The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 20

Jackson raises his left arm, bending it and pressing his forearm tight against my neck.

The moment our bodies touch – he only had his hand fisted in my uniform before it happens. again.

My eyes fly open as the pulse pounds through the air, almost audible this time. Jackson’s eyes go wide as he