Fated to the Triplet Alphas

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Chapter 118

~Jade’s POV~

My heart no longer just raced. It pounded so hard it felt like it was trying to break free from my chest.

I could not breathe or think. All I could do was stare at him. At the one person I never expected to see here. This school was my only escape from him and now...

As soon as Drake entered, his eyes scanned the entire class, only to finally settle on me. I swallowed hard and quickly looked away. But the moment my eyes landed on Isadora, all the fear within me skyrocketed.

Was she about to rat me out?

I tried to kill that thought when I felt multiple eyes on me. No doubt one of them was probably from Principal Vale and the other from Drake.

But it was the movement in my peripheral vision that caught my attention. Silver looked like he could dash towards me at any second.

I wondered why, but I found my answer when I realised my fingers were trembling on my desk and my breathing sounded incredibly ragged.

I closed my eyes and shook my head slightly, hoping Silver got the hint to stay put. I waited, praying for the Principal to say something, and she finally did.

"Please, Alpha Drake Onyx, kindly introduce yourself."

I heaved out a deep breath, waiting for his introduction, and finally opened my eyes. Drake did introduce himself, but what really made matters infinitely worse was when Principal Vale announced that I would, in fact, chaperon his stay.

As soon as class ended, I dashed through the front door before anyone else and headed straight for Principal Vale’s office to plead with her to rescind her absolute nightmare of a decision.

I practically jogged down the corridors until I reached the administrative wing. As soon as I did, my steps did not slow. If anything, they quickened, as my mind raced just as fast.

I needed to fix this.

There was no way I was going to be stuck babysitting Drake Onyx of all people. Not when my entire body had already reacted to him like that.

My grip tightened around the strap of my bag as I arrived at the Principal’s office. Her secretary, Ms. Primrose, looked up from her computer, already watching me with that calm, knowing look she always had.

"Ms. Snow?"

"I need to see the Principal," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

She studied me for a brief second, her gaze flickering over my face as if assessing something deeper, before giving a small nod and a polite smile.

"Please wait."

She picked up the intercom, informing Principal Vale of my arrival. There was a short pause before she nodded again and set it down.

"You may go in."

I did not waste a second. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Principal Vale was seated behind her desk, a stack of documents laid neatly before her. She did not look up immediately, her pen moving smoothly across the page as if she had all the time in the world.

I paused just a few steps in.

"Good morning, Principal Vale," I greeted.

"Ms. Snow," she replied, still writing. Then, after a second, she flipped a page and lifted her gaze to me. "Are you here because of my recent announcement in your class?"

Straight to the point. I swallowed lightly and nodded. "Yes, ma’am."

She leaned back slightly in her chair, folding her hands neatly on the desk as she gave me her full attention.

"And?"

I drew in a breath, forcing myself to stay composed before stepping closer to her desk. "I do not believe I am suitable for the task you assigned to me."

Her brows lifted slightly, not in surprise, but in interest. "And why is that?"

My mind immediately betrayed me.

How could I possibly tell the Principal that I could not chaperon him because he was my mate?

How could I explain that forcing me to spend time with Alpha Drake Onyx would only trigger the lethal jealousy of my Lycan mates and likely start a war inside the academy?

I pushed all of that down.

Instead of spilling my dangerous secrets, I forced a small, polite smile. "I just did not appreciate the stare Drake gave me in class, ma’am. It made me uncomfortable."

Principal Vale went still for a second before letting out a soft chuckle, leaning back in her leather chair. "I saw the stare he gave you, Ms. Snow, and I can assure you there was nothing inappropriate about it. If anything, it appeared that the young Alpha’s interest was simply piqued."

I let out a heavy sigh, my shoulders dropping in defeat.

That was not helping.

"I believe you recall," I added carefully, "that I have not one, but three mates, ma’am."

"I do," she replied without missing a beat. "And it is precisely because of that situation that I paired the two of you."

My brows furrowed in pure confusion. "Excuse me?"

"Should your mates be taught restraint, I believe this is the perfect opportunity," Principal Vale continued smoothly. "I hoped that in seeing you chaperon our exchange student during this period, your Triplet Alphas shall finally learn some much-needed control, since you four seem to be lacking that as of late."

