Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 18

Ashley pov

After the triplets returned and announced there was no one looking for us, we all agreed it’s better to look for a way out of this mess together.

This time, Anno and I don’t walk behind since Ethan insists I have to walk next to him to avoid a repeat of what happened during the storm.

For a while, we all walk in silence. From the corner of my eye, I notice that Ethan keeps looking at me and after a bit, his glances become annoying.

When I finally break under the pressure, I stop and stomp my foot against the ground. “What? What is it? Can’t you just tell me and get over it?”

At first, Ethan looks at me like I’m growing another head, but soon, he comes back to his senses, looks at his brothers and nods.

“Anno, why don’t you walk with us? Ethan has something to discuss with Ash, perfectly just the two of them. Don’t worry, Ash won’t get hurt and Ethan won’t let him get lost in the forest.” Everett says, tossing his arm around Anno’s shoulder and pulling my friend away.

I watch them as they walk further away from us. A part of me wants to scream after them, make them stop and take me with them. But the other part - that part is curious about what Ethan has to talk to me about in privacy.

“So?” I drag the word and slowly cross my arms in front of my chest.

Ethan glares at the ground like it’s his enemy. Since he doesn’t talk at all, I try to walk past him, done with this adventure, but he stops me by grabbing my upper arm. “No, please, don’t go again.”

He sounds so sad, desperate even, so I can’t find it in myself to storm away and leave Ethan behind.

“What is it? Just tell me, please. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m really darn tired and all I want is to get back to our place, have a skin-burning hot shower and sleep for a week, if not more.”

Ethan slowly forces his gaze up to meet mine. “I just want to make sure we’re good. I’ve been trying to be your friend since day one, but you keep pushing me away. Did I do something to offend you? Maybe hurt you? If so, please, I beg you, tell me and I’ll do anything in my power to fix my wrongdoings. Seriously, Ash, I’m trying my best. This sucks so much,” he forces the words, looking like he’s barely holding back the tears as he runs his fingers through his hair.

“I don’t get it. Where is this coming from? If you did anything wrong, I would have told you already. I’m not one to keep things to myself, if you haven’t noticed that.”

Ethan’s face twists in disbelief. “Not one to keep things to yourself? Wow, Ash, that’s rich coming from a guy who decided to avoid my very existence for no good reason at all and found a replacement friend so damn fast. You’ve been practically living with that Anno guy.”

His tone drops, making him sound petty and accusatory. I can easily deal with temper tantrums, even ones coming from Alphas, but I can’t tolerate someone disrespecting me like that. I know what he is implying.

“I won’t listen to this,” I hiss and step aside, pulling my arm out of his grip. “Think whatever you want to think about me, but I am not under any obligation to listen to your accusations. Keep this in mind.”

I barely take two steps away from him when I hear Ethan suck in a deep breath and release it with a low growl. “You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?”

Yep, there it is, the accusation I knew would come. Men are so predictable, it’s ridiculous. Sadly, deep down, I know his words would be way worse if he knew I’m a woman, not a guy.

Slowly, I spin on my heel and pin him down with a glare. “Care to repeat what you just said?”

I’m giving Ethan a chance to do exactly what he asked for - fix his wrongdoing. Just this one chance.

“You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?” Ethan repeats the question, word for word. The only difference is that previously, he sounded angry while now, he’s so full of himself and smug that I don’t recognize the sunshine personality he once was.

Slowly I shake my head and start backing away. “I can’t believe you. I can’t bloody believe you actually did that.”

I can’t read his true emotions, all I see is the stupid smirk on his lips. “If you’re so desperate for a dick to ride, why won’t you ask me? I’ve been trying to get closer to you so bad, I wouldn’t mind going gay to be your friend. All you had to do was ask. There, the problem is solved.”

The chuckle that leaves me is downright disrespectful. His words hurt, he has no idea how much they hurt. That has to be the reason why I’m so desperate to hurt him back the same. “I don’t want to be your friend, Ethan.” Is all I say before I turn around and walk away.

He tries to catch up with me, but I make it clear that I don’t want him anywhere close to me, so he stays behind.

Soon, I notice Elias, Everett and Anno in the distance so I start running towards them. Once I reach the trio, we all realize we’re literally at the forest line, about to step outside.

“Anno, let’s go first, I need to talk to you,” I mutter and grab his hand to pull him away from the rest of the guys, not thinking about how my action might look to others.

Elias and Everett stop, waiting for Ethan to reach them, so we manage to get in a safe distance before Anno starts questioning me.

I spill everything, not holding back a detail. The supportive friend he is, Anno throws an arm around me and pulls me closer. “Let’s go to my place, you can take a shower and be yourself there. I’ll feed you and make sure they don’t get to you until you want to see those assholes or better yet, get a new place to live.”

Flashing him a weak smile, I agree. The Goddess has really blessed me with an amazing friend, that’s a fact.

Soon after, we arrive at the Academy to see nearly all students and teachers standing in a crowd, discussing the areas they have to search. The headmaster notices us approaching first and instantly talks over everyone.

“There they are, the lost students. Thank Goddess you are safe and sound.” The crowd erupts in cheers, which is weird, but I pay no mind to it until the headmaster speaks up again.

“This is the group of students who have earned the winning place in our little test. The storm was rough on everyone, but they were the only ones who got through it in the forests, so I believe they deserve the victory the most.”

Honestly, I already forgot about the test, but since everyone’s so excited, I roll with it.

After a few awkward minutes of congratulations, the headmaster announces that there will be another test, or more precisely - some weird race.

Apparently, the winners can join a secretive program to learn about magic and get better training while the losers will be expelled from the Academy.

The insane need to make Alphas even more powerful and sort out the weak links is wild, even in a place that costs life savings to attend. Crazy, if you ask me.

Once the speech is over, Anno nudges me to get going. Before I can take a step, my wrist is grabbed by someone. I look up to meet the stormy gaze of Ethan.

On an instinct, I pull my hand out of his grasp and glare at him.

“Ash, I-” he starts, but doesn’t get to finish another speech as Anno steps between us.

“You’ve done enough. Leave it. Let him rest, damn it.” Anno growls.

Both Ethan and I are taken aback by Anno’s reaction. Bet he didn’t think an omega could step up against an Alpha. It’s shitty of me to admit this, but I didn’t expect it either. Wow.

“Let’s go.” Anno mutters and pulls me away from the storm that might be brewing with my crazy roommates.