Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 211

The king pov

I pace the length of the office, each step echoing against the walls, offering me the headache of a lifetime. The Council of Elders will be arriving any moment, and I have to prepare myself for an assault of questions and accusations.

I can already picture their self-righteous faces, their scowls and the looks of disgust they’ll give me. But thankfully, I have my answers ready. They don’t need to know everything, just enough to keep them satisfied.

I pause in front of the mirror, adjust my collar and run a hand through my hair. I need to look every inch the calm, collected ruler they expect me to be. Whatever doubts they have, I’ll crush them. I’ve been dealing with their meddling for years, and this time will be no different.

“My king,” a maid appears at the doorway, bowing low. “The Council has arrived.”

“Take them to the meeting room, I’ll join them shortly.”

She nods and rushes away, and I take a deep breath, readying myself for what’s to come. This meeting is important. The situation is delicate, and the Sorrentino family’s appearance is complicating things more than I initially assumed. If I don’t play this perfectly, everything I’ve worked for could collapse. But then again, I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.

I wait a few moments longer, letting the Council stew in the meeting room without me. It’s important they understand their place, that I am the one in control, not them. Finally, I stride toward the doors, and push them open with a confidence I don’t entirely feel.

The Council of Elders is seated around the long table, their faces serious. I smile and take my place at the head of the table. “Elders,” I greet them, spreading my hands as if I’m welcoming them in. “It’s good to see you all. I trust your journey here was pleasant as always?”

“It was enjoyable,” the head Elder replies, his tone as cold as his stare. “We have much to discuss, my king.”

“Yes, of course.” I lean back in my chair, forcing myself to appear relaxed even as my heart attempts to leave my body. “What news do you bring?”

They exchange uneasy glances, and I can tell that whatever they have to say isn’t good. The head Elder leans forward and clears his throat. “We’ve just come from a meeting with the Sorrentino family.”

The name sends a chill down my spine, but I keep my face neutral. “Oh? And what do the Sorrentinos have to say?”

“They are making demands, my king,” another Elder offers his input. “They claim that the woman you call your son’s mate, Ashley, is now under their protection.”

I feel a flash of anger, but I keep it under control. “Ashley is Kaiden’s rightful mate,” I say, my tone as cold as ice. “They have no right to claim anything.”

“They disagree,” the Elder replies. “The Sorrentino family is not part of the Council’s alliance, and they’ve made it clear that if Ashley is not returned to them, they will consider it an act of aggression. They’re preparing for war, my king.”

“War?” I allow myself a laugh of disbelief. “Do they really think they can threaten my kingdom? They may be strong, but they’re not foolish enough to go to war over a single woman.”

“It’s not just about her,” the head Elder jumps back in the conversation. “They see this as a matter of honor. The Sorrentinos have never trusted the Council, and your recent actions have only made things worse. The alliance is fragile, and if the Sorrentino family takes action, others may follow. We could be facing a collapse.”

I narrow my eyes, my anger only worsens. “You think this is my fault? The Council has never given me the support I need. You’ve meddled in my affairs for years, questioning my decisions and undermining my authority at every turn. Don’t blame me if others see your weakness.” To show how serious I am, I slam my fist against the table, making them all jump.

“My king, we need a solution, not rebellion in your territory. If the Sorrentinos go to war, the entire kingdom will be thrown into chaos. The peace we’ve built will be shattered.”

I sit back, forcing myself to relax and close my eyes. “You’re all overreacting,” I blow out the words, as if that way I can exhale the tension. “I have the situation under control.”

“Then tell us your plan,” the Elder demands. “If you have a way to fix this situation, we need to know.”

A smile creeps on my lips. I can’t tell them the truth - my plan depends on Kaiden marking Ashley, branding her to him whether she wants it or not. If they knew, they’d try to stop us, and I can’t allow that. This is my kingdom, and I’ll do whatever it takes to secure my legacy with or without the support of these old fools.

“There’s no need to worry. My son and his mate are happy. Ashley has been recovering from a recent attack, but she’s well cared for, and she understands her role. The war with the Sorrentino family is unnecessary. Kaiden will make sure of that.”

The Elders don’t look convinced. I can see the doubt in their eyes, so, before they try to argue, I speak up again. “Stay for a few days. Enjoy my hospitality and see for yourselves how happy they are. I invite you to join us for the official mating ceremony tomorrow. It will put all your concerns to rest.”

They exchange glances, but one by one, they nod. They’re not happy, but they’ll accept my invitation. They have no other choice.

“We will stay,” the Elder agrees. “But understand this, my king, if we are not convinced that this union is genuine, the Council will never support you. We can’t afford to be seen as complicit in a forced bond.”

“Of course,” I mutter and smile even wider. “You’ll see exactly what you need to see. I can assure you, there will be no doubt that my son’s mate is willing and happy.”

The Elders rise, one by one leaving the room. I remain seated and watch them go with a blank expression. In reality, inside, I’m fuming. How dare they question me like this? They’re in my kingdom, on my land!

When the last one of them leaves the room and the door closes behind them, I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Kaiden has no other choice but to do what he’s been told. We can’t afford failure, we have no time for that.  

He needs to, absolutely must, mark Ashley tomorrow, before anyone else can interfere. If he succeeds, the Council will have no choice but to accept the bond, and the Sorrentino family’s demands will hold less weight than a whisper in the wind.

So much is at stake. No matter what, I can’t let anyone, not the Council, not that girl, and not even my own son, ruin the ceremony.