The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 10

“Ari’s just curious, Rafe,” Jesse says, still laughing and grinning, looking around to see if anyone noticed, but there’s no one behind us in line for the shower stalls yet and everyone else is too busy to care. “He’s led a sheltered life.”

“And he’s going to continue to lead a sheltered life,” Rafe growls, glaring first at Jesse and then at me. “I’m serious, Ari – this is not…” he stumbles now, searching for words.

“A meat market?” Jesse whispers wickedly, making me blush again.

“Fine,” Rafe snaps, taking another step forward as another shower clears. “For a lack of a better term, yes.” He grabs my arm, leaning down to hiss in my ear. “We took you from home a virgin, Ariel, and whenever it is that you go home? You’ll be returning the same way. So, if you had any ideas otherwise, get them out of your head now.”

I gasp, appalled, and shove my brother away. “Ew, Rafe! How did that!?” I look between Rafe and Jesse, shocked.

– how do

how do you even know

“Oh, come on, Ari,” Jesse says, giving me a sad little smile. “When would you have had the chance? Uncle Dominic keeps you locked down –“

My jaw drops again as I stare between them, realizing that…that…

“Oh my god,” I gasp, looking between them. “Are you two…are you not virgins!?”

Jesse laughs and gives a little shrug, playing it off like it’s not a big deal, but Rafe just clenches his jaw and stares forward at the shower stalls. Only a faint touch of pink on his cheekbones gives away the fact that he’s hiding something from me.

“Rafe!” I shriek, swatting at him. “Who was it!?”

“Stop. Shrieking,” he snaps, glaring at me and knocking my hand away. I purse my lips, tucking my hands behind my back and admitting, at least internally, that – okay – maybe that was a little more girlish than I’d like. But still!

–

“Seriously, Rafe,” I say, lifting my chin at him and demanding an answer. “Who did – who did you

-“I blush again and curse my stupid cheeks.

“We’re not talking about this,” Rafe snaps, ending the conversation as he strides into a newly vacated shower stall, whipping the curtain closed behind him.

I spin on Jesse now, the same question in my eyes.

“I don’t kiss and tell,” Jesse says, shaking his head with a smirk. I glare at him and he laughs, but then he gestures forward to an empty stall. “Go on, Ari. I’ll see you on the other side.”

water run all over

the less thought

hot water do its work unwinding

and my wolf basically salivates after them all day – but emotionally, am I ready for that? And even if

incredible distraction, if I even get inside the castle walls? Am I really willing to sacrifice everything the

Or more?

all how I feel

least I hope there is…even though the way Jackson

memory of both sends shivers down

shower fully dressed in my dirty clothes – a little chagrined that I didn’t realize that I should probably have brought a set of fresh fatigues or something else to change into – I still haven’t decided what I think or feel about any of it. Jesse steps immediately forward and subtly scent marks me at my neck

my shoulders as the three of us head towards our bunks, my brother

OP

a towel wrapped around their waists like most of the other candidates. “Nobody’s going to be able to smell your girl scent

I twist

and Jackson’s beds are, subtly considering that maybe it’s in my favor to be dirty, at least for a

months – they give us hot breakfast in the morning and a big lunch, but it’s just wrapped sandwiches and bottled water at night in the twenty minutes before lights out. Candidates eat in bed or

strides away, Jesse finishes dressing and sits down on his bunk, patting the next to him in invitation. Knowing I can’t avoid it, I sigh and sit down.

says, friendly but stern. “Spill. I know something’s

spot

– he’s always been a friend and

still if he knows? Will he make

–

about it, or I tell

ask, looking up at him

mine. “But when tackle me in bed and make me scent mark you at 2 AM, panting like you’ve

sigh, realizing that there’s no way out of this, and I…tell

how I wanted to get clean, and how the

face with his hands and falling back on his mattress. “Who caught you?” Jesse’s words are muffled by his palms. “Did

my head even though he can’t see me.

a little so he can see my face.

to talk to him about it. When my wolf gives me an encouraging little prod with her nose, telling me to trust him,

stares at me in shock, his mouth hanging open for way too long – until I start to worry that he’s like…frozen like that or something.

giving him a sudden shove on

snapping out of it and sitting up fast. He grabs me by my shoulders. “Are you…are

and scared like I’ve

heard.

Well, my

an anxious circle inside of me. At least you only