Gina, And Her Triplet Alphas
Jasmine And Her Bullies – Chapter 41

Jasmine.

After weeks and months of relentless effort and countless sleepless nights, it was finally time to unwind and enjoy a well-deserved break.

It marked the end of the first semester, and I couldn’t have been happier for the break. However, one thing still weighed on my mind: the strained relationship with Mia and her brothers.

They continued to be cold towards me, refusing to speak since the incident. I attempted to explain and communicate that I knew nothing about what had happened, but they wouldn’t even hear me out.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I dragged my bag through our hostel hallway. I glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mia, but she was nowhere in sight.

I had earlier left Noah to come pick up some of my things in what used to be me and Mia’s apartment. I had used my spare key to gain entrance after realizing that she wasn’t in.

I was sort of looking forward to seeing and talking out our differences with her. And hopefully, follow her back to her pack.

I hated the fact that our parents were still not talking with each other, and I was hoping that I could fix that during this holiday.

But not seeing Mia now means that we might never get to talk, and it made me sad.

I missed our conversations, her friendship, and sharing experiences. It had been a lonely and cold period without Mia, but my efforts to bridge the gap had been futile.

Lost in thought, I wandered through the hallway with no particular destination in mind.

Apart from the frosty reception from Mia and her brothers, I also had to contend with the chilly treatment from my parents.

At that moment, it dawned on me that I couldn’t return home, and going to Mia’s place was out of the question.

That left me with only one option: Noah’s pack. I sighed, realizing that Noah was my sole refuge now. I nodded, accepting this reality, and turned toward Noah’s apartment.

My mind was a chaotic mess as I made my way to Noah’s. Even though I had been living with him for some time now, I had yet to feel completely safe with him. Although he does not taunt me like my mates would, he seems to understand my feelings better.

I was torn between Noah and the three brothers, knowing that sooner or later I would have to make a decision I had been evading. I hoped that decision wouldn’t come too soon, as I wasn’t prepared for it yet.

Lost in my thoughts, I missed a step and stumbled. I was on the verge of falling when a strong hand reached out and steadied me, preventing a calamity.

I clung to this lifesaver, feeling like I had found solid ground in a turbulent world. My heart raced. I had been too engrossed in my thoughts to watch my steps.

Regaining my composure, I let out a relieved sigh. A banana peel on the floor had caused my mishap. It infuriated me that some students couldn’t use the nearby trash cans and risked others’ safety by littering the floor.

Just as I was readjusting my clothes, a familiar voice broke through my reverie.

“Watch where you’re going.”

I looked up, my eyes widening in surprise. It was Ethan, accompanied by his two brothers and Mia. My heart skipped a beat. Had he acted toward me? It felt like an eternity.

“I am…” My words faltered as they walked away, not allowing me to finish my sentence.

I hung my head, realizing that nothing had changed. They were still unwilling to talk to me, and it was a difficult reality to face, but I had no choice.

I hung my head and continued my journey to Noah’s apartment. When I arrived, I saw him waiting outside, ready to go. I would have missed him if I had been just two minutes late.

I rushed to him, dragging my bag along. “Noah!”

He stopped and turned to me, a soft smile on his face. “Hey, Jasmine. What are you doing here with your bag? I thought you were going home.” he asked.

Wasn’t it obvious? I smiled and moved closer to him, grabbing his arm. “I changed my mind; I’m going to spend the holiday with you, Noah. I hope that’s alright.”

Noah nodded. “Of course, Jasmine. But there is something else.”

My heart skipped a beat as he said that. “What is it?” I asked.

“Freya. She’ll be staying with us too since she doesn’t have a place to stay,” he responded.

“Of course, Noah. That’s fine,” I stated, hopping into his car as he joined me.

“Where is she? Is she not joining us?” I asked, surprised that he had turned on the ignition of the car.

“Freya will be joining us, she has a few things to sort out,” he answered as he drove the car out of the parking space.

The drive to Noah’s pack was long and silent, with only somber music filling the air. I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, contemplating the decision I would eventually have to make: Noah or the three brothers.

As the drive continued, my stomach began to grumble. I hadn’t eaten all day, thinking we would reach Noah’s pack early to grab a meal. However, Noah was driving unusually slow.

I held my stomach, hoping it would silence the grumbling, but it persisted, catching Noah’s attention.

He chuckled and reached behind, grabbing his bag. After a bit of fumbling, he handed it to me. “Check the bag. I’ve got some snacks for times like this,” he said.

I smiled, taking the bag and pulling out a snack. “Thank you, Noah,” I mumbled, munching on it.

Finally, after hours of driving, we arrived at Noah’s pack. A few more minutes, and we were at his house.

Suddenly, Noah slammed on the brakes, jolting the car forward before coming to a sudden stop. He leaned towards the steering wheel, staring at his house intently. I was bewildered by his actions.

He didn’t utter a word to me; instead, he opened the car door and stepped out slowly. I followed suit, exiting the car and trailing behind him.

We were just a few steps from his door when a group of fearful and fierce-looking men appeared out of nowhere. I stopped, freezing on the spot almost immediately, my heart racing as I watched them. Their faces and bodies were filled with scars and tattoos, and their muscular arms sent shivers down my body. What were they doing here? What did they want? These questions raced through my mind.

Noah stepped backward, pulling me to himself. “Jasmine, when I tell you to go, you run!” he ordered.

I was scared and confused. What about him? Would I leave him all alone with these dangerous-looking men? Armed with blades and knives, where would I go when I ran?

The men began to move, shadowing Noah’s every step. Then a voice commanded, “Run, Jasmine!”

I didn’t wait for another word. I took off, or so I thought until I realized I was still in the same spot, held by my dress by one of the men. My legs were moving furiously, but I wasn’t getting anywhere.

“Let her go!” Noah yelled.

Before Noah could act, two men grabbed him, one on each side, while another moved closer, punching Noah as if he were a punching bag. I couldn’t bear to watch that; I had to free myself from this man’s grip.

I threw my leg backward forcefully, hitting the man’s groin. He released me and shouted out in pain. I scrambled to my feet and rushed toward where Noah was holding me, but before I could reach him, another man grabbed a handful of my hair, yanking me back and slapping me hard across the face.

Noah’s inner turmoil seemed to awaken at that moment. He growled and threw off the men restraining him, not giving them a chance to regain their balance before he started punching them. He jumped and executed a flying kick, sending the man who was holding me off the ground.

I stepped back, watching as he fought the men with all his might. My mind raced, and I couldn’t do anything to help him. I was stunned by what was happening.

“We will be back!” one of the men said, helping the injured ones among them up and retreating. “You better pay us our money, or it won’t be easy for you next time!” he shouted, and they left.

I held out a loud sigh, my mind still racing with thoughts. Who were these men, and what money were they talking about?