Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 32: Wrong Alliance

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Chapter 32

~Xander’s POV~

Xavier sighed deeply and took a seat across from me. "Where is he?"

"In the gym. He got home before I did."

He leaned back. "So you’re telling me two grown men got into a fight on school grounds."

I did not refute Xavier’s words, but switched the focus. "You should’ve heard the garbage that came out of his mouth about Jade," I growled.

Xavier’s expression darkened. "I thought we were past this."

"So did I," I said sharply. "But apparently, Xade thinks it’s fine to toy with her. Like she’s just another one of his projects."

I stopped myself before the words could spill further. My fists clenched, then relaxed.

After a moment, Xavier spoke quietly. "He baited you."

My head snapped up. "What?"

"He baited you," Xavier repeated. "And you fell for it."

Apex groaned in my head. "Told you."

"Told me what?" I shot back internally, though I kept my silence in front of Xavier.

"When Xade speaks like that," Xavier continued, "it’s never because he doesn’t care. It’s because he does care and too much. It’s self blaming."

"That makes no sense," I argued. "Blaming himself for what?"

"For losing control," Xavier explained simply. "For kissing her before she was ready. Use your head, Xander. You know him."

My chest tightened. I wanted to believe Xavier, but that meant that I was wrong.

"He wanted you to hit him," Xavier added. "That’s why he pushed your buttons verbally. Have you forgotten who your brother is?"

The realization hit hard. "Which means..." My eyes widened. "He wanted the punishment."

"Exactly."

"Shit," I muttered. "I fell for it."

Xavier stood, pulling off his gloves with a tired sigh. "Sometimes I wonder what you two would do without me."

"I was angry," I said defensively.

"I know," he replied. "And jealous. The mate bond does that." He turned toward the hallway, then beckoned on me. "Come on."

"Where?"

"To the gym," Xavier said. "Let’s go unsulk our baby brother before he breaks something that actually matters."

I hesitated for half a second, unsure of how I was going to meet the goofer who started this.

Then I followed, because no matter how furious I was, Xade was still my brother—and Jade deserved better than us tearing each other apart.

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~Troy’s POV~

The bar was dim, tucked away on the far end of the street where youngsters go to party and drink to their heart’s content.

Low music hummed beneath the clink of glasses and muted laughter.

Troy sat at the counter, one elbow resting on the wood, his drink untouched. His jaw was tight, eyes fixed straight ahead like he was daring the world to look at him too closely.

"Jade Snow, Jade Snow," he muttered, then picked up his glass and twirled the liquid inside.

Someone slid into the seat beside him, but Troy did not pay the person any heed until he sniffed and whipped his head to the side.

Vera had slid onto the stool beside him. She ordered without looking at him. And as soon as the bartender got to work on her order, she glanced at Troy with the faintest, pleased smile on her face.

"You’re late," Troy stated sharply.

"I had to make sure I wasn’t followed," Vera replied coolly. "Everyone’s paranoid these days."

"Everyone or you?" Troy scoffed.

"People, who include you and exclude me." She turned from him to focus on the handsome bartender’s ass.

Troy did not reference her remark. She was baiting his rage like always. "That’s what happens when things don’t go exactly as planned."

Vera finally turned to him, her lips curving into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet now."

"I’m telling you this went further than it was supposed to," Troy said, lowering his voice. "The post was meant to embarrass her. Shake her. Not turn the whole school into a courtroom."

"Thanks, handsome," she cooed at the bartender, throwing him flirtatious glances. The bartender, a tall, slightly lean guy with ruffled brown hair, winked at Vera and then went back to work.

Vera took her drink, swirling it slowly. "Please. Jade was always going to crumble. All we did was give people a reason to look at her differently."

"And the Alpha triplets?" Troy asked. "That wasn’t part of the plan."

Vera shrugged. "Collateral damage."

Troy’s fingers curled around the glass. "Too bad, one of your collateral damage, Xander’s already digging. If they trace it back—"

"They won’t," Vera cut in. "Everything was routed. Clean. And even if suspicion circles back, no one’s going to believe her over us."

She leaned closer, voice dropping. "That’s the beauty of it. Jade doesn’t know who to trust anymore."

Troy hesitated. "And Silvie?"

Vera’s eyes flickered. "She played her role." She sipped from her drink and then gently placed it on her lips. As soon as she set it down, she added, "Though I do wonder what’s in it for her."

Just then, the door to the bar opened.

A cool draft swept in before Silvie herself stepped inside, scanning the room once before her gaze locked onto them. Her expression gave nothing away as she walked over, confident, unhurried.

She pulled out the empty stool on Troy’s other side and sat.

"Talking about me?" Silvie asked lightly.

Vera smiled. "Perfect timing, girl."

Troy rolled his eyes and sipped his drink. "Females and being late," he noted and placed his cup down.

Silvie signaled the bartender for a drink. "Relax. I made sure no one followed me."

"The classical excuse," Troy said in doubt.

Rather than commenting, Silvie glanced between them. "So... did it work?"

Troy didn’t answer immediately.

Vera did. "Jade’s isolated. The school’s whispering. And well, it wouldn’t take long before the triplets leave her."

Silvie’s lips curved, displaying a satisfied smile. "Good."

"Yeah." Troy finally looked at her. "Just to clarify. You said this wouldn’t get messy."

Silvie met his gaze evenly. "I said it wouldn’t get traced back to us."

"You sure?" Troy inquired again.

"Yes." She turned to face Troy. "When I recruited you guys, I did not think I recruited weaklings. So stop questioning me and enjoy the night. I’ve got some girls for you to spend time with," she announced. "And you, Vera?"

Vera’s eyes darted over to the bartender, making Silvie burst into a peal of laughter. "Consider him yours for the night."

Vera squealed, throwing her hands in the air. She earned several glares in return but that did not stop the wild ideas forming in her mind.

Even the bartender, who they soon learned his name was Joe, glanced at her with a suspicious smirk on his face.

After the whole mild jubilation, a brief silence settled between the three of them.

Silvie took a sip of her drink, then added calmly, "But if we’re going to finish this properly, we’ll need to push Jade one last time."

Vera’s eyes gleamed. "I was hoping you’d say that."

Troy looked away, unease settling deep in his chest. "Just, whatever you do, do not let it be linked back to me or to my dad’s company."

Silvie rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Mr. scaredy-cat."