The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 13

I sigh and drop my head back on my pillow as I finish my sandwich, curling up tight and pressing my eyes shut, going over every moment of my conversation with Luca in my

head.

Thinking about his handsome face, the way his eyes fell to my mouth, the ran down his spine —

The fact that I did that to him…

This is…

I sigh, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.

Because this is getting into some dangerous grounds, isn’t it?

way

the shiver

Some wonderful grounds, my wolf corrects, curling into a little crescent and tucking her nose warmly beneath the edge of her tail. Sneak back over – let’s see if we can make him go all shivery again!

No, I growl inwardly, shaking my head. Because as much as I’m completely distracted and fascinated by my new connections, I have to resist the urge to explore them right now. There’s far too much at stake –

If I let Luca or Jackson in too much, I could get caught and then I risk losing my shot at trying myself in the Academy and I’ll risk having to go home and fulfill my promise to marry Prince Edward. As much as I’m intrigued…

I have to keep my distance. Which means doing my best to avoid my mates during the two weeks of candidacy.

I can do that, right? Mates are forever – I will have time to explore my connections with them later, and right now I need to turn my mind to other things.

I can do this, I tell myself with a steady nod, my eyes still pressed shut.

No you can’t, my wolf sighs sleepily, closing her eyes.

But I just ignore her, determined, and steady my breathing, willing myself to fall asleep.

When a hand shakes my arm the next morning, I gasp awake out of a much–needed deep.

in

Chapter 13

dreamless sleep.

quietly, grinning down at me from his perch on

so quiet. Usually the mornings here are a mess of noise, all the candidates getting ready at once. I

he whispers, hopping silently down from the side of the bed. “We’re going for a walk and

down softly, taking note of the single finger pressed to Jesse’s lips as he glances towards the

going to

morning ablutions and then out the door of the barracks. As we pass my bunk I smile at my brother’s sleeping form, grateful again that he’s a good

again, in our big crazy family there wasn’t much choice but to

open the door to the barracks and slips a friendly arm around my shoulders as we walk out into the dawn light, the fresh morning air

guards?” I ask, confused. “Like, why are we able

Jesse says, looking around happily at the pretty morning as we start out on a dirt track that leads towards the hills. “Candidates are all here voluntarily and they’re all determined to hold themselves to the rules. Because the school is going to cut the bottom 20% anyway, there’s

come and go at will?” I ask.

for an early morning run. Which is what we’re doing.” He gives me a wink and a little squeeze

drops open before I scowl at

he says, grinning at me and starting off on the track at a gentle jog. “Come on!

I hurry to catch up with my cousin, who

while as he puts me through my paces, making me stay by his side until I’m panting for air while he, infuriatingly, barely breaks a sweat. When we get to the top of a hill he signals to me to take a break and I put my

me,” I gasp, glaring at him. “I

grins at me and laughs a little. “You have hobbies, Ari. Dad and Uncle Dom have been prepping Rafe and I for this since we were kids.” He takes a deep breath, looking out over the gorgeous, hazy countryside with a smile. I follow his gaze as my

angry thoughts are in contrast to such a beautiful landscape. “I hate that you and Rafe got to become bastions of athletic prowess

out the

I ask, my eyes

and that guy was not your mate – so why the hell would we let you go into a marriage that we

head to stare at him, baffled by this. “So, you knew the

his hand through his hair. “I may have been eavesdropping.

216

a little bit.”

as I do. Jesse – he’s always been

seriously, Ari,” Jesse says after he dodges my hand, still smiling at me. “You trained your whole life to be a Queen, and it didn’t work out in that way, but the fact that your mate is here? Training for the Academy at the same time you are?” he shrugs and grins at me, a little baffled. “Honestly, I think it sounds a little bit like fate – like you’re meant to

know,” I whisper, nodding with him. “It feels like…grandma has

a little at our inside joke of

Ariel,” Jesse says, and I turn to him, a little surprised to hear him use my full name in such serious tones. I

tell you what to do, and that you’ve already got an overprotective big brother to play this role. But…” he hesitates and I step closer, wanting to hear what he has to say. “Just…maybe give this whole mate

I ask, a little confused.

– he hasn’t figured out who you are yet, right?“.