Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 78

Elias pov

Why Ash decided to come clean with Everett is beyond me, but the fact that she’s sitting here and telling Ethan the truth too has me so shocked, I don’t know how to react.

Well, besides holding my fucking breath because there’s no saying how Ethan might react.

Don’t get me wrong, my brother is the most fitting sunshine character I’ve ever known, but he also has a short fuse and there’s no saying how bad it would go if he decided to blow up.

However, all that worry I feel turns out to be useless since he doesn’t react. Like at all. Not a word, not a blink of an eye, not a movement or even taken breath. Ethan looks like he’s frozen in time.

Everett takes the upper hand of the situation and punches Ethan’s arm to bring him back to reality. “Breathe, bro, you need oxygen to survive weirdo,” he snickers.

As if on cue, Ethan sucks in a deep breath and slowly releases it, shaking his head.

My whole body tenses as I prepare to act like a living shield for Ash when Ethan starts muttering something under his breath, but that too, turns out to be an overreaction on my part because Ethan just starts laughing and tosses his head back.

“I can’t believe it,” he manages to force out in between the laughs.

Poor Ash looks like she’s about to lose her mind or have a heart attack as her eyes dart between Everett and me, clearly seeking some help from our side.

“Can’t believe what? That Ash happens to be a girl?” I ask, frowning.

Once Etan manages to pull himself together, he wipes tears off his cheeks and reaches out to take Ash’s hand in his. “I can’t believe that I was right after all. I knew there was something off about you ever since the first time you stepped inside the apartment and also, I know I ain’t bi for fuck’s sake. Now, I can like you even more that I know you’re hiding titties from me.” He announces, wiggling his eyebrows.

Before I can attempt to, Everett slaps the back of Ethan’s head and growls. “Have some respect for the lady, moron!”

“Hey!” Ethan shouts and rubs the place he was slapped on just now. “That was uncalled for!”

“Very much deserved, you know that,” I point out as I cross my arms in front of my chest.

Ethan drops the topic and looks back at Ash. “So you’re the chick the asshole prince is looking for, huh?”

My eyes snap to Everett as his face falls. Right, I completely forgot to ask Ash more questions about that shit. Ethan is careless for most part, but if nothing else, at least he pays attention to details.

“Yes,” Ash manages to whisper, her voice weak and hoarse as if she’s trying to hold back from crying.

I don’t think as I move to sit next to her and wrap an arm around her, pulling her closer. “It’s fine, if you don’t want to talk about it, we understand, all of us,” I mutter and glare at my brothers. “Right?”

Everett raises his hands in surrender and nods, “of course, no pressure. I understand. Ethan?”

Ethan takes a little while to respond, but after he’s done with rolling his eyes like a true brat, he grumbles out a weak agreement.

“No,” Ash whispers. “I think it’s best if I tell you at least a few things, so you’re aware of what’s happening. I don’t want you guys to get in trouble for keeping my secret safe.”

I can’t claim that I know Ash better than anyone else does, but from the tone of her voice, I know she’s fighting with herself to share those details of her life. I would rather let her rest and have a peace of mind, but if she’s adamant to talk, I can’t really forbid her.

“Just,” she mutters and sucks in a shaky breath. My heart squeezes so painfully, all I want is to wrap her in my arms and shield her from the world. What the fuck is happening to me? “Just ask the questions and I will answer truthfully. If I must share my experience I will mess it up, and honestly, I have no idea where to start.”

For once, both of my brothers are acting more like human beings than beasts. They don’t pressure Ash and instead of asking questions, they nod at me as if giving me a sign that I’m controlling the situation, not them.

I clear my throat and tighten my hold around Ash. I do, just a little, but enough for her to feel that I’m here and she can hold onto me to stay grounded.

“I suppose we should address the elephant in the room first. Take your time, share as many details as you’re comfortable with, but we would appreciate it if you told us what is the relationship between you and the prince. Why are you so afraid of meeting him? You left the party and when his men came looking for a woman, you were so pale, you looked like you were on the edge of passing out.”

Deep down, I’m hoping Ash doesn’t see my question as too invasive. There are more things I would like to ask, but the situation is very tricky as it is, so for now, settling the surface things is a good first step. In time, whenever she feels more safe and comfortable around us, she can tell us more. If she wants, obviously.

As turns her face to hide it against my chest and takes a few deeper breaths until she’s ready to talk. And once she does, more things are making sense than I initially assumed.

“There’s no relationship besides the things he has done in the past. You know for yourselves prince Kaiden isn’t a great or kind person. He is vicious and evil. There was a time I was forced to live in his pack, abused and treated as a maid, until I found a way to escape that place for good. The reason why I’m scared of meeting him again is that I fear the possibility of being found and dragged back to my personal hell. I don’t want to go back there.”