Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 128

Everett pov

All this talk about mates and not mates is driving me insane. Elias looks like he has experienced his first mental breakdown. Ethan it's so amazed that he gazes at our mom like she hung the moon for him. And me? Well, I haven't been able to find words for a while now.

Somehow, amidst the chaos, dad found a way to take him out of this rather uncomfortable conversation. He literally slipped away unnoticed.

So that leaves the three of us and mom left picking up the pieces.

I really don't want to discuss this whole idea about our parents not being fated mates, I also don't want to discuss mom's idea about all three of us being in love with Ash.

What I want is to figure out a way to help her and then we can go from there.

“Mom,” Ethan whispers. “You're not saying that just because I'm upset right? Every word you're saying, you mean it. You actually mean that I can be in love with someone without being their mate. I don't have to feel guilty for being in love.”

Mom instantly looks down at him and smiles so brightly I'm almost in awe. “Yes, baby, I mean every single word. I'm not sharing my secrets, your father's secrets, just to make you feel better. I'm doing it because, well, all of you are grown up enough to know the truth, and also I feel like this is something you need to hear. Life isn't just black and white, it's all colors and adventures, and I really want you boys to say that too.”

This is so sloppy. Both of my brothers look like they're about to cry. Never in a million years have I ever thought that one day, I'll sit in my parents living room and watch those two morons cry.

What has my life become?

Everything's a little too much, so instead of paying attention to the conversation they're having, I let my mind roam two unknown places and block out the sound of the voices.

I wouldn't much rather be in the woods, probably climbing up those mountains like a monkey or a goat or some shit, anything really, anything to get closer to Ash.

My brothers are so consumed with the conversation they're having with my mother, they don't look like they're worried about Ash anymore. But I am.

I don't know those bears. I have no idea what they're planning or why they even took her. I have no clue if they're hiding somewhere in the mountains, or perhaps, they're heading somewhere far away. So far I'll never be able to see her again. That thought is scary.

Sucking in a shaky breath, I look at my mom just in time as her gaze focuses on me. “Everett, do you have anything to add?”

“No, I wasn't listening,” I admit. I've never been one to lie to my mother's face, and I don't plan to become that person either. She's always valued my honesty, and even now she does, despite looking like I have disappointed her.

“It's fine,” she offers me a reassuring smile. “What we discussed wasn't that important anyway. What is, however, it's how you are feeling after finding out your parents’ secret.”

I shrug my shoulders. “Not feeling much, really. Why does it matter if you are happy? I don't care that you aren't faded by the goddess. Quite frankly, I don't care about much anyway, it's clear the two of you were meant to be together, after all these years you're still crazy in love like some teenagers. That's all that matters to me.”

Mom nods and smiles. “I expected this reaction, but I'm also really grateful for it. Thank you. Your easy going nature and ability to accept things as they are is something I really admire. I've raised a bunch of wonderful young men.”

Her eyes scan our faces as she speaks. I love that I can see how much our mother loves us when she looks at us. One of the most beautiful things about that woman is that she wears her heart on her sleeve. It's not always the best thing, and sometimes strangers can't even notice that, but when it comes to our family, she is the soul of it.

“What's for dinner?” I blurt out, looking at mom like she's about to jump to her feet, run to the kitchen and prepare a whole feast for her sons. As if on cue, my stomach rumbles so loud the sound echoes against the walls.

My brothers and mom start laughing. “Typical Everett, always ready to fill his belly.” Mom winks at me and starts getting up from the couch. “I suppose I better cook something before my wonderful boys starve to death.”

Soon after, mom disappears into the kitchen and leaves me with my hopeless brothers. Elias and Ethan don't waste any time starting to discuss the big secret our parents just shared. I don't bother joining them. Ethan is a drama queen and Elias is just desperate for something different, for something only he could have.

While once again, I ignore my brothers and their conversations, I failed to notice a father entering the living room again. But this time he doesn't look at ease, he doesn't look relaxed and happy. He's all tension, fear and unexplainable worry.

But that too, I mean this sudden change in him, I don't notice until he starts talking to my brothers. At first, it looks like the most casual conversation, but soon it turns into something completely different. Like a very passionate discussion about something extremely bad.

Finally, I snap out of my daze and start paying attention. Dad is talking about something, he mentions the mountains and something about bad news. Since he's talking in a hushed voice, probably not to alert mom and not to worry her, it's hard to understand what he's saying.

But after a while, I manage to put two and two together. I don't have the whole story, but the details are enough. And while my brothers focus on his words, I focus on what matters. Scared, I jump to my feet and look at my family wide-eyed. “Did you mention the hunters? Did you seriously just say that the packs are raising alert because there was a sighting of the hunters near the mountains? The same mountains the bears that took Ash are from?”