Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 136

Ashley pov

“Damn it,” Constantine grumbles and slaps his forehead. “You're right. Screaming will only attract unwanted attention.”

Without adding more, he looks at his friend and raises an eyebrow. “So, do we have a plan or are you voting about sacrificing the daughter of the very man who saved my life, hmm?”

Ouch, that's a dirty move. Constantine is manipulating his friend into doing what he wants to be done. I get why, but this is dirty.

Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I tap my foot against the floor until both men finally pay attention to me. “I don't get the right to voice my opinion at all?”

“No,” both of them hiss at the same time and exchange a weird look.

“See, we're more than capable of agreeing with something if needed,” Constantine's friend grins at me and winks.

Now, he looks like a completely different person. The anger and hatred is gone from his gaze and instead of the spiteful person stands a very pleasant man I wouldn't mind building a friendship with.

“Ash,” Constantine breathes out my name as if he's given up. “You do have the right to speak up, you have the right to voice your opinion and suggest something, it's just that… That I don't want you to offer some sacrifice bullshit. I'm not willing to risk your safety, Goddess forbid your life, for a run in with the hunters.”

I open my mouth to speak up, to explain that he got the wrong idea, but before I can, he raises his hand to silence me. “And besides, we don't know if the hunters are here for us or you. We don't know why they're here and whom they're looking for. There still is a chance that they might be passing by or looking for something completely unrelated to us. If there is a chance to avoid getting in trouble with them, I would rather take the peaceful route. Especially while you're with us here.”

“Hate to admit this, bug,” the friend joins in and shrugs his shoulders, “but I agree with Constantine. I might have freaked out a little earlier, but the guy has a good point.”

I have to fight the tears that fill my eyes. This guy, using the nickname Elias used to call me, brings back so many memories and reminders that it's hard not to focus on it.

Maybe at first, the oldest of the triplets used the word to annoy me and point out just how small and unimportant I am compared to him, but eventually it grew into something with more meaning. Something that sometimes held my head above the water without Elias even knowing that.

“Can I at least tell you two what I'm thinking about? Please?” I whisper and wipe the tears that eventually manage to escape my eyes and roll down my cheeks.

Constantine and his friend look a little panicked, unsure how to react to my sudden change of emotions, but they really try their best to hide that.

Well, to a point until both men wrap their arms around me and hold me into a hug so tight, I struggle to suck in a breath.

“I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry. I really am sorry,” Constantine's friend mutters his apologies, switching between insane amounts of sorries and explanations about his initial reaction.

Constantine even reprimands his friend and the poor guy takes it all like a true champ.

When both finally release me, I shake my head, wipe off the remaining tears and take a few shaky breaths to ground myself.

Thankfully, both men finally realize that I'm overwhelmed, so I need a moment of silence to gather my thoughts.

“I was thinking,” I start and steal quick glances at their worried faces before I cast my gaze down and focus on my feet. “What if, and I mean only what if these hunters are really after me… I could do a pretty good job of the bait.”

I hold my breath, waiting for their reaction, a little too anxious to know what it might be.

If any of the men actually thought about my suggestion, they'd both agree it's a good idea. Even if those hunters aren't interested in finding me.

If they're after me, I can act like a clueless damsel in distress while the bears either run for their lives, or they hide away and attack when the hunters expect the least.

If they're just passing by, I'm the only one of the bunch who could pass for a random human, so in the worst case scenario, the hunters might try to have a conversation with me and leave. In the meantime, the bears could hide away and get out of their positions once I get rid of the hunters.

“You know what, I think you might have a good point,” Constantine's friend speaks first, arching an eyebrow at me, as if he's waiting for more details I could offer.

Constantine, however, isn't sharing the same sentiment. His face twists in something between rage and feral fear as he bellows so loud, the windows of the cabin shake. “No!”

Both I and the friend jump back, startled and surprised by the reaction.

Constantine's lip curls in anger as he steps closer to me and gives me the scariest look ever. “Your late father would come back to life, his skeleton would dig its way up from its grave just to find me and slit my throat if I ever dated to go along with your foolish idea.”

As menacing as Constantine sounds right now, as firefly is the rage that burns in his eyes, I can't force myself to take him seriously. Not now.

It's not that I don't feel fear looking at him this pissed, it's my own stubbornness and need to fix the mess I might be the sole reason for.

“I don't hear you offering better ideas,” I snap back and take a step closer to him, our bodies nearly colliding. “If they're after me, you guys can attack from a hideout, and if they're not, you can hide and come out once those hunters finally leave. Correct if I'm wrong, but out of all of us, I think I'm the one who could pass for another human, not a supernatural.”

Constantine bites his lower lip and stresses it between his teeth for a few seconds until eventually, he gives in. “Fine, get it your way, but if anything goes wrong, rest assured I will jump in front of any weapon to ensure you escape. Your life is the priority here. Got it?”