The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 9

“Oh god,” I groan, sinking my face into my hands, my dreams of becoming an Academy cadet suddenly slipping through my fingers.

“Don’t worry about it, Ari,” Jesse murmurs, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and giving me a manly squeeze. “We’ll train you up good. You just had one bad day, and they didn’t measure any of the things you’re actually good at.”

“He’s right,” Rafe says, and I raise my head to see my brother looking at me seriously. I blink a little, emotion swelling in me because Rafe looks so much like dad when he looks at me like that, with a mix of stern expectation and love in his eyes. “We’ll get your number up fast, Ari, you just need…a little more training.”

“Not like you two have to worry,” I sigh, leaning into Jesse for just a second before glancing up at the board again. “You two are…” and then I scoff a little in jealousy because their numbers are one and four. “Seriously, guys!?” I say, pouting at them. “You had to show me up that bad?”

“Someone had to uphold the Sinclair name,” Rafe murmurs, smirking a little as he finishes off his plate, shoveling the food into his mouth. “Seriously, Ari, eat up,” he says, gesturing towards my plate with his fork. “You need the energy today!”

I sigh and eat the sausage in two bites, finishing up the orange as we bus our trays and head for the door. But as I swallow the last little bit of orange, I realize that I didn’t even look –

I spin at the last minute, my eyes roving over the rankings for their names –

Luca Grant – that one’s easy. Number five, right at the top, right under Jesse. Does that mean…did Jesse beat him in the bracket yesterday? Surely he would have mentioned

But Rafe – if he beat my other mate in the final match that means…

Number two.

My eyes dart up the chart, fastening on his name.

Jackson McClintock.

That’s him, I think, even as Rafe grabs my arm and hauls me out of the room.

Jackson. Luca and Jackson.

–

–

My mates.

I can’t help but feel

stomach. Because I know who they

in

idea who I am.

least, not

up at my brother and my cousin on either side of me as we walk into the gym, moving towards the group of candidates who stand before what looks like a gigantic obstacle course. “Thanks, guys,” I whisper, suddenly overwhelmed by a rush of gratitude. Because honestly, if anyone can

down at me. “Training is about to kick your ass. You ready

Jesse grins at me to let me know I’m right. But I

turns out to be correct: I have absolutely

thank them.

–

ourselves over barriers, and climbing chains an activity at which I completely failed. None of it had anything to do with fighting anyone, as far as I could see. And it certainly was not an activity that played to my skill set. Thankfully, nothing today counts towards

a sand pit that I had to crawl through under a set of low ropes. As I hauled myself forward with my burning forearms, I was shocked to see Jackson passing me, barely giving

got a good whiff of his scent as he pulled ahead, an experience that made me emit an embarrassing moan as my arms gave out so that I faceplanted in the sand, completely

mouthful of sand as I crawled out of the pit.“Dead last, Clark,” a Lieutenant said as

is ranked second, and he barely made it out before me!”

a snide brow in my direction. “McClintock went through twice, while you

thinking longingly of the hot shower

next-

to let me finish last again and made me keep up with them the whole time. Honestly, I had thought I was a good runner – I’m usually pretty fast – but my exhaustion, combined with my lack of sleep, combined with my

when they drag me back to the barracks, each with a hand under my arm to help hold me

at them.

well,” Jesse breathes, his words barely audible from his stupid smirking mouth, “you’re the one that wanted to

just glares down at me, drawing my eyes to him. “What?” I ask, frowning.

up. A lot. If you’re going to make it, Ari, you’re going to have to give it your all. You’re going to have to –”

yanking my arms from theirs and willing myself to walk on my own, pushing myself to keep up with their long strides. “I can

Jesse nods eagerly and we all pick up our pace as we enter the barracks. When we get to our bunks we all yank off our boots as fast as we can and

again – I see Jesse and Rafe look longingly at the tiled rows of open showers which are already spurting hot water. But then they glance at me, sigh, and join the short line

they’re again giving up what they really want to stand with me, and T glance at the long row of open showers, hoping desperately that there’s still hot water by the time we have a chance to get in – and that the shower stalls aren’t disgusting already. like