Taming the Hybrid Mate: Desired by Five Alphas-Chapter 197: Leave her be

Andria’s POV

Just then, I silently wished for something, anything to happen that could rescue me from this mess. And then a loud knock came at the door. Whoever was behind the door didn’t wait before badging into the office in haste. I sensed him, even before he spoke.

A quiet, controlled, deceptively calm voice that sliced straight through the tension. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Step away from her."

Every head in the room snapped toward the door.

Zade stood against the door, looking weirdly calm, but I knew better; a raging storm was hiding beneath his quiet demeanor. His eyes were darkened, and his shoulders appeared stiff and tensed.

His expression was unreadable. His presence instantly shifted the entire atmosphere. Relief slammed into me so hard my knees almost buckled.

"Zade..." I breathed, the word escaping before I could stop it.

His eyes moved to me, sweeping over my slightly dishevelled shirt, my flushed skin, my swollen lips... and something sharp and cold flickered through his gaze.

The kind of cold that appeared on his face the day he thought I had cheated on him. But now that cold face wasn’t against me, it was for me.

Tristan stiffened. Aven exhaled sharply. Damon straightened his spine.

Kaelric’s smirk only deepened, twisting his lips in a very crooked, arrogant expression that made my stomach shun.

Zade stepped fully into the office, closing the door behind him with quiet finality. His gaze didn’t leave me even for a second.

And the moment he crossed the threshold, everyone in the room readjusted.

Aven’s fists clenched, Tristan’s jaw tightened, and Damon’s smirk faltered.

Of course, they didn’t need a fifth party, but he came.

But none of them backed away.

"What do you want from my office?" Sir Kaelric asked in a cold tone.

" I should have asked first, what party are you throwing in your office with my mate and her other mates that I’m not invited to," he retorted.

My pulse stuttered.

The tension in the room thickened, turning almost physical, as the Alpha successors charged towards Zade. I took that opportunity to slip off the table, finding my way towards the door.

Zade walked closer to me, noticing my movement, and the Alpha successors turned towards my direction.

When he reached me, he didn’t touch me; he simply stood at my side, body heat radiating like a shield.

His voice was lower now. I had totally forgotten I hated Zade; for now, I wanted to be out of here, and if he could help me, that was all I needed. "Aria... you okay?"

I swallowed, my throat dry. "I... I’m fine."

Zade’s eyes flicked over my wrists, still red where Kaelric’s tie had held them. He didn’t say anything, but something in his aura shifted like a silent earthquake.

"I knew somehow you needed help," he bent down to my ear and whispered. "I’m here."

Of course, the mate bond could have called out to him in that moment. I felt distressed. I hated having to take help from Zade, but I had no other choice.

"I..." I sucked in a breath. "Zade, please get them off me."

Aven bristled. "She doesn’t need rescuing."

"She looks like she does," Zade replied without blinking. "She just said it."

Tristan stepped forward, his tone cold and brittle. "This isn’t your scene, Zade."

"It is," Zade said, still terrifyingly calm. "She is my mate."

The air grew tense between us.

Damon lifted a brow. "She is ours too."

Zade’s eyes narrowed just a fraction. "And yet she asked me for help from you," he looked around, "from you all."

My breath hitched.

Aven looked like he wanted to lunge. Tristan looked like he wanted to tear something. Damon looked entertained again, but in a darker, more calculating way.

Kaelric leaned against his desk, folding his arms with a lazy grin.

"Well," he murmured, "now this is interesting."

I stepped back while they were all distracted—just a tiny step.

No one noticed.

Zade stayed between me and them, his stance protective, but not possessive like the others. His calmness was different, controlled and strategically quiet. The type that made people underestimate him.

Very different from the Zade that I used to know. Maybe he was different, or perhaps because he isn’t the popular wolf like he used to be.

His eyes flickered to me. Something softened.

"Leave now," he murmured. "And don’t turn back, unless you want to be wrapped back into this."

He angled his body subtly, creating a passage for me to pass through. The others noticed too late.

By the time Aven lunged forward, growling, "Aria...you can’t..."

I was already slipping past Zade.

Opening the door and closing it behind me with such speed I never knew I could muster at that moment.

I could hear them cursing out loud after I had left. They would settle their scores within themselves; they always had a way around these things.

But they didn’t chase me, and I was happy for the first time for having Zade around. I didn’t try to look back, I didn’t dare.

I walked very fast until I got to my apartment, breathing heavily. I stopped in front of the door to catch my breath. I didn’t want Mel and Becca to be suspicious or even worried.

Before I could gather my breath together, the door opened.

I had forgotten to close the door when I left, and these two didn’t even bother to either. So the light tap on my head sent the door flying wide open.

Mel sat on the couch, controller in hand, with Becca beside her, both of them yelling at the TV.

I wondered what made them so excited about whatever they were watching on television.

The moment they saw me, they froze, staring at me as if they saw a ghost.

Mel blinked. "Uh... Aria? Why do you look like a ghost has chased you?"

Becca squinted. "Or like you wrestled one."

I ignored them. Walked straight to my room and closed the door quietly behind me. My hands were still trembling.

I splashed water on my face, changed into fresh clothes, brushed out my hair, and breathed, mentally preparing myself to meet them.

