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.”

stall, yanking the curtain closed and stripping down before letting the hot water run all over me, fuming over the hypocrisy of my brother and my cousin who are apparently insisting on my celibacy even if they themselves…

I guess the less thought on

the hot water do

my wolf basically salivates after them all day – but emotionally, am I ready for that? And even if I were…the Academy is notoriously rigorous, and there are more cuts once you’re admitted as a cadet. Half the reason that the academy is male–only is so

having two mates just be an incredible distraction, if I even get inside the castle walls? Am I really willing to sacrifice

Or more?

the water off, shaking my head, not knowing at all how I feel

Jackson smells,

memory of both sends

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

good you’re wearing your dirty clothes,” Jesse murmurs, slinging an arm around my shoulders as the three of us head towards our bunks, my

OP

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

I twist

to where Luca and Jackson’s beds are, subtly

for the first couple of 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

his bunk, patting the next to him in invitation. Knowing I can’t avoid

friendly but stern. “Spill. I know something’s up.”

spot

he’s always been a friend and a great

he knows? Will he

–

to me about it, or I tell Rafe and let him

you just trust me?” I ask, looking up at him with big pleading

tackle me in bed and make me

that there’s no way out of this, and

of it – about how I wanted to get clean, and how the showers were gross,

falling back on his mattress. “Who caught you?” Jesse’s words are muffled by

I say, shaking my head even though he can’t see me. “Secret’s

little so he can see my

to talk to him about it. When my wolf gives me an encouraging little prod with her nose, telling me to trust him, I lean forward. “Jesse,” I whisper, “it was my

long – until I start to worry that he’s like…frozen like

giving him a sudden

fast. He grabs me by my shoulders. “Are you…are

deathly pale, his eyes wide and scared

heard.

Well, my

circle inside of me. At least you only told