The Triplet Alphas's Christmas Gift

Chapter 28 - More questions and confessions

Teira's POV

I took the note from the desk and read it several times, each time more confused than the last, "So, what happened to her? Who's the Shadow? Why are they speaking in code? Who did Dad write to?" I asked, quickly handing the note over to Kyle to read.

Ryan shrugged, "We're not sure about any of it, angel. We plan on looking for more information about Melinda Sutton, but with you in the hospital and now the trial coming up, we haven't had a chance to research yet. Your Dad might know more, but it's whether he's willing to give up the information is the problem." he replied gently.

"Tei, I think the Shadow is your Mom. It refers to whoever Dad was trying to contact and that she doesn't wish to speak to him again. Also, she sent you to Dad due to the line of work they do. Your Mom was either in something shady or, well, was doing something shady." Kyle said, pointing to certain sentences in the letter. I frowned, "It also said that she wanted me sent to Dad to keep me until they could collect me again. Mom didn't want to give me up permanently. She just needed the danger to die down before she or whoever she worked for could come and get me." I replied, looking at the last few lines.

The triplets growled, "You aren't leaving, princess." Tyler said stubbornly. I glared, "Do I need to remind you again that you aren't my father, Tyler? I don't know if I would leave anyway, Mom left me in that house to be abused for 16 years, and this organization may have been watching, but they certainly didn't do anything to help me. Plus, I'm not leaving Kyle behind. He's been there for me when others weren't, and I won't abandon him." I stated firmly.

Kyle hugged me, but the triplets scowled a bit at my words, a mix of relief, shock, and, was that jealousy? Was on all of their faces. "I love you too, Tei. Now, enough seriousness, you and I have a date at the mall this afternoon, and we'll need to get our rooms set up at the packhouse. Let's go." he said, standing up and leading me out of the room. Tyler and Matt followed, leaving Ryan to pick up the remaining papers and place them in a folder.

We hopped into the SUV that the boys had picked me up in my last day of school, Kyle had tried to sit beside me in the back but the triplets growled and he surrendered jumping in the very back with his bag while Ryan tossed the keys to Tyler and Matt hopped into the middle bench seat placing me between him and Ryan.

Tyler pouted at the keys but didn't say anything as he got into the driver's seat, and we headed back to the packhouse. Ryan kept glancing at me, and Matt wrapped his arm around my shoulders, holding me close to his side. I looked at them confused. They had been acting strangely since they rescued me. I had chalked it up to them being scarred by seeing what I had been subjected to, but that had been weeks ago. I needed to talk to them, but I didn't want to do it in front of Kyle, and this was a bit too personal to do over the link.

When we pulled up to the packhouse, Ryan helped me out but refused to put me down. "Ryan!" I squealed, trying to get out of his arms. He smiled and looked over at Matt, who had carefully grabbed my old suitcase and was following me, Tyler behind him with one of Kyle's bags over his shoulder. "Put me down! I can walk!" I yelled as he carried me inside. Ryan smirked, and my breath stopped. He looked just as gorgeous as Tyler did when he did that, "Not a chance angel, you've been walking nonstop since we got to your old home, you are going to rest in your room upstairs for a couple of hours before heading out with Kyle." he said firmly.

I looked over my shoulder at the other boys for help, Matt looked sympathetic but firm, Tyler just winked and Kyle smiled and shrugged, "The doc did say to rest, Tei, we'll go after lunch anyway. Give you some time to get used to your new surroundings." he said gently. I huffed, "Fine, I'll rest, but I'm not a child, put me down!" I said sternly, wriggling again. Ryan growled and looked down at me, "No. Keep moving like that, and I'll spank you." he murmured.

I froze a blush heating my face, since when did Ryan want to do that? And why was I liking the idea? "You wouldn't." I challenged. Ryan chuckled darkly, "Try me." he retorted as we headed to the elevator. When it opened, Ryan, Matt, and Tyler all piled in it with me still in Ryan's arms. Kyle just stood there smiling, "I'll take the next one. Have a good nap, Tei. I'll see you at lunch." he said cheerfully, waving as the doors closed.

Traitor! I linked, and his laugh echoed back through before cutting off.

The doors opened on the third floor, and I looked around curiously, I had never been here before, and I knew Kyle hadn't either. The triplets didn't like having guests in their personal spaces from what I heard at school, so whenever they did have people over, they mostly hung out in the common room or out back in the pool.

