still. "Father," he said carefully, "he doesn’t know about the curse... right?"

"No," Father replied.

"Good," Xade had answered. "It must remain that way. His Majesty will not stay calm if he finds out his daughter’s life may be at risk because of her mates."

Father had agreed, though his tone had turned serious. "Be careful regardless. Prince Azriel is watching. He will not sit quietly."

The memory faded as I blinked and refocused on the road.

Prince Azriel. His name left a bitter taste in my mouth. My grip tightened around the steering wheel.

Then it happened. A sharp tug ripped through the mate bond. My heart skipped as pain shot through my chest. My breath caught.

Suddenly, another pull, stronger this time, yanked at the bond, making me gasp. But before I could make sense of what was happening, a sharp, terrified cry laced with pain echoed inside my head.

"Help!"

It had pierced through my head so clearly that I almost thought she was in the passenger seat.

I slammed the brakes. Tires screeched against asphalt. The car jerked forward violently before stopping. My chest heaved as the bond flared hot, burning under my ribs and my heart pounded so hard it hurt.

I mindlinked my brothers instantly, but before I could speak, Xander’s voice crashed into my head.

"Jade," he growled. "She’s in danger."

"I felt it," Xade added. His voice had lost its calm edge. "The bond spiked."

"I can sense her," I muttered, scanning the empty road as if she would appear in front of me. "It’s faint... but she’s scared. We need to find her."

Ace surged forward inside me, claws scraping against restraint.

"Where are you?" Xander demanded.

"Highway westbound. Ten minutes from the forest turn."

"I’m two minutes behind you," Xade said. "Don’t stop."

"We track her now," Xander ordered. The bond pulsed again.

Weaker, too weak.

My stomach dropped. "She’s moving," I muttered. "Or someone’s moving her."

"Follow the pull," Xade said sharply. "Don’t overthink it."

My gaze flicked to the rearview mirror. Headlights cut through the dimming evening light.

"I won’t." I pressed my foot down on the accelerator and the engine roared as the car shot forward

"We’ll drive as fast as we can," Xander declared. "Apex is losing it," Xander admitted through clenched teeth.

Ace surged inside me at the mention of her fear. The urge to tear through metal and bone to reach her nearly overpowered my control.

Xander breathed deeply through the link. "If we find whoever touched her—"

"We will," I cut in, my voice turning cold. "And they will regret it."

My heart slammed harder against my chest. "Stay with us, Jade," I said under my breath. I pushed the car faster. And prayed we weren’t already too late.

N sooner had I said that, than Xade’s voice came through the link. "Xavier, slow down. We may be getting close to her. The pull is getting stronger."

"I feel it," I growled. "She was here."

My eyes scanned the stretch of road ahead. Something felt wrong. The air itself felt disturbed.

"Wait," I muttered, easing my foot off the accelerator. "The bond just spiked."

"Stop the car," Xade ordered.

"I already am."

I pulled over abruptly, blocking the mindlink. The moment I stepped out, the coppery scent of blood hit me.

Ace surged forward, growling in my head. "She bled here."