Fated to the Triplet Alphas-Chapter 84: Hidden Feelings

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Chapter 84

~Jade’s POV~

By the time I reached home, my mind still felt like it had been spun inside a storm that refused to settle.

The entire walk from the academy had been a blur.

My thoughts kept circling the same impossible truth over and over again, replaying Drake’s shocked expression, the way his fingers had pulled my collar aside, and the moment his eyes had locked onto the mark on my neck as it had personally betrayed him.

The memory made my stomach twist all over again.

Four mates.

The words still sounded unreal even inside my own head.

I pushed open the front door and stepped inside, hoping the familiar silence of the house would give me at least a few minutes to breathe and sort through the chaos in my thoughts.

Unfortunately, the moment I stepped into the living room, my plan collapsed.

"Jade?"

My head lifted instantly.

My mother was standing near the kitchen doorway, a small travel bag resting beside the table as though she had only just arrived. Her eyes moved quickly over my appearance, and I became suddenly aware of how dishevelled I must have looked.

When I glanced at the mirror near the dining, I knew I was a mess.

My hair was messy, my uniform slightly wrinkled, and my expression probably looked like I had just survived a small emotional hurricane.

"I came back early," she said gently, spreading her hands in a gesture. "Tada."

For a second, I simply stared at her. Then I turned slightly, already planning to head for the stairs without answering.

"I’m tired," I muttered.

Before I could walk away, her voice stopped me. "Jade, wait." Something in her tone made my steps slow. "I know it doesn’t change anything," she continued carefully, "not after everything that happened before."

My jaw tightened as I turned back toward her. "You’re right," I replied quietly. "It doesn’t."

For a brief moment, the room fell silent between us.

Then my mother took a slow breath and stepped closer.

"I know in this whole closeness Chapter I’m late," she admitted softly. "I should have tried harder before now."

Her voice wavered slightly, and for the first time in a long while I saw something different in her eyes. Regret.

"But I want to try," she continued. "I want to be a better mother to you. If you’re willing to let me in... I’ll do whatever I can to help. No matter what."

The sincerity in her voice hit harder than I expected. A sudden sting burned at the corner of my eyes before I could stop it.

For a moment, I stood there, frozen between anger and longing. And the confusng situation I found myself with my mates.

Then something inside me cracked.

Before I could change my mind, I crossed the distance between us and wrapped my arms tightly around her. Her arms came around me instantly, holding me just as tightly.

The warmth of the hug sent a rush of emotions through my chest that I had been holding back for years.

For a few quiet seconds, neither of us spoke as we just let the hug sooth us. Then the front door opened.

I pulled back slightly and turned my head. Kael had just stepped into the room but the moment he saw me, he paused.

His body shifted like he wanted to walk toward me, but something stopped him halfway through the motion. I swallowed quietly and stepped away from my mother.

"Are you okay?" Kael asked gently.

I nodded quickly. "I’m fine," I replied.

The words felt incomplete, but I didn’t have the energy to explain everything that had happened today without explaining almost the previous month.

"I’m just going to my room," I added, glancing briefly at my mother before heading toward the stairs.

Neither of them tried to stop me as I climbed halfway up the staircase before slowing down. Then I paused beside the wall when their voices drifted up from the living room.

A quiet laugh escaped my mother first. My brows creased. Mum didnt look too thrille dto see him just now. Which brought me to the question, was she oretending? 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"How was your journey?" Kael asked.

"It was fine," she replied. A moment later, she added, "How was your time with Jade? Was it everything you hoped for?"

There was a small pause before Kael answered. "It was," he said softly. "Everything I hoped for."

Something warm stirred briefly in my chest at his words. Then his voice grew more curious. "Why did you come home early?"

"I wanted to spend more time with my daughter," my mother answered.

I leaned slightly against the wall, listening.

"I realized Jade is growing up," she continued gently. "Soon she will be leaving this house."

Kael sounded confused.

"Leaving?"

My mother laughed softly. "She will be off to university soon," she explained. "I need to build our relationship before that happens."

There was a thoughtful pause before Kael spoke again. "It was nice seeing you, Alanna," he said carefully. "But now that you’re back... I think it might be best if I move out."

My eyes widened instantly. I moved down a few steps quietly until I could see them clearly from the staircase.

My mother had already walked toward him.

"Why?" she asked, closing the distance between them. "You can’t handle being in the same space with your ex?"

She boldly placed her delicate hand gently but firmly directly over his broad chest.

Kael inhaled deeply, his chest expanding beneath her palm, and he shook his head slowly. "Yes and no," he answered cryptically.

My eyes widened in pure, unadulterated shock at his vulnerable admission.

"Why?" my mother breathed out, her voice dropping to a barely audible whisper.

"Because I..." Kael hesitated, his dark eyes locked intensely with hers, but his cell phone suddenly rang loudly, completely shattering the intimate moment.

"Excuse me," he said quickly.

Taking his phone from his pocket, he immediately excused himself to take the incoming call, hastily turning his back and walking away before she could say another word.

He answered the call while moving toward the door, speaking quietly for a moment before slipping outside.

A minute later, he was gone. I blinked slowly from my spot on the staircase. "It definitely looks like their complicated feelings for each other are still there," I muttered under my breath.

"Like hell you have the time to bother yourself about your mother’s messy love life when you have your very own heavy cross to carry," Javelin immediately chided

I sighed quietly. She had a point. Shaking my head, I turned and finally continued up the stairs toward my room.