The third floor was decorated in blues and browns, the carpet looked to be soft and plush wear you couldn't hear someone's footsteps unless they were running down the long hall. There were six rooms on this floor, five bedrooms for the triplets, me and Kyle, as well as a room that looked like it held a pool table and entertainment center. I couldn't look very well as we passed it since Ryan didn't stop until we came to a door in the middle of the hall. Tyler had set the bag he was carrying in front of the door nearest to the elevator, showing me that was Kyle's room, so he was a door away from me.

Tyler opened my door, and Ryan carried me in, setting me down on the large bed that looked like it would take up the entirety of my old room. Everything was decorated in deep reds and browns, giving it a bit of a feminine touch. I looked around amazed, there was a large vanity table in the corner with a giant mirror, a bathroom with a huge shower that could fit multiple people, a giant bathtub as well as another counter with a mirror and sink.

In front of the bed was a big dresser with a TV on top, a second dresser near another door which Matt opened to reveal a walk-in closet and placed my suitcase gently inside it, and several garment bags were hung up on one side. I looked at the boys in awe and moved beyond words at the room, "You like it, princess?" Tyler asked, brushing my hair behind my ear. I nodded, and my throat was temporarily closed up from the joy, causing my heart to swell.

The boys beamed, Matt stepped forward, "We're glad we want you to feel at home here." he said gently, and I smiled brightly, "Thank you. But I don't understand something. Why do you guys care so much about me? This goes beyond what happened with my parents. What's going on with you three?" I asked.

They looked at each other, obviously talking over the link. I waited anxiously, unsure what answer I wanted to hear from them. Then Ryan looked at me, scratching the back of his neck, "Angel, you know how we wanted to ask you something earlier, then Kyle interrupted?" he asked. I nodded, remembering the wrestling match I had to break up before we headed down to breakfast.

He sighed, "We wanted to tell you that we like you. A lot. You're brave, kind, smart, funny -"

"-sassy, beautiful, amazing, strong -" Matt added.

"-and hot as hell." Tyler finished making me laugh at the glares from his brothers.

"Anyway," Ryan continued rolling his eyes, "We wanted to know if you would go out with us. All of us." he said nervously.

I looked at them stunned. The triplets wanted to date me? Why? I was nobody. I couldn't tell them that since they hated when I thought that way. "What about the Luna? She won't stand for this, and what happens when you find your mates? Your birthdays are around the same as Kyle's. Which means you'll be 18 in a few weeks. I don't want to get my hopes up only to have them dashed when you find her, and I refuse to stand in between fated mates." I asked anxiously. My heart really wanted me to give them a chance, but my head was telling me this could be a bad idea for several reasons.

Tyler sat beside me and grabbed my hand, Matt sat on my other side and squeezed my shoulder gently while Ryan kneeled in front of me, "Angel, if you agree to go out with us then nothing, not Mom, not Dad, not even Kyle, will separate us from you. And if Selene forbid, we turn 18 and find our fated mate, and it's not you or you find yours, and it's not us. We'll make a clean break. No arguments, no hard feelings. We swear on the Moon Goddess." he said softly.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Was I really going to do this? Show my heart to these three wonderful boys who made my day brighter, leaving it vulnerable to heartbreak? They were looking at me the same way I'm sure I was looking at them, longing, pleading, anxiety, and a bit of hope.

I smiled and nodded, "Then yes, I'll go out with you." I said more confident than I felt. All three boys smiled so brightly I thought I might need sunglasses from the beams as they enveloped me in a three-way hug. "Thank you, angel." Ryan said gently. Matt nodded, and Tyler buried his face in the side of my neck, breathing deeply.

I smiled at them and their vulnerability. They acted strong in front of the pack, but only I had seen this side of them so far. I hoped I would get to see it more often.

I turned my head and tried to hide the yawn that came out of my mouth, but Tyler saw it and nudged the other two, "Naptime Princess." he said, helping me to lie down on the bed. I frowned at him but didn't argue then noticed he got in front of me on the bed, with Matt holding me close from behind and Ryan curling up with his head in my lap at the foot of the bed. I c****d my head at them curiously, and Tyler chuckled, "We found that we missed sleeping next to you at night, so, if you don't mind, we're gonna nap with you until lunch. That ok princess?" he asked, gently kissing my forehead.

I nodded sleepily, I had missed their warmth as well. Matt grabbed the quilt laying at the foot of the bed with Ryan's help, and we all drifted to sleep content in each other's arms.