The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 6

I wake up in the middle of the night and groan a little with pain from my stiff muscles and my aching face. I prod at my nose, pleased to find that it’s already much better – the speed of wolf healing really is great, even though my nose is still too swollen to truly smell anything.

But as I sit up, I realize that the real problem here is that I am…grimy.

I’m completely covered in sweat and blood and my body feels…disgusting. I stick out my tongue as I survey myself, not even really able to believe that I was able to fall asleep like this. I mean, how much pain had I even been in?

A lot, my wolf reminds me, nudging me with her nose. Can we go find them now?

I scowl and mentally push her away, not able to think of it – or maybe just not wanting to, not right now. I mean, what the hell does it mean what do I even feel about any of this?

Did I imagine it?

–

Or did…did two mating bonds actually snap into place yesterday afternoon, the day after I left Prince Asshole at the altar?

But no. That’s impossible. You get one fated mated – just one! And most people don’t even get that!

I don’t even know what one mating bond snapping into place feels like, let alone two. My wolf must be wrong – whatever happened must have just been…I don’t know, some kind of hormonal reaction to being around so many boys all at once.

I’m not wrong! she growls, snapping her teeth at my denial. But I ignore her again.

I quickly move to the wide communal bathroom at the end of the room. I grab a set of supplies from the waiting shelf and dash towards the shower stall. But when I pull back the curtain I gasp – actually gasp – in horror at the site before me. The floor and walls are covered in muck, and boy hair, and oh my god, is that even blood in the corner?

–

I scowl at myself, hating this side of me that’s decidedly a Princess..

I have to get clean.

remember what Jesse said on the way

far hill. I breathe out a little moan, instantly wanting nothing more than a long, hot bath all by myself. To get clean, and to refresh myself – I just know it’s the one thing

of searching for

Clean, fresh water – smelling just slightly of sulfur – bubbles out through a set of rocks, creating a little steaming pool that’s just deep enough to sink into. With a quick glance over my shoulder to check that I’m actually alone, I strip off my clothes and fling off my hat, running my fingers through my hair as I wade into the pool, moaning a

at the base of my head and I take a deep breath, closing my eyes and turning my face up to again stare at the castle against the sky as I start on my body. As I run the bar of soap all over my skin, pampering myself a little as my muscles unwind, my mind turns to the question of battle magic,

Rafe and Jesse and I – we’re all supposed to have some kind of magic, a gift from our Grandmother, the Goddess. Mom and Aunt Cora told us each about it when we turned sixteen, but…none of

tried. Mom tells us not to worry about

the Academy…would it have a way to bring something like that out in me? And if so… what form would my

and I smile a little, staring to feel, finally, like myself again. I even hum to myself a little bit, carried away by how good this

short lived because just as I set the soap aside and splash a handful of

the hell are

pool so that I’m up to my chin in the opaque water, staring up at the dark figure standing

but unable to see who

the far side of the pool, terror streaking through me, the cloud covering the moon skates away

Another candidate

–

brother

I realize, quite suddenly, that it’s Luca Grant –

Shrimp,” he says, crouching down and looking all around. “What are you even doing here? And did you see a girl

in the dark he can’t see my long hair knotted at the back of my neck, or any details about my body

I washed

mouth responds without me. “Um,” I say, pitching my voice a

in his pockets. “I’ve been getting bits and pieces of her scent all day…she’s got to

to be able to smell