Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 173

Constantine pov

After the guys catch their breaths and eat something, we get ready to cross the border and look for Ash.

Greg keeps complaining about his missing backpack and a little thief who took his granola bars. Every time he brings it up, I remind him that we should be happy as at least we know she isn't starving.

Or maybe she is. I can't say this out loud because Greg is extra sensitive when it comes to his special granola bars, but those things are so bad. I swear, they taste like early death, what I think might be ass worms, and a mouthful of sand. Yes, in that exact order.

“If we find her now, can I take my snacks back or am I supposed to let her have it all? I had a lot of them packed in that bag, there's no way a small thing like her would consume them all,” Greg whines, refusing the orange Max is offering to him.

See, like a true baby.

“Maybe Ash liked your bars so much, she might try to search you to see if you're packing more,” I tease him, winking at the rest of the guys who are struggling to remain serious.

Greg's eyes widen in horror. “What? No. I don't have any more. Maybe I do, one or two only, but she took the majority and these are mine. I'm telling you this only because I trust you, Constantine, but if you tell the little thief I have more and she tries to steal them too, the trust is broken for good. You hear me? For good.”

That's it. No matter how hard I try to hold back the laughter, I can't pretend to be serious about this for any longer.

Along with the rest of the bunch, I double over laughing, clutching at my stomach while Greg looks at us like we're in the process of growing more heads.

Hanging around here and laughing at Greg's misery is all fun and games, of course, but we can't forget the reason why we are here in the first place either.

“You guys are bullies,” Greg mumbles and crosses his arms in front of his chest.

“Okay, that's enough,” I finally manage to calm down and soon after, so do the rest. Placing my hand on Greg's shoulder, I smile at my friend and offer an apology. “How about I reimburse you for what Ash stole? I'll buy you twice as much of those bars that you had. Sounds good?”

Greg's mood instantly lightens as he nods and jumps to his feet. “Deal. Let's go find the girl and get my snacks stocked up!”

I'm pretty sure he's happier about the chance to get what was “stolen” from him than he is to find Ash and get her back to safety.

Quickly, we go over the plan and decide who leaves paired with whom. Greg decides he's going with me, not only because I'm the most desperate to find her, but with me by his side, he thinks he'll get his belongings back sooner than others could.

After the first few groups leave, Greg and I stay behind, seeing how our target is right ahead of us. We are going for the little leftover of the once mighty pack house that stood in the middle of the old territory.

There is nothing but foundation and a couple of walls left, a miserable view compared to the tall five and a half story building it once was.

Yes, exactly, five and a half. Alpha and Luna used to live at the very top of the building, taking up the attic floor simply because they believed that their people deserved more than they did themselves.

Ash doesn't know that yet, but her parents were some of the few leaders who truly deserved their titles. Those two always thought of their people before they made sure their own needs were met.

“You miss them, don't you?” Greg mutters next to me, his gaze focused on something in the distance.

“More than you can imagine. They were my family.” I admit, a small smile playing on my lips as I recall the best of the memories we shared.

“I understand. I miss my folks too. They didn't die, they just decided they didn't want me around,” he whispers the last part, clearly deep in thought.

I never question the guys about their past unless they want to share something willingly, so for most part, I don't really know where they come from.

All I know, for a fact, is that they are seeking a family they fit in with. So, I created this weird family and I'll do anything to keep it together.

“I know it's not my place to ask, but do you want to share anything with me? Who knows, perhaps it'll get some weight off your shoulders. Must be hard to carry the burden alone. Again, it's just an offer, you don't have to share.”

Greg thinks for a good minute and then, his shoulders slump as if he's giving up. “They didn't want me. My parents had two sons. Like most bears, they lived in the wild and didn't worry about much. When they had my brother, they were already done with children, made it really fucking clear when I was born that they didn't want me.”

Greg's eyes fill with tears and his Adams apple bobbles as he swallows.

“I was a teenager when my brother was over twenty, I don't remember the exact age. My parents were against his ideas at first, but he got an education and decided to live with humans. He's making a lot of money, like insane money. As soon as our parents found out he's living in luxury, they decided to live with him and told me to fend for myself. My brother has never been too fond of me either, given the age gap and my parents hatred against me. He never offered to help. So, ever since, I've been on my own simply because they never wanted me.”

Greg shrugs as if it's no big deal, but I can hear the pain penetrate his words.

I wrap my arms around him and pull him into a tight hug, trying to make him understand that he has a family now and we all care about him more than he can imagine.

“If it makes you feel better, you can call me dad. Max can be mom,” I add the other part just for shits and giggles, which works, because Greg instantly starts laughing and returns the hug.

“Alright, dad,” he breathes out. Tension leaves his body like magic, it seems that this little thing is all he needed to be truly happy. When he steps out of the hug, Greg wipes the tears off his cheeks and grins at me, “let's go and get your daughter to safety before she consumes all of my snacks.”