My throat went dry.

I cleared it nervously, heat rushing to my cheeks. I prayed silently that Principal Vale was not talking about Xander and me in the training gym.

Principal Vale did not let the silence linger. "Or might you deny that there was a massive ruckus during the Valentine’s party, and Alpha Xavier was seen carrying you out of the venue?"

I almost sighed in relief, but what she mentioned wasn’t a free case either.

Before I could hold myself back, I stepped forward defensively. "That was because I was drugged and set up. Xavier did not do anything wrong. He only came to save me."

"And the people that were brutally beaten?" she challenged, raising a single eyebrow.

"I did that of my own accord, using all the combat training I have learned here," I replied smartly, refusing to back down.

Principal Vale studied me for a long moment. Then, she closed the document in front of her. "And who, might I ask, drugged you?"

I hesitated, weighing the consequences before finally answering.

"A student named Amy gave me the drink. But then again, I think it is a ploy much bigger than just her. I think..." I stopped myself, shaking my head. "Never mind."

Clearly interested, Principal Vale placed both hands flat on the desk and leaned forward. "Go on, Ms. Snow."

As much as I did not want to snitch, I did not want Xavier taking any fault in this.

"I believe Vera and Silvie have a hand in it too."

Principal Vale’s expression hardened. "That is a pretty big accusation, Ms. Snow."

"I know it is, but I do not have concrete proof yet," I admitted, my frustration bleeding into my voice. "I only know that it was Amy who physically gave me the drugged drink. And I overheard Vera and Silvie talking about doing something to me in the hallway. Though I did not record them, because I was already feeling the heavy effects of the aphrodisiac."

"Or perhaps the drink’s high alcohol content made you imagine these things," Principal Vale suggested smoothly. "Perhaps it was not laced at all. You simply got drunk and let your imagination run wild?"

My brows creased in sheer outrage. "What? No, ma’am."

"No?" she countered, her voice turning completely icy. "Because I saw security footage of what you did to Ms. Silvie at the party."

"No, she did that to me first," I argued, the anger already bubbling hot and fast in my chest.

"Why? Silvie may be snide in her everyday remarks, but only you actively acted on your anger with her in a physical manner."

"I know how it must look on the cameras, but I assure you, I did no such thing unprovoked, ma’am."

"So you deny smearing paint all over her face and her expensive gown?"

I shut my eyes tightly and evened my breathing, trying to keep Javelin from snapping at an authority figure.

When I opened my eyes, I tried again. "I did do that, but I know I was drugged too. I was not in my right mind."

Silence followed for a moment. Then she exhaled softly.

"Out of respect for your highly influential mates, I shall not pursue this matter further, and neither should you," Principal Vale warned, her tone leaving absolutely no room for debate. "Lest I take severe disciplinary action against you."

My fingers curled slightly.

"However, my decision still firmly stands on you chaperoning Drake Onyx."

"But ma’am..."

Principal Vale lifted her hand to cut me short immediately. "No. My words are final. I suggest you get used to your time together. You may as well learn everything he has to teach from their rival school, considering you or any senior year student who passes the mock trial will be facing him directly during the final trials of the Lunar Crown Award."

I heaved a massive sigh of resignation. I needed to play the part and handle Drake on my own.

Just one week. And one more week of probably lying to my mates, because if they knew, there was no way peace would reign.

"A week, right. I will manage it, ma’am."

"Oh," Principal Vale smiled, a terrifyingly sweet expression crossing her face. Something about it made my stomach drop.

"Who said anything about a week?"

My brows furrowed in fresh panic. "Ma’am, you just announced to the class..."

"I know what I announced. And well, the Principal of Lunar Crescent High saw it best, and I agreed of course, that we extend the exchange program for two weeks or possibly a full month."

My jaw practically unhinged, and my grip on my bag strap tightened.

"We are still contemplating between both timelines," she continued breezily. "But give or take, you have at least two full weeks of chaperoning ahead of you. So I highly suggest you make the absolute most of it."

Her eyes glinted in pure mischief. "Rise to the challenge, Ms. Jade Snow, and well while you’re at it..."

A proud, knowing smile formed perfectly on her face.

"Tame your mates."