Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 102: Not What I Expected

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Chapter 102

~Jade’s POV~

When we stepped out of the restaurant, Xander walked straight to the car parked in front without lingering on the sidewalk. I noticed the faint curve of satisfaction that lingered on his lips. He looked far too pleased with himself.

"You’re smiling like you just pulled off some elaborate scheme," I said, folding my arms lightly as we reached the car.

"Maybe I did."

He unlocked the car and opened the passenger door for me.

The small gesture caught my attention more than I expected, but I said nothing and slid into the seat while he circled to the driver’s side.

Once inside, he started the engine and pulled away from the curb.

For a moment, neither of us spoke before I broke the silence. "So," I said as he pulled away from the curb, "are you finally going to tell me where we’re going?"

"Nope." I turned slightly toward him, narrowing my eyes. "You realize you’re making it sound like you’re kidnapping me."

Xander scoffed as he focused on the road. "If I were kidnapping you, I wouldn’t have taken you to dinner first."

"That’s exactly what a kidnapper would say."

He chuckled under his breath but kept his attention on the road. The city lights rolled past the windows while we drove.

I expected him to turn back toward my neighborhood sooner or later, but instead he headed toward the quieter roads leading out of the busier part of town. My curiosity grew with every turn he took.

"You’re not taking me home yet," I said after a few minutes.

Xander glanced at me briefly, the corner of his mouth lifting in that familiar way that always suggested he knew something I didn’t.

"Relax. The night’s not over."

That was all he said, and no matter how many suspicious looks I sent his way after that, he refused to explain anything else.

The drive didn’t last long. Within fifteen minutes we were already leaving the brighter streets behind and climbing a narrow road that curved gently up a hill

I stepped out first, my gaze lifting instinctively toward the view stretching beyond the edge of the hill.

The city lay below us, glowing with thousands of scattered lights. From up here it looked almost unreal, like a living constellation spread across the earth.

For a moment, I forgot to breathe. The area was quiet with only a few trees and open grass surrounding the clearing. Then I noticed the faint glow further up the hill.

My attention shifted.

Small points of warm light flickered near the crest, partially hidden behind a cluster of trees.

I looked at Xander.

He had already come around the car, leaning casually against the door like he had all the time in the world.

"You’re staring," he said.

"What did you do?"

Xander didn’t answer right away. Instead, he nodded toward the slope ahead of us, clearly enjoying the way my curiosity had taken over.

"Come see."

We walked up the short incline together, and the closer we got, the clearer the scene became.

A large blanket had been spread neatly across the grass. Lanterns hung from the low branches above it, their warm light moving gently in the breeze.

A few more candles sat around the edges of the blanket in glass holders, making the entire little clearing glow softly against the darkness of the hill.

From a distance, they looked almost like a swarm of quiet golden fireflies hovering around the clearing.

My steps slowed as I took it all in. "Xander... You planned this?" I asked.

Xander shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal, but I noticed the brief glance he gave me as he waited for my reaction.

"It’s just a picnic."

"A picnic?" I repeated with a quiet laugh. "Most people don’t hang lanterns in trees for a simple picnic."

A small picnic basket sat near the edge of the blanket, along with a couple of plates and a bottle tucked neatly beside it.

He walked ahead of me and crouched briefly, adjusting one of the lanterns before glancing back over his shoulder.

"What?" he asked when he noticed my expression. "Most people don’t have my level of creativity."

I walked over and sat across from him, still looking around at the lanterns above us. "You’re full of surprises tonight," I admitted.

"Don’t let it go to your head," he said, though the small smile on his face told me he was pleased with himself.

"You brought me all the way up here for a second dinner?" I asked.

Xander shrugged, helping me settle onto the blanket. "Technically it’s dessert."

He opened the basket, pulling out a small container before sliding it across to me. I lifted the lid curiously.

Inside the basket were small containers of desserts and fruit, along with a bottle he placed between us and chocolate-covered strawberries. I looked up at him. "You really went all in."

He leaned back on one arm, watching me with amusement. "You’re the one who said I never try."

"I said you enjoy chaos."

"That too."

I laughed softly, picking up one of the strawberries.

The conversation that followed came easily, far easier than I expected. Without the noise of the restaurant around us, the teasing between us softened into something more relaxed.

At one point, he stretched out on the blanket, resting back on his elbows as he looked up at the lanterns above.

"You know," he said casually, "Xade would lose his mind if he saw this."

"Because you’re being romantic?"

"Because I didn’t invite him."

I snorted. "He’d accuse you of betrayal."

"He’ll live."

Then Xander told me about a stupid competition he and Xade once had during training that ended with both of them being punished by their father.

"You mean to tell me two future Alphas thought climbing onto the roof of the training hall was a good idea?" I asked.

"We were testing balance."

"You were showing off."

He smirked. "Same thing."

I shook my head, laughing quietly while leaning back against my hands.

The breeze brushed through the clearing again, carrying the faint scent of grass and making the lanterns sway gently in the branches. Their light danced across the grass and flickered softly against Xander’s face.

I realized then that he had been watching me for a while and not in his usual teasing way. Just... watching.

"You didn’t have to do all this," I said quietly.

"Do what?"

"Go this far just for a date," I said after a moment. "Dinner would have been enough. Now, it’s like you planned an entire second date."

Xander didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stood and walked toward the trees surrounding the clearing.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he reached for one of the lanterns hanging from a branch. I stood up too and walked over to him.

"Improving the view."

One by one, he lit the remaining lanterns that had not yet been glowing. The warm flames flickered to life, spreading more light through the branches until the entire clearing looked brighter and warmer than before.

By the time he stepped back, my breath caught.

"Xander..." He turned toward me.

For once, there was no teasing in his expression as his gaze held mine, and then he added, "Better view, mate."

I did not know what came over me. Whether or not it was seeing this soft side to Xander or my emotions just going out of whack, the next second, I bridged the distance between us and kissed him.