Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 201

Gio pov

I watch the king, his expression changes as I remain silent, deliberately dragging out the time he doesn’t have. I’ve been down this road with him before far too many times. Power struggles, threats, and manipulation. But this time is different, I refuse to play by his rules.

“The Council is arriving soon,” he repeats, as if trying to force me into acknowledging what’s at stake.

His eyes bore into mine, silently promising a word of hurt if I don’t comply, don’t react.

I don’t flinch. Instead, I lean back and smirk as the hard edge of the cell’s wall digs into my shoulders. “And? You want me to panic? Beg for mercy? Jump in front of the car in which the Council might arrive, maybe?”

The king’s jaw tightens, a vein pulses in his temple like it’s about to pop. “I expect you to understand the seriousness of the situation,” he says, his voice tense, like he’s afraid of losing control.

I can’t help it, even wider smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. “Oh, I understand the seriousness,” I say, my voice cool, casual, almost like we’re discussing the weather. “I understand that you’re the one who’s afraid, not me. The Council’s visit is making you sweat, isn’t it? Worried they’ll see through the lies you’ve spun? Afraid they’ll see your son for who he truly is, now, huh?”

His eyes narrow, a spark of anger flashes in them. Good. I want him to be angry. I want him to see that I’m not scared anymore. I’m done playing the obedient soldier. I’m done being the towel he uses to wipe his ass with.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he snaps as he pulls his hands into fists at his sides. “This isn’t about me. It’s about the pack. If we go down, Gio, we’ll take the rest of us with us.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Or maybe,” I say slowly, “you’re just scared to admit the truth. Even standing here, pretending you’re not full of yourself, you still understand that the only people who are dragging down the pack truly are yourself and your son. You’ve been excusing Kaiden’s behavior for so damn long, you have no idea when or how to stop. In your eyes, he can do no wrong, even with the blood he spilt still dripping down his hands. Maybe the Council needs to hear the truth. Maybe they need to see you for what you really are - a king who uses his power to shield his son’s mistakes while sacrificing others.”

His face pales, and for the first time ever, I see something in his eyes that looks like genuine fear. He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off before he has the chance. Leaning forward, I wiggle my eyebrows. “They’re coming for you,” I mutter, my voice barely above the whisper. “And I, for one, am looking forward to seeing you answer for everything you allowed him to do.”

His expression changes, pulling a sour look to his face. Without a word, he turns on his heel and storms away from the cell. The door slams behind him, and I let out a heavy breath, struggling to believe that I’ve finally managed to grow a backbone to stand up against him.

It feels good to finally say what I’ve kept buried for so long. To tell him the truth to his face.

I can’t help the satisfied smirk that lingers as I watch him leave, his pride gone, nonexistent. He’s not invincible. And now, he knows I’m not going down without a fight either.

Moments after the king leaves, a guard approaches my cell, his steps slow and hesitant, as if he fears for his own safety getting this close to me. He looks at me like he’s trying to read my thoughts, his brow furrowed and bottom lip trapped between his teeth.

“Gio,” he speaks up. “Are you... really going to leave the king to the Council’s mercy? You know what that could mean for the pack. The Council’s judgment can be severe, if they see the king as a threat, the whole pack could be punished. Killed, even.”

I meet his gaze and arch an eyebrow. I’m not naive, I know what the stakes are. But I also know what the king has done, and I can’t just keep turning a blind eye just because it’s easier. “The king has to face the consequences,” I finally announce. “He’s been making his own rules for too long, and now it’s time for him to answer for them.”

The guard looks like he wants to argue, but I press on. “I’m not doing this to destroy the pack. I’m doing this to save it. If the Council sees how he’s twisted things, maybe they’ll realize the real injustice. You have to see things from my perspective here, come on. He can’t keep setting the pack on fire just to keep his spoiled offspring warm.”

“And if they don’t?” Evan asks, his voice barely a whisper. “If they don’t see things your way?”

A wave of worry washes over me, but I push it aside. I can’t let doubt creep in now, not when I’m so close. “Then the pack will have to learn from this. We all will. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but sometimes the only way to change things is to let them break first.”

He’s silent, pondering my words, and I can tell he’s still not convinced. But he’s not the one who has to make this decision. I am. “And what about you?” he finally asks. “What if the Council decides you’re guilty? That you’re the one who’s to blame? After all, they can try to twist the issue and make you the criminal in their story. Claim that you attacked Kaiden because he threatened to expose you.”

“If that’s the case,” I whisper and close my eyes, “I’ll face whatever comes. But I have to try. For the pack, for the ones who still believe in justice. And for Kaiden’s mate. That poor girl... I need to find her. I need to make things right.”

He nods slowly and takes a step back. “I hope you’re right, Gio. I really hope you’re right.”

I don’t answer, there’s nothing more to say. Whatever happens next, I have to believe it’s better than letting the king continue down this path of destruction. If the Council Elders have any brain cells, they’ll release me, and when they do, I know exactly where I’m going - back to the Elite Academy, where I can find my mate and finally make things right.