Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 81

Ashley pov

My heart stops beating in my chest. That’s it. I’m gone. Dead. Lost for society and those who surround me. There’s no more me, that’s for sure.

Somehow, in the weird atmosphere that surrounds us all, I manage to sneak away from the triplets and exit the auditorium unnoticed.

If I can judge anything by how Nathan behaved earlier when we ran into him, I’m sure he knows something the students aren’t supposed to know, so I set my mind on finding him.

For a while, as I walk down the halls and peek inside classrooms, I feel like I’m a long forgotten ghost, just wandering around abandoned places.

However, once I find him inside a classroom he’s not supposed to be in, I enter it and close the door behind me.

“Lock the door, please. I knew you’d set out to find me, so I’ve been waiting for a while,” Nathan announces, his back turned to me.

A little hesitant, I do as I’m told and take a seat in one of the empty chairs. We both seem to be on the edge and he looks especially bad while staring outside the window, his hands pulled into tight fists at his sides.

“What do I do now?” I manage to mutter the question, hating how bloody weak I sound and feel.

For others, Kaiden is someone to respect, but for me, he’s my biggest nightmare and tormentor. He has enough power and money to get whatever he pleases, including people. If I wouldn’t have ran away from that place the moment I did, I’m sure he’d snap his fingers at someone and I’d be dragged back to the monster.

Nathan lets out a heavy sigh as his back tenses. “I don’t know, Alpha. I need to think of something and fast. For both of us. We’re stuck in the same sinking ship at this point.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, wondering what I haven’t taken into consideration. What did I miss?

“Prince Kaiden is joining the Academy only because he caught a whiff of you here. Gio is following him everywhere he goes, so I fear we won’t be able to keep as many conversations secret if that dog keeps running after me like some lovesick puppy.”

“Shit,” I hiss and toss my head back to look up at the ceiling. The frustration that courses through me is insane and I seriously would do anything to get rid of it. “What now? Any ideas at all?”

“First,” Nathan starts and slowly spins on his heel to face me. “First, we need to figure out something about the scent issue. The scent alone isn’t our biggest problem, though.”

“What’s the biggest problem then?”

Sometimes, I wonder why everyone who surrounds me can’t just toss the information on me and leave me be. No, the riddles and secrecy have been getting out of hand lately.

Also, for some reason, I think of Anno. I wonder how he’s been doing.. I’ve been so focused on my own life and problems that I haven’t bothered to check in with my best friend. Wow, I’m really an awful human being.

Before I get enough time to wallow in self-pity caused by my own mistakes, Nathan clears his throat to catch my attention. “The biggest problem is that since you haven’t accepted his rejection, Alpha, the prince will eventually catch your scent one way or another. On top of that, he will also out your identity if you try to accept his rejection in a sneaky way. We need to figure something out.”

“Yeah,” I chuckle, rather bitterly. “We sure as hell need to figure something out. The sooner the better, really. Safe to say that asswipe isn’t the only of my issues, but for as long as I deal with him, I think I will manage everything else just fine.”

“This will be a tricky one, Alpha. No matter what we would like to believe, there’s still a mate bond between you and prince Kaiden. Sadly, the Goddess really does her best to pair the souls that fit the best, even if the human part of us doesn't understand or accept that. That’s why sometimes, if one mate rejects the other and there’s no acceptance, the mate bond can be re-built. I believe he’s relying on that fact.”

“Shit,” I hiss and close my eyes to run a hand through my hair. I’m so damn frustrated, I’m ready to rip the hair out of my scalp if only the pain could distract me from this mess.

“And there’s something else too..” Nathan adds and looks away, as if he’s ashamed to tell me more.

“What?” I ask and jump to my feet, ready to take the blow. My life’s isn’t fun enough, that’s why fate keeps throwing more challenges my way and I just have to be fucking okay with it.

“As long as the bond with prince Kaiden still remains in place, he will always be able to find your scent, to track you wherever you go, even if the bond is barely there. On top of that, your second chances will never find out that they are your mates. For now, they’re oblivious because your soul is still tied to someone else. Until the first bond is broken for good, there’s no second chance.”

Well, shit. This part is both a curse and a blessing. Of course, I want to be happy, I want to have at least one mate and settle down one day. But then again, not right now. It’s too soon, too complicated to happen.

“Hey,” Nathan suddenly perks up and walks closer to me. He places his hand on my shoulder and shakes me a little, “I think I have an idea. Since I’m kind of responsible for the student’s schedules, I could do my best to ensure you don’t run into the prince at all. For now, keeping him away from you might be our best and safest bet.”

Since there isn’t anything else I could really do, I agree with Nathan and return to the apartment I share with the triplets. From the very moment I step inside, all of them are there, worry etched on their faces. We’ve been living together for a while now, so they’re pretty good with reading my emotions even when I shut down.

“We will protect you,” all of them call out at the same time, hands on their hearts, serious looks on their faces. It seems.. I’m really not fighting this battle alone after all.