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.

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

inner victory show, because of course he doesn’t know my real name.

prompts. Maybe he’ll say it!

continues to run in excited circles. I sigh inwardly because she’s making

so

powerful body so relaxed – and how his scent is coming off of him in waves after

hit with the memory of

teeth as I realize that I was just staring at him, thinking about what he looks like n*ked. No wonder he thinks I’m so weird. “What

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

bunk?”

the chances,” Luca says, ignoring my question, “that you and my mate would be outside at the same time? Just…coincidentally.”

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

answer, even as my body settles back against his pillow a little.

lightly interrogated by my

wolf yips in agreement.

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

gone.

ugly,” I snap in reply, something in

he says, shaking his head. “Come on, tell me.”

“I didn’t

and then when I pointed south, you confirmed

breathe,

–

was testing you – you sent McClintock in one direction and me in another,”

with myself for not catching 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 yes to whatever direction he

are you holding out? Is she…is she in trouble or something? What bad thing would happen if you just told me

–” I protest.

like he can already read

I say quietly. “Maybe

wouldn’t someone want to meet their mate?” Luca asks, leaning

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

அ

on the other hand… I’m sitting here in his bed. And I

at each other in silence, and I know that there’s

a little

little. I am…I am in trouble

right back at me and the silence between us grows warm and comfortable. He turns 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. I watch, fascinated,

–

comes over me – I

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

drop subtly then, fastening on my

through him,

sit up straight,

realize because a new hand wraps around my

are you doing here,” Rafe growls, glaring down at me as I scramble