Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 28

Ashley pov

I am dying. No, seriously, I really am.

All that sharing energy training has me on my knees by the time we finish, but somehow, I actually managed to move that damn rock a little.

Or, that is what the professor said. For all I know, it could have been him, feeling pity for my miserable attempts and helping out a little to save my face in front of everyone.

By the time the class ends, I’m more than ready to head back to the apartment, face plant the bed and forget this experience ever happened.

However, as always, things don’t go my way. Just as I round a corner, I run into Anno. Literally run into him, full body weight and all.

“Hey, I knew you must be missing me, but never to this extent. You okay?” He chuckles as he grabs my shoulders to steady me.

“Yeah, sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” I mutter.

“Clearly,” Anno muses and releases me. “Listen, I’m planning to go out for a meal with an old friend of mine. How about you join us? I was kind of thinking about finding you and asking if you want to anyway. We haven’t had much time to spend together lately, it sucks to miss my best friend.”

Well, there goes my plan to hide in the bedroom and enjoy some rest. I can say no, but the reality is that the look on his face shows just how bloody hopeful he is - how much he wants me to be there.

“I suppose I can join you. But not for long, though, these classes have been killing me.” I try to smile and somehow fail even that.

But that’s fine since Anno’s smile is so bright and warm, it feels like he can smile for us both.

He throws his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer, guiding me down the hall and out the building. “I really missed my best friend, you know,” he mutters just as we step outside.

“I did too,” I quickly agree. It’s the truth - I did miss him.

Friendships are weird. One moment, the person is nothing but a stranger, but after a short while you throw in one label and before you notice it - a day without this stranger doesn’t feel as good and fulfilling anymore.

But then again, maybe it’s not so weird after all. I mean, you choose your friends while mates are chosen for you by someone else and that connection hits you like a wall of bricks - it’s instant and hard to resist, the pull that forces you to gravitate towards the mate.

Shaking my head, I try to get rid of these thoughts before I sink too deep. An outing with Anno is the perfect way to get the triplets out of my mind, not to invite them to my thoughts.

“So, how has it been? Tiring, that I get, but other than that? I noticed Ethan is in the same class as you, I hope he’s not giving you a hard time.”

I glance at Anno, wondering if it’s possible to change the subject. “Don’t even try to avoid my questions, I won’t let you drop it,” he mutters, exposing my intentions.

“I’ve been trying to avoid him for the most part,” I roll my eyes. “But it’s hard given that we live together, you know.”

“Wait, what?” Anno stops in his tracks. “You live together? Again?”

“Yeah,” I can’t help but laugh at the look of genuine shock and horror on his face. “We all live together again. Me and the triplets, just like at the Academy. I guess they thought that since we’re already familiar with each other it wouldn’t be a big deal.”

Anno thinks for a moment and nods. “But do they know?”

I can hear the unspoken question he actually wants to ask, but it’s not an answer I want to give out in public. Sensing my reluctance, Anno steps closer and leans in to whisper, “we’re alone, no one will hear you. Besides, even if anyone did, they wouldn’t have a clue what we are talking about.”

The sigh that leaves me is deep and loud. He’s right, this is a secret for only the two of us. “I don’t think so. Ethan’s been extra weird, but I don’t think it’s because he found out. He’s just being a pain.”

“Okay, let’s go get some food first. Everything else can wait.”

As always, Anno doesn’t wait for me to talk. Instead, he grabs my hand and pulls me away from the school building towards wherever we are meeting his friend.

Thankfully, the walk isn’t too long, the cafe is on the same territory, and the only thing that catches me off guard is Anno’s friend. It’s the female tailor I met on the first day.

Sitting down, I must look like a deer caught in the headlights, my eyes darting everywhere to find the closest way of escape while those two just hug and take their seats at the table.

“Ash, this is Rose, a very close friend of mine. Rose, this is Ash, the best friend ever and my savior. I told you about Ash already,” Anno introduces us and Rose quickly offers me her hand for a handshake.

I’m well aware of my hand trembling, but we both ignore that.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ash. Also, don’t hesitate to be yourself around me, I figured out the first time we met and Anno told me he would bury me if I shared your secret. Which obviously is something I would never do. You have my word - your secret is safe with me.”

She keeps her voice low, almost flirty, and the slight blush on her cheeks doesn’t help her case either. I swear, Rose looks like she’s flirting.

Kind of a shit situation since my luck is one of a kind and from the corner of my eye, I notice the triplets entering the damn cafe while I’m still holding Rose’s hand and she looks at me as if I just hung the moon for her.

Great, here comes the trouble.

ETHAN

Ash avoids me. Okay, I can live with that - he can’t do that forever, we share living spaces after all.

Ash doesn’t want to be my friend. Yes, that stings, more than I fucking like to admit. Everyone wants to be my friend except for that tiny cute prick.

I have no idea since when I have started thinking about Ash as cute, but whatever, I can roll with it.

Since he takes off before I can catch up with him, I wait for my brothers and agree to join them for a meal out.

Elias leads the way while Everett listens to me rant about Ash. Both of them are used to my complaining, they’ve already joined in on the same stuff a couple of times too, so I’m not the only one who feels frustrated with this weird situation.

“Well, color me surprised,” Elias grumbles as we step inside the cafe.

Since my brother isn’t someone who can be surprised easily, I have to look around to see what has caught him off guard.

And there he is. Ash. Sitting at the table with his omega friend and a woman. A woman whose hand he is holding while she’s batting her eyelashes at him.

I want to pluck them out. One by one until there is none she can use to flirt with my Ash.

My Ash... Shit I’m losing it, but I’ll roll with this too. If my subconscious already views the guy as mine, who am I to fight it?

And the best part? I know I’m a jealous fuck, but by the looks of it, so are my brothers. Hell, this is going to be a fun ride.