Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 53: Arguing

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Chapter 53

~Jade’s POV~

Xade’s words felt like a punch to my pride and self-esteem. Although the words were calm, the undercurrent of possessiveness in them made my pulse spike.

Xavier reacted instantly. His body shifted in front of mine, one arm moving slightly behind him as though shielding me, and his eyes narrowed toward the shadows beyond the porch light.

"Xade," Xavier called sharply. "Come out."

There was no hesitation.

Xade stepped forward from beside the fence where the shadows had concealed him. His hands rested casually in his pockets, completely relaxed, as if he had not just startled both of us.

Xavier’s jaw tightened. "What was the meaning of what you said?"

Xade shrugged lazily. "You know exactly what I meant."

His gaze slid over me slowly and unapologetically, and heat crept up my neck under the intensity of it.

"She is wearing something so see-through it almost looks like she is asking to be fu—" he stopped himself, clearing his throat. "Tempting us."

My eyes widened in disbelief.

Xavier shot him a warning look. "Watch your mouth. I’m not complaining. Besides, she is in her house."

"What if it wasn’t you or me who had come out, huh?"

"It is me she is seeing," Xavier added firmly.

Xade chuckled under his breath. "You, she is seeing? Interesting claim. I got here first."

"I highly doubt that," Xavier replied.

"Believe whatever helps you sleep," Xade said lightly. "I watched you arrive."

Xavier moved closer to me, not aggressively, but protectively. His shoulder brushed mine in a silent claim neither Xade nor I missed. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"You cannot just appear outside her house at night," Xavier said. "That looks suspicious, even for you."

"I did not come here to cause trouble."

"Then why hide?"

Xade tilted his head slightly. "For the same reason you came without announcing yourself. Interest."

Neither brother appeared angry, yet something deeper moved beneath their calm expressions. Their eyes held a challenge, rivalry, jealousy, and an awareness that neither of them bothered to hide.

And somehow, I was standing in the middle of all of it.

I exhaled slowly. "Both of you showing up uninvited already counts as trouble." Xade opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. "Why are you really here?" I asked. "Because this feels less like a coincidence and more like surveillance."

Xavier hesitated before answering. "I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I needed to see you," Xade said at the same time.

The identical confession landed heavily in my chest.

Xavier rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed. Xade, on the other hand, looked entirely satisfied with himself.

Before I could respond, another engine sounded in front of us. Headlights swept across the driveway.

All three of us turned at the same time to see a car parked behind Xavier’s vehicle, and my wolf stirred instantly.

Javelin purred in recognition the second Xander stepped out.

He walked toward us dressed in a loose sweater jacket over a white singlet and dark grey trousers, his hair slightly dishevelled as though he had left wherever he was in a hurry. His hands remained tucked casually into his pockets.

When he reached the porch, he raised an eyebrow.

"So," he said, glancing between us, "you three were holding a party and no one thought to invite me?"

Xavier frowned. "What are you doing here?"

Xander shrugged. "I could ask you the same question. Including you," he added, nodding toward Xade. "What are you both doing here?"

Xade answered first. "I came for my mate."

"Our mate," Xavier corrected immediately.

Xander sighed. "Did we not agree she was not ready yet?"

"That was before," Xade replied.

"That was yesterday," Xander countered. "You two said we would give her space..."

His words faded as his gaze finally landed on me. I followed his line of sight.

Only then did I realise my blouse clung to my skin from my damp hair. The fabric had turned faintly transparent, and my nipples pressed visibly against it.

"Oh, lala," Javelin purred inside my head.

Heat flooded my face. My eyes dropped instinctively—and regrettably—to Xander’s trousers. There was a very noticeable reaction there.

Mortified, I glanced toward Xavier and Xade. They were not any better. I cleared my throat loudly.

To my surprise, all three men looked away at once.

"As I was saying," Xander continued, though his voice sounded tighter now, "we agreed she was not ready."

My head began to ache listening to them. Each of them had made that decision together, yet here they were betraying it without hesitation.

Xade crossed his arms. "Maybe she is ready now."

Xavier shook his head. "This is not a competition."

"It feels like one," Xander muttered.

Xade smirked. "Then let us settle it properly."

I blinked. "Settle what?"

"A game," Xade explained simply.

Xavier groaned softly. "You cannot be serious."

"I am perfectly serious," Xade replied. "Winner stays. Losers leave."

Xander’s eyes lit with interest. "I like that."

I stared at them, disbelief rising rapidly. "You three cannot possibly be deciding custody of spending time with me over a game."

"It is efficient," Xade said.

Xander nodded thoughtfully. "Pick numbers one to ten. Highest wins. Three rounds. Same number cancels the round."

Before they could begin, my phone vibrated in my hand. The sound cut through everything.

Ignoring them, I looked down.

Kael: I’m on my way back.

Panic tightened my chest instantly.

Even though Kael knew the truth about the mate bond, something about him meeting all three of them tonight felt dangerously wrong. The energy between the brothers already felt unstable, I did not want him noticing anything especially about their curse.

I lifted my head sharply. "You three need to leave."

They blinked at me in synchronised surprise.

"I mean it," I continued firmly. "I do not care if you argue or compete or glare at each other, but you cannot do it here. It is already evening, and the last thing I need is more drama."

Xavier frowned. "Jade—"

"My mum could return at any time," I added quickly, though it was a lie. "Good night. I will see you all at school on Monday."