Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 12

Ashley pov

The heads snap in their direction. All eyes are on them - the stupidly big, overgrown and somehow equally as powerful as scary triplet Alphas who never involve themselves with anyone.. Or at least that’s what I’ve been told.

“What are they doing?” Anno whispers in my ear as I keep staring at the ground like there’s an entire civilization being built at my feet.

“No idea. All I know is that I want to avoid getting in trouble with Steven and his stupid followers. If those three have a bone to pick with Steven, they can do it without me or you present. Let’s get away from here.”

“Ash, they’re trying to help you. The right thing would be to thank them, don’t you think?” Anno mutters and takes a step closer, “I think-” he starts, but never finishes the sentence since he’s ripped away from me.

The loud growl to my right startles me so much, my gaze is instantly pulled to the direction of the sound.

Elias stands close by, holding my friend in the air by the collar of his shirt while Ethan and Everett are glaring at Anno like he’s some criminal.

“What the-” I start, but once again, I’m cut off by Everett.

“What did you do to our friend, mutt? Haven’t we made it clear that Ash is our roommate, hence he’s off limits to this school and campus bullshit?”

All of them look at Anno like he did something. I know this will end badly for all of us if I don’t speak up, so before any of them can start on another rant, I step closer.

“Anno didn’t do anything. Steven and his goddamn friends ruined the weapons, I happened to grab one that exploded in my hand and I guess the shard cut my skin. I didn’t even notice until I felt the blood trickle down my face.”

As soon as the last word leaves me, Elias drops Anno and stomps towards Steven. I can’t help the smirk that pulls at my lips, just watching the look of pure, raw horror on his face is like a fantasy come true.

“Kids, knock it off!” The coach shouts, ruining the show I’m looking forward to before it starts. “Whatever happened, deal with your business after the classes. You have ten minutes for showers!”

Elias stops in his tracks, glances over his shoulder to look at his brothers, who just nod, and smiles. Then, he returns his gaze to the terrified bully and nods. “I’ll see you after classes,” he announces, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Then, Elias walks closer and stops right in front of Steven. I watch how the cocky bastard loses all color when Elias brings his hand to Steven’s cheek and gently slaps it, “let’s see if we can still call you a pretty boy after I’m done with you, yes?”

The threat is there. It’s so clear, it drips from Elias’ words like bright, neon green venom, and everyone knows that.

Anno appears at my side and nudges at me again. “You’re right, let’s get out before anyone notices our absence.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Anno and I take off like our asses are on fire. We’re both shaken, terrified even, but all that fear morphs into a fit of laughter neither of us can stop.

Instead of going to the showers in the locker rooms, mainly to avoid everyone who just witnessed the shitstorm unfolding, Anno and I go to his little apartment. It’s closer to the school, so we have enough time.

Each of us takes separate bathrooms for a quick shower and by the time I’m done with mine, I find a set of fresh uniforms on the bed.

My fingers barely trace the perfect stitching on the jacket when there’s a knock at the door. “We have another ten minutes to get ready and attend the class. The couch gave the professor a heads-up about what went down, so we can be a little late. Get dressed, I’ll make us coffee and we can leave.”

“Thanks,” I call after him as I listen to his footsteps fade into the distance.

From there, the day goes on as it usually does. Nothing major happens and by the time the classes end, I’m exhausted.

Anno still tries to talk me into getting some tutoring, I really fucking suck at chemistry as it turns out, but for the first time since I’ve known him - I reject his offer.

“I wish I could get better at the bloody subject, but truth be told, the only thing I can think about right now is how comfortable my bed is. I really want to get some extra hours of sleep. And besides, I believe I’ve been doing good enough to actually deserve the rest. You’ve handed me my ass during those tutoring sessions.”

Anno laughs and instantly accepts my decision. That’s why being friends with the guy is so damn easy - he never pushes me to do something I don’t want. He is the most easy-going person I’ve ever met.

“Okay. But, tomorrow, we should get a couple of hours in as minimum. The professor promised a test and I don’t want you to fail it. Not on my watch,” he beams and ruffles my hair.

We both laugh as I slap his hand away from my head. Anno today is a completely different person compared to Anno I met days ago. He has become more free in expressing himself, more at ease and thankfully, he doesn’t feel the need to constantly look over his shoulder all the time.

It shows since he’s walking me to my building and only after I unlock the door and step inside what I call my temporary home does he leave and heads back home himself.

Nothing much has changed around here, but since I use the moment of being alone to my advantage, I look around for longer than usual.

Every corner of this place has something that reminds me of them. All three of them. This whole place nearly screams my mates, no matter where I look. Even inside my room - there are too many things that force my mind to constantly think about their existence.

I have no idea for how long I stand at the door, just gaping around, until I’m pulled out of the weird state by the sound of their voices nearing the apartment.

All three of them laugh about something as I run to my room and lock it from the inside. My heart is hammering in my chest as I hold my breath and listen to them enter the apartment.

“Ash?” Ethan calls out, sounding a little disappointed.

“Yeah, he’s here. Probably locked himself in the room again, stuck in his la-la land or some shit,” Everetts’ voice adds.

“Stop sulking, Ethan, he’s home, not running away,” Elias agrees.

“I’m not sulking,” Ethan groans. “He’s my friend, I’m worried, that’s all. I don’t like this avoiding bullshit he’s doing. I just want to be friends.”

My heart drops. Ethan doesn’t understand that we can’t be friends. No matter how funny and nice he is - how much he shows he cares for me - we just can’t.

When the day comes, I will be the one who ends up broken-hearted, picking up the pieces shattered at my feet.

A lump forms in my throat - it keeps expanding, growing so big I barely force a breath past it. That’s my cue to stop listening to conversations that aren’t mine.

Slowly, I tip-toe to my bed and lay down, forcing my eyes to close and my mind to focus on anything but the sound of their voices.

It takes longer than usual, but eventually, I start drifting off. As I do, I’m pretty sure I hear a weak knock at my door and someone whispers, “you’re paired with us for the morning training again, don’t run away before we wake up please.”

It might be a dream or a fruit of my imagination..