I returned to the living room.

Mel and Becca were staring at me with identical expressions of suspicion.

"Why..." Mel asked slowly, "Did you look slightly dishevelled when you got back?"

Becca leaned closer, eyes widening. "Wait. Hold on. Aria. Why did your lips look..."

"No." I cut her off. "Absolutely not. We are not doing this."

Mel snorted. "So you were with your mates, the Alpha successors or Sir Kaelric, which of them?."

"Hey, I just went to see Sir Kaelric concerning council and school matters, that’s all, nothing happened."

"You are blushing," Becca pointed out.

"I’m warm, and you two are asking weird questions about my mates. Why wouldn’t I be flustered?"

"And you are lying," Mel added.

I crossed my arms. "I will happily join your game if you both stop talking," I said, desperately trying to change the topic.

Mel grinned. "Deal."

Becca grinned wider. "Suspicious deal. Ari just had a way of changing the topic whenever it came to her mates."

I dropped onto the couch. "Just... play. My mates aren’t a topic to be discussed."

We played for about thirty minutes.

Mel was demolishing us, again and again.

"And that makes two wins for me," Mel said smugly. "One win for Aria. Zero for Becca."

Becca threw her controller dramatically. "Why does the universe hate me?"

"Because I am the universe, or probably you are not just good at the game," Mel replied, flipping her hair.

I sighed. "You are insufferable."

"And talented. Don’t forget that," Becca pointed

"At losing," I muttered.

Becca groaned, throwing her head back. "I haven’t won anything today. Not even a single round! But at least I can sing."

"Then be better," Mel said sweetly.

"It’s a game, Mel!" Becca cried.

"A skill-based game," Mel corrected.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Mel was beginning to sound corky.

Mel turned to us suddenly, eyes lighting up. "We should throw a game night."

Becca perked up. "What kind of game night?"

Mel leaned forward, waggling her brows. "An 18-plus game night."

Becca gasped dramatically. "I’m listening."

I frowned. Immediately suspicious. "Why?"

Mel grinned. "Because no one has anything to do. We are just waiting for prom night and the holidays. It will be fun."

Becca clapped. "I’m in!"

They both seemed very excited about the idea, but nothing about it thrilled me.

I narrowed my eyes. "It sounds suspicious."

Mel waved a hand. "Relax. It’s not a school event. It’s just an indoor apartment thing."

"That makes me even more worried," I muttered.

"Aria." Mel leaned closer. "It will be fun. Stop being such an old-school."

I looked between them, their bright eyes, excited expressions, and clueless enthusiasm.

"Who exactly would you invite?" I asked.

Mel’s grin sharpened. "Don’t worry about that. I’ll invite... that’s for me to scout"

My eyebrow shot up. "For you to scout? I don’t know why I don’t trust this idea, and I don’t trust you."

Mel’s smile flickered. "I know my way around these things; students will show up. You have to start trusting."

"That’s concerning."

Becca squealed. "This is going to be fun!"

Mel turned to her. "Exactly! Trust me."

I exhaled slowly. "Fine. Do whatever you want."

Mel beamed. "Finally!"

I rubbed my forehead. "Let’s just hope it isn’t a disaster. We already know how things like this end at Ashwood."

Becca and Mel exchanged looks and chuckled.

I stood. "I’ll be in my room."

I walked sluggishly to my room, already exhausted from whatever had happened today.

I slumped on my bed, willing sleep to come.

*******************************

"Truth or dare," Mel announced, spinning the bottle dramatically.

The room was packed with other students, faces I never knew would show up. Loud, chaotic and energetic. The air smelled like alcohol, testosterone, and bad decisions.

The bottle slowed and stopped. My heart skipped when I saw where the neck pointed.

"It’s you, Tristan," Mel chuckled. "Make your way forward.

The room erupted with cheers.

"Truth or dare?" Becca asked mischievously.

"Dare," Tristan replied immediately.

Mel grinned. "I dare you to pick two she-wolves here and kiss them. Or drink that beer over there."

The wolves oohed.

"Let me point out that beer is strong," Mel continued. "Even a strong wolf will get drunk if they keep drinking."

Tristan sighed, standing.

He looked around the room and then walked straight to me.

My breath hitched.

He stopped in front of me, his hand lifting slowly, and he chose me first.

The room exploded into whistles and screams.

Some whisper, " I knew he would pick her; she is his mate after all."

I looked back, and Damon and Aven looked at me intently.

Tristan pulled me close, his hands sliding to my waist.

"I’m sorry," he whispered.

"For what?" I breathed.

"This."

His lips crashed onto mine.

The kiss was deep, taking my breath from me at once. His hands roam my sides, his body pressing into mine. His tongue tangled with mine, slow and dominating, and the room blurred in that moment.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathless.

The room erupted in louder cheering.

Mel grinned. "Next one!"

"Pick another! Pick another!" the crowd hollered.

I went back to my seat, while he looked around for the next she-wolf to pick. He looked towards Mel as if he were silently pleading with her to scrap the dare.

Damon and Aven chuckled mischievously.

He walked towards Alexa and picked her up. A little feeling of jealousy stung me.

He paused again and looked at Mel.