The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 12

I gulp as we approach Luca’s lower bunk because I am completely out of my element never, ever been in a boy’s bed before except, obviously, a member of my family –

—

I’ve

But Luca, to my relief, gestures me towards the head of his bed before sitting down on the other end, lounging back against the metal footboard with one leg bent at the knee, his arm wrapped casually around it. I grimace a little inwardly to see that his left boot is sole–down on his blankets. Slowly I lower myself onto the bed, perching on the edge, my eyes unblinking as I watch him.

“Make yourself comfortable, Shrimp,” he says, raising his chin and indicating that I should relax. “I’m not going to bite.”

My wolf gasps. Do you think we could get him to do that? He could give us his mark!

Mentally I smack her on the nose and she gives a little yelp, but it does nothing to defer her excitement.

Slowly I do as Luca bids, leaning back against his pillow a little and curling my bare feet beneath me. I don’t say anything though, letting him start the conversation.

He grins at me, lifting his other leg and stretching it out along the length of the mattress, effectively pinning me in on my left side. I glance down at his gigantic foot, which is just inches from me now, before raising my eyes back at him. Without intending to, I wrinkle my nose.

Luca bursts into laughter.

“Are you like, a clean freak or a germaphobe, Shrimp?” he asks, turning his foot so that he taps me with the dirty toe of his boot.

“No!” I protest, even as I flinch away from his boot – mostly because I don’t want any more tingles but, also, yes! Because it’s a dirty boot!

away.

“You totally are,” he says, grinning at me from the other end of the bed but turning his foot

“First you go

take a secret bath in the middle of the night, then the only time I can get you alone is when you’re brushing your teeth, and now you’re scared of a dirty boot?” He raises an eyebrow at me, clearly entertained.

“Did you ever consider that you’re just dirty, Luca?” I ask, leaning forward and flicking my eyes deliberately to where his shoe is pressed into his clean blankets. “Because I think that

S

wanting a hot bath and brushing my teeth just makes me normal.”

“So,” he says, leaning forward to peer at me, his smile deepening. “You know my

I sit back, fast, blushing a little to have been caught out.

name.”

“Don’t worry,” he says, laughing again as he, too, leans back. “I know yours too, Shrimp.”

“It’s not Shrimp,” I say, renewing my glare.

know, Ari Clark,” he says, tilting his head at me. “I just think

my inner victory show, because of course he doesn’t

My wolf ridiculously prompts. Maybe he’ll

at her again, but she dodges my blow and continues to run in

so

body so relaxed – and

suddenly hit with the memory of him running

Luca snaps and I blink, gritting my teeth as I realize that I was just staring at him, thinking about what he looks like n*ked.

cold. “Like I said. Now are you going to let me

bunk?”

says, ignoring my question, “that you and my mate would

think to myself wryly, my eyelids lowering a little at the irony of his

out you kidnapped me,” I say, not bothering to answer, even as my body settles back against his pillow a little. Because as much as my mind knows I’ve got to get back to my bed? My body…wants to

lightly interrogated by my

yips

she look like?” he asks, ignoring my comment and speaking

gone.

something in me wanting to piss

out laughing. “No, she’s not,” he says,

know,” I lie. “I didn’t get a good look at

say she went north, and then when I pointed south, you confirmed that

breathe,

–

– you sent McClintock in one direction and me in another,” he says, leaning

that. I remember, suddenly, the moment he’s talking about – after Jackson ran and Luca stayed crouched by the pool. I didn’t look where he pointed, I just said

Luca asks, his tone suddenly changing as he leans forward further, studying my face. “Seriously, Shrimp – why are you holding out? Is she…is she in trouble

lying –” I protest.

says to me, stating a simple fact that’s frustrating because it’s true. It’s bizarre – like he can already read me or something. “You know something, Shrimp, and I can’t figure out why you won’t

from you,” I say quietly. “Maybe she doesn’t want to be

mate?” Luca asks, leaning forward, staring

for a long moment, torn. Because on one hand I am the

அ

And on the other hand… I’m sitting here in his bed. And I could shout for Rafe, or just

right here, and we’re staring at each other in silence, and I know that

except maybe a little

my head a little. I am…I am in trouble here.

his head a little in curiosity as he studies me and his eyes narrow, like he can’t…can’t quite see me or something.

–

me – I

together, wetting them. And then I leave my mouth slightly parted so that my breath rushes out over my lips

drop subtly then, fastening on my mouth

shudder passes through him, traveling all the way

sit up straight,

I don’t know what the hell I realize because a new hand wraps

the hell are you doing here,” Rafe growls, glaring down at me as I scramble for my