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

quite suddenly I remember what Jesse said on the way in that there are some hot

than a long, hot bath all by myself. To get clean, and

minutes of searching for

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 little at the luxurious

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, and just how the Academy might teach something

– 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 us have manifested anything yet. Mom is an incredible healer, and Aunt Cora

much as a spark, no matter what we’ve tried. Mom tells us not to worry about it, that

a way to bring something like that out in me?

spins as I consider the possibilities as I soap myself down and I smile a little, staring to feel, finally, like myself again. I even hum to

just as I set the soap aside and splash a handful of water up against my face, a voice rings out behind

hell are you doing

to my chin in the opaque water, staring up at

him through the water, terrified but unable to see who

of the pool, terror streaking through me,

Another candidate

–

brother or

eyes go wide in shock as I realize, quite suddenly, that it’s Luca Grant – all six–foot–two of him, staring down at me

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

open a little as I realize that…that in the dark he can’t see my long

all girl right now because in soaping myself down I washed off all of the scent Jesse rubbed on me, which was covering

but luckily my mouth responds without me. “Um,” I say, pitching my voice a little lower. “No, I haven’t

been getting bits and pieces of her scent all day…she’s got to be around, but I can’t

to be able to smell