The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 17

“Well?” Jackson says, his voice low, and I flinch again god, that’s getting annoying as I snap my head up to look at him. He gestures towards the head table. “Hand in your test.”

“Um,” I say, and then another chair scrapes in the room. Someone else is finished too, and headed this way. “You take it.” I say, making a snap decision and nodding towards it.

“You finished first,” he growls, taking a menacing step towards me.

I shock myself by holding my ground. “Just turn in your test, Jackson,” I growl, looking up into his eyes, starting to get pissed. Because if one of us doesn’t do it, whoever finished next certainly will.

Jackson comes to the same conclusion that I do at the same moment, seeing the next candidate. walking towards us. He snaps his gaze to me for a moment and then turns, expressionless, and places his test face–down on the table. I follow, doing the same, fully aware that if Jackson did as well as I did on this exam he just took first.

Which…well, it doesn’t really make much of a difference to our rankings, not really. But at least, to me, it feels like we’re more even now.

He gave up one for me, even if he didn’t mean to. And now? I’ve given one back.

As far as I’m concerned, we’re square.

face And as I walk about ten feet behind him towards the barracks, doing my very best to turn my away so that I don’t catch any spare sniffs of his scent. I very much hope that that’s the end of any interaction that me and Jackson McClintock get to have for my entire time at the academy.

Or, at least that’s what I tell myself.

My wolf, who lifts her head in the air and eagerly sniffs at his scent, her eyes half–lidded, her tongue. lolling from her mouth?

She, clearly, has other ideas.

Get ahold of yourself, I growl to her.

No way, she says, shaking her fur out as a shiver passes through her. Do you remember the way pinned our wrists above our head? Imagine what he could do in bed

“Oh

my

y god,” I murmur aloud, clenching my fists and storming past Jackson as we both walk through the door, locking down my mind and not letting any more of my wolf’s ridiculous thoughts in.

Because the last thing I need to be thinking about now is…

to

he

my blankets, tucking my cap low over my eyes before I close them, waiting for Jesse and Rafe to come back so that we can take our showers and end this crazy

have long to wait. They’re not

the side of my bed and making me gasp a little in surprise. He laughs as he reaches out to shake

been done a little faster,” I say, raising an eyebrow at him as I sit up, “if you’d kept your eyes on the exam, instead of worrying about how everyone else

his eyes, “when the

everything is fun, Jesse,” I say, sighing and hopping down from my bunk, starting to

bath stuff.

up and putting out a hand out to stop me. “Not yet. We’re

ask, looking between them. I mean, the day is done there is nothing else

an arm around my shoulders and leading me away. “We’ve got a surprise for

and back towards the door. I have a bad feeling that whatever this is? It’s not going to be fun. But before we can get to

snap up, confused. “Come

says, a line of confusion forming between

little, shrugging and getting out of bed, slipping his boots on and starting after us without tying them. He catches up fast, looking between us all curiously but not asking any questions. I shrug at him, letting him know that I don’t know either, and we both sigh as Rafe and

hour,” Rafe says, flicking on the lights and striding into the

this?” I ask, looking around,

as he walks backwards into the room after Rafe. “You both need the extra work if you’re going to make any progress on these physical exams. So,” he shrugs, “we’re going to help

glare at us a little, “is Jesse’s nice way of saying that we’re going to spend an extra

Chapter 17

Ben says, his eyes

probably already filling up with cadets, all of the lovely hot water running

Ari,” Rafe says, nodding towards a

feet and heading over

and my cousin. “Him, I get,” he says, gesturing towards me

me in the bout today. So, I figured, why

likes an underdog – he can’t help it, he’s soft–hearted like mom, even if he pretends that he’s not. It’s probably why he acts tough all the time – so no one figures it out.

hand through

for him to come over. “I noticed, on the first day, that you’re… kind of shit at throwing a punch. Let’s

and the two get to work as I walk over to Rafe and wrap my arms around his waist, unable to help myself.

say softly, grinning and giving him a