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.

perch on

of noise, all the candidates getting ready at once. I sit up and look around, realizing that everyone’s

the side of the bed. “We’re going for a walk and a chat.”

the single finger pressed to Jesse’s lips as he glances towards the still–sleeping Rafe. I

we’re going to be

and I sneak quietly to the bathroom for our morning ablutions and then out the door of the barracks. As we pass my bunk

but to be

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 bracing as the door

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

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

just come and go at will?” I ask.

cadets like to go for an early morning run. Which is what we’re doing.” He gives me a wink and a little squeeze around the

drops open before I scowl at him. “You said

lied,” he says, grinning at me and starting off on the track at a gentle jog.

this, and then I hurry to catch up with my cousin, who I know is only doing this for my benefit anyway. I really do need to

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

fitter than me,” I gasp, glaring at him. “I do…ballet. I do sports!”

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

that you and Rafe got to become bastions of athletic prowess and I got to train to be a perfect wife and Queen.” I cross my arms, bitter as I stare out at the beautiful view. “A whole lot of good it did me,

have my bitterness while still pointing out the truth. “That was

ask, my

at me. “Yeah, she said that she had seen your future at your moonlight baptism and that guy was not your mate – so why the hell would we let you go into a marriage that we knew would fail? But Aunt Ella said you had to be free to make your own choices.”

head to stare at him, baffled by this. “So, you knew the whole time too? And wait – they had this conversation in front of

his hand through

216

a little bit.”

reaching out to smack him but laughing as I do. Jesse – he’s always been

is here?

nodding with him. “It feels like…grandma has a

shaking his head a little at our inside joke of calling

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

and that you’ve already got an overprotective

I ask, a

hasn’t figured out