Perhaps it is just my odd way of thinking, but I never regarded the different storylines as connected. Adrian has involved himself with different situations in each route, and I expect core characters to be different accordingly. This particular path involves polyamory. That was made clear before the path even started. I would expect Russell and all the rest of the involved cast to change because of this. Does one really think that the monogamous minded husky in Diego's and Tai's routes will suddenly want a permanent threesome? Something needed to be done to ease the storyline in that direction so Adrian would consider both Dom and Axel as three way love interests.
Being able to turn Russell down seems to make the possibility of a love triangle less likely instead of more. It is worth mentioning that Adrian "allowed" himself to be under the influence of drugs and persuasion that could only steer this one way (and rather strongly, if anyone who has done this drug remembers!).
It is early on, so I am more than willing to let Xevy set the circumstances BEFORE introducing Dom an Axel into the story.