Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 72: New Plan

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Chapter 72

~Author’s POV~

The classroom was slowly filled with noise as students settled into their seats. Isadora sat beside Silvie, still chatting lightly about the day ahead, when the homeroom lecturer finally walked in. The room quieted almost instantly.

Professor Ravyn placed a file on the desk and adjusted her glasses before speaking. "Jade called in sick this morning. She will not be joining us today."

A few students exchanged glances, but Isadora only nodded to herself. She had already suspected something like that after not hearing from Jade since the previous evening and not seeing her in school.

"Also, Claire Azrael won’t be joining us today due to a doctor’s appointment. Now, since we are missing two students," Professor Ravyn continued firmly, "you will all need to be prepared. This has been arranged since the Mock Trials were introduced."

Students murmured in response.

Ignoring them, Professor Ravyn continued, "There will be a strict training assessment during combat training today. You will be paired into five-man teams. Each team must consist of one member from each of the five Factions."

Excited murmurs filled the room.

Isadora turned quickly to her side to share the news with Jade out of habit, but her smile faltered when she saw the empty seat.

Before she could process it fully, Adrian called out from two rows behind. "Hey, looks like our team still stands. You, me, Silver, Jade and—"

"And me," Silvie cut in smoothly.

Adrian paused and glanced at Silver, who narrowed his eyes slightly but did not argue.

At that moment, Professor Ravyn cleared her throat again. "Note, for those not present today, they cannot be included in any team. Any team that adds an absent member will be considered handicapped for today’s mission. Choose again, and choose wisely. You will be graded."

The classroom fell into a tense silence as everyone began recalculating their options.

By the time they were done, only one team had three students, leaving two slots open.

"As for you three," Professor Ravyn turned to the three-man team consisting of Ziva, Kai and Dean. "Miss Jade Snow and Claire Azrael would be joining your team."

At once, Adrian stood from his seat, lifting his hand. "But... you said we cannot add the absent students to any team."

Professor Ravyn nodded as she adjusted her glasses with her two fingers. Her gaze became stern and cold, making her look like a villain.

Adrian gulped. He soon realised why she was nicknamed ’the villainess in glasses".

"I said you. There was no mention of where I said I cannot. That being said, this last team wouldn’t be participating in the training today. However, their first training shall commence on Wednesday. It shall be more strict, and under the watchful eyes of Principal Vale."

Her lips curled at the side in a smirk, but as quickly as it came, it left.

Without waiting for a response, she turned towards the board, taking out her marker.

At the back, Silver whispered to Adrian. "We made a mistake. You, Isadora, and I should have stayed behind."

Adrian’s shoulders fell. "Yeah. Now we’re stuck with those two."

Saying that, his gaze drifted to where Isadora sat, leaning to the side where Vera and Silvie whispered to her.

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~Jade’s POV~

I still found it hard to accept the news that we failed. My mates were still cursed.

Breakfast had ended almost too normally. They laughed, teased, and acted like nothing monumental had just shattered beneath us, but getting close to them these past weeks had taught me one thing — they hid their worries frighteningly well.

Xade especially.

The memory of his easy smirk lingered in my mind. Anyone else would think he never carried burdens at all.

And with how they behaved inside, it was almost hard to tell when they were being professional and when they were being carefree.

I sat on the balcony attached to Xavier’s room, legs tucked beneath me as cool afternoon air brushed against my skin. The faint scent of pine drifted from the gardens below, mixed with the distant sound of training warriors sparring somewhere on the estate grounds.

I didn’t know they had Lycan warriors or any warrior at all on the premises.

I felt slightly guilty occupying Xavier’s space like this.

The room still smelled faintly of him, his soap, his cologne and his natural scent—something warm I could not name.

"Stop berating yourself," Javelin chided gently inside my head. "You deserve this and more."

I exhaled slowly, resting my chin on my knee. "You always say that."

"Because you keep forgetting it."

"I just..." I hesitated. "Javelin, I know you understand everything happening, but I don’t know if what they said is truly the answer. What if falling in love isn’t what breaks the curse?"

She hummed thoughtfully. "It is worth trying. At least Xavier plans to dig deeper into the history. Though honestly, that research should have happened long before now."

A small laugh escaped me. "True. But I believe they must have searched on their own before I came along."

"They probably did," she agreed. "But desperation blinds people. Hope changes perspective."

I watched a pair of birds glide across the sky, their wings catching sunlight as they disappeared past the palace walls.

"So what do you want to do?" Javelin asked. "Leave everything to them... or allow yourself to actually fall in love?"

The question tightened something in my chest.

I inhaled deeply.

"The last person I fell in love with turned out to be a complete jerk," I admitted quietly. "I don’t even know if I can trust feelings anymore. What if they fall in love only because they need the bond to break? What if none of it is real?"

Javelin’s voice softened. "You are afraid of being used again."

"Yes." The word slipped out before I could stop it. "I never imagined giving my first time to someone who didn’t love me. Yet here I am... doing exactly that. And not with one man, but three."

Warm embarrassment crept up my neck despite being alone.

"They are not Troy," Javelin said firmly. "Never compare your mates to him. Xavier, Xander, and Xade may have been distant at first, but you saw why. Their curse shaped their lives long before you entered it."

I nodded slowly.

"They protect you without realizing it," she continued. "They watch you. They listen. Even when they pretend not to care."

My lips curved faintly at that. "I hope you’re right," I murmured.

"I am."

Silence settled between us for a moment, filled only by the rustling leaves and distant laughter from somewhere below.

"Do not forget why you returned to school," Javelin added. "Your goals matter too. You wanted independence. Strength. A future where no one pushes you around and to prove your worth to both your father and his kingdom."

Her words stirred something warm inside me. "You are the Lycan Princess," she reminded gently. "That counts for something."

My posture straightened unconsciously as confidence bloomed slowly in my chest. "But how long do we have?" I asked after a moment. "What if time runs out before we fall in love? Feelings can’t be forced. We can’t rush this the way mating happened. Loving isn’t something just... sigh."

"True," Javelin agreed. Then her tone turned mischievous. "But if it counts for anything..."

I raised an eyebrow despite myself.

"I believe," she said smugly, "it is time to seduce your mates and have them fall for you."