The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

Before he could force himself to speak, a cheerful voice interrupted them.

”Kaden!”

He turned. Eloise approached them with a bright smile, the soft click of her heels carrying across the polished hospital floor. She walked straight towards him without hesitation and slipped her hand around his arm as though it belonged there, completely oblivious to the slight tension that stiffened his body the moment her skin touched his.

Kaden’s head snapped towards the contact, every nerve in his body flaring in alarm for a single, sharp second. His eyes widened subtly before recognition settled. It was Eloise. A sick feeling churned quickly in his stomach, something close to guilt mixed with a flicker of confusion crossing his expression.

Why was his body reacting as though she were a stranger? He forced his gaze away, jaw clenching as he tried to bury the stirring emotions. It was Eloise. The girl he had always known. The girl he had always loved like a part of himself. And yet...

Eloise remained completely oblivious to the storm behind his silence. A pleasant smile still rested on her lips as her eyes flicked towards Xavier with polite surprise.

”Are you here to see someone, Xavier?” she asked sweetly, her voice carrying light curiosity.

Kaden’s spiralling thoughts retreated at the sound of her voice. A sharp pang of guilt twisted in his chest for how easily his mind had drifted. Xavier’s gaze dropped briefly to the hand wrapped around Kaden’s arm before returning to her face. A teasing smile slowly returned to his lips.

”Actually, I am,” he replied casually. ”I came to see Yuki.”

Eloise’s smile remained perfectly in place, though her thoughts stayed carefully unreadable.

”You’re here to see Yuki?” she repeated, still pleasant.

Xavier nodded. ”I heard she woke up.”

A complicated look flickered across Eloise’s face for the briefest moment.

”That’s thoughtful of you.” Her fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around Kaden’s arm. ”She must be receiving quite a few visitors.”

”I imagine so.” Xavier shrugged, his gaze briefly shifting towards Kaden. ”I was curious to see how she was doing.”

Kaden said nothing. His attention remained fixed somewhere beyond Xavier’s shoulder, but the tension in his jaw had returned.

Eloise’s smile brightened, though it looked slightly stiff.

”That’s great,” she chimed. ”You must be pretty close. It’s rare for the campus heartthrob of Draven Hall to show interest in someone. The popular school beauty and the campus heartthrob... that’s a perfect match.” She deliberately drew out the words school beauty, and the phrase sounded wrong in her mouth.

Xavier smiled at her teasing. ”It’s indeed a good match.”

Kaden clicked his tongue.

”You speak as though her looks are her only good feature,” he blurted, a hint of irritation slipping into his voice. Hearing Xavier talk about Yuki’s appearance ticked him off more than he cared to admit.

Yuki was truly like her sister, using her looks to her advantage. A short laugh escaped Xavier’s lips.

”Of course not. I understand someone like you, who already has his eyes on someone else, wouldn’t be bothered by her looks. But Yuki is pretty popular.” He stared straight into Kaden’s eyes. ”She has other qualities.”

Kaden snorted. ”Like her inability to run a standard lap.”

Eloise let out a short laugh. ”Never thought you were the beauty-obsessed type,” she chimed in. ”Talking about laps... I heard her combat skills are terrible. Your dad is obsessed with combat ability.”

Xavier’s lips twitched as a knowing look crossed his eyes. ”It’s fine if she isn’t that combat-capable.” His eyes flickered. ”But if I remember correctly, Yuki won against you in the last combat test.”

Eloise’s smile faltered for a moment as the memory of that day surfaced. A pang of irritation boiled inside her as she recalled the match she had been dominating before Yuki suddenly flipped the fight by imitating Kaden’s moves. A dry laugh escaped her.

”I was dominating that match. It doesn’t matter what tricks she played,” she said, trying to brush it off, but Xavier wasn’t letting it go.

”That sounds like a loser’s excuse,” Xavier said.

Eloise’s face changed for a moment, turning ugly as she stared at the taunting smile on his face. He wasn’t finished yet.

”Besides, she’s also smart. She made the top five in her department,” Xavier added, deliberately pouring more salt into the wound.

”Beauty with brains. Have fun then...” Eloise chuckled, trying to brush it off as she tilted her head towards him. ”You were waiting for me? Let’s head out,” she urged, clearly wanting to leave before she could no longer keep her smile in place.

Kaden finally looked at her. ”Yes.” His answer was short.

Eloise’s smile brightened as she deliberately ignored Xavier. ”I’m sorry I took so long. Yuki was awake and we ended up talking.”

Something inside Kaden tightened at the mention of her name. He didn’t like the sound of Eloise paying Yuki a visit.

”What did you talk about?” he asked before he could stop himself.

Eloise looked at him for a moment, then smiled. ”Nothing important.” She shrugged, but Kaden had known her long enough to sense it wasn’t that simple.

Xavier’s eyebrows lifted. Kaden’s eyes narrowed. There was something about the answer that didn’t sit right with him.

”Nothing important?” he repeated, his voice low.

Eloise tugged at his hand. ”Yeah, come on. Let’s not hold Xavier back.” She pulled Kaden away. ”Bye, Xavier,” she chimed.

They stepped out of the hospital and were greeted by the warm afternoon air. The hospital doors slid shut behind them as they moved onto the paved walkway. Eloise slipped her hand around Kaden’s arm again, seemingly unaffected by the tension that had followed them outside.

”There’s something else I heard about Xavier and Yuki,” she began, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Kaden didn’t respond. Eloise continued walking beside him.

”You know that frat party before the Spring Festival? The one that got shut down because someone brought wolfsbane?” she asked, then continued before he could answer. ”Apparently, Xavier spoke to Yuki there. I don’t know what they talked about, but people noticed them together.”

Kaden’s jaw tightened as he remembered the night he had seen them run off together. Eloise didn’t notice.

”It’s actually strange when you think about it. Xavier barely tolerates most people, yet somehow he keeps ending up around Yuki.” She gave a small laugh. ”Apparently, he even helped her when she first arrived at Draven Hall.”

Kaden’s fingers curled inside his pocket.

”I heard she got lost on her first day and Xavier showed her around. Xavier, of all people. That snobbish man who usually acts like everyone is beneath him.” She shook her head, clearly amused by the irony.

Kaden’s expression hardened. Eloise continued without catching the change.

”Then there was my birthday.” Kaden’s eyes flickered towards her. Eloise’s lips curved into a smile. ”Remember how Xavier actually spoke up for her after she destroyed the presents you gave me?” Her tone carried genuine disbelief. ”I still don’t understand why.”

Kaden’s jaw flexed. Eloise shrugged, still oblivious to how quiet he had become.

”Her charm really is something.” The words carried a faintly mocking edge. ”She barely has to do anything, and people seem willing to overlook everything else. She even managed to charm Xavier. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She hinted at Aevia, and Kaden’s gaze darkened.

Kaden’s pace slowed slightly.