The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 15

“Ari,” Rafe hisses, trying to get my attention in the sparring circle next to me.

But I can’t take my eyes off of Jackson, who stares at the floor in front of us, rolling his shoulders back. God why is he even stretching – it’s not like he’s going to have to expend any energy at all to push me out of this circle – he could probably just growl at me and I’ll run screaming out of it myself –

“Ari!” Rafe hisses, and I snap my attention to him. “You can’t forfeit,” he whispers hastily, searching my face to ensure I understand. “If you do, you’ll be disqualified. Just try not to fall, all right? Just engage once, stay on your feet, and let him push you out –”

“Begin!” the Captain shouts at the front of the room.

–

Rafe hesitates, glancing between me and Ben, who steps into the ring, his staff clutched in his hands.

I nod hastily to Rafe, letting him know that I understand.

Then I look at Jackson – or, more correctly, up at Jackson, whose eyes are on me now. God, he just seems to keep going up, like a mountain – did he get like, taller? Since the last time I saw him?

Did I shrink?

“Come on,” Jackson grumbles, his voice flat as he nods towards the center of the circle, telling me to get inside. “Let’s get this over with.”

I stare at him, my legs locking in fear – or in something –

–

Because, as much as I need to concentrate on surviving this getting out of this ring as fast as I can – I just can’t stop wondering…

– on doing what Rafe

says and

…what the hell my grandmother the Goddess was thinking when she picked this guy as my

mate.

My eyes sweep over him again, and while he is obviously an impressive physical specimen, he’s just so brutal. There’s absolutely nothing about Jackson McClintock that looks capable of being soft, or kind, or making me laugh. Everything about him looks built for violence and cruelty- there is nothing there that’s sweet.

When I think about fated mates, I think about mom and dad, or Aunt Cora and Uncle Roger, whose personalities seem to have been made for each other. Mom’s soft side evens out dad’s harsh edges, but still deep down, they’re both fierce, dedicated, and loving. They even have the same weird sense of humor.

This guy? He’s…he’s supposed to match me?

I just stare at him, shaking my head in disbelief when he snaps his eyes up to mine.

to make me almost literally jump. My palms are sweaty as I take a single

distaste. “Are you even going to raise that?” he asks, nodding towards my staff. “Or should I just come…push you

in the way he says that, the complete

kindles something in me.

my chest, as pissed as I am. This

his life,

1. it.

that, my wolf snaps. Even if he’s our mate, we’re

her

are right,

and tightening my hands on the staff, falling into the stance they just spent

barely audible over the sounds of sticks banging against each other and bodies hitting mats all over the room. Then he falls into his own stance, and our bout begins.

fast, I say to myself, remembering Rafe’s words. Don’t let

a wide swing of his staff. Panicked, I leap to the side with a

sweep

years of casual sparring with Rafe and Jesse, and I move in closer, knowing that he has $ chance

of pain and his leg buckles slightly, but my victory is short–won, because before I can comprehend what’s happening he gives a bellow, spins his staff in his hands and sweeps it behind me, hitting me hard behind my knees and taking

mat. As I gasp for air all I can think is shit –

get to the edge of the circle, that if

neck. When he pulls back, I’m lifted onto my knees, my back pressed to his chest, the staff choking

–

concentrate on that as I gasp, desperately pressing my hands against the staff, trying to get it away from me, but he’s so much stronger than

I nod frantically, trying to yield, but he doesn’t let me

shout – Rafe but

interfere!”

–

continues, lowering his head so that his mouth is close to my ear now, “to yield

shaking hands, trying to do whatever I can to communicate that I’m

–

rigid behind me, and then slack,

collapse onto the floor, coughing and gasping for air. My eyes are shut as my face presses to the mat. I press my palms flat, letting air flood

my shoulder, spinning me – my back hits the

Jackson crouched above me, his eyes flaring. I gasp as I realize that he’s losing control – that he’s going to shift

he does that, I’m a goner – he’ll shred me to

I shout, my hands going up, pressing to his chest, desperate to – I don’t know him off of me? Or to remind him that he’s a man and

–

to get