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.”

letting the hot water run all over me, fuming over the

the less thought on that, the better.

hastily soap down and let the hot water do its work unwinding my muscles,

that? And even if I were…the Academy is notoriously rigorous, and there

be an incredible distraction, if I even get inside the castle walls? Am I really willing

Or more?

my head, not knowing at all how I feel or what I want. But…maybe I don’t

I hope there is…even though the way Jackson smells, and the way Luca looks when he’s

memory of both sends

the 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

around my shoulders as the three of us head

OP

other candidates. “Nobody’s going to be able

I twist

the right to where Luca and Jackson’s beds are, subtly considering

he’ll sleep in before heading off to the mess hall. Evening meal is simple 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 twenty minutes before lights out. Candidates eat in bed or gathered in small groups around our bunks.

next

on, Ari,” he says, friendly but

spot

and a great listener, and I’m dying to talk to someone about this. I’m having trouble processing how I’m feeling about it all

he knows? Will he make

–

me about it, or I tell Rafe and let him interrogate you about

ask, looking up at

would, cousin,” he says, bumping his shoulder into mine. “But when tackle me in bed and make

sigh, realizing that there’s no way

I tell him some of it – about how I wanted to get clean, and how the showers were gross, and so I went out to the hot springs –

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

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

so he can see my face. “Who

or not to tell him, but I’m bursting to talk to him about it. When my wolf gives me an encouraging little prod with her nose, telling me to trust him, I

shock, his mouth hanging open for way too long – until I start to worry that he’s

I hiss, giving him a sudden shove

up fast. He grabs me by my shoulders. “Are you…are you serious? Your mate is here!?”

is deathly pale, his eyes wide and scared like I’ve told him the worst thing

heard.

Well, my

of me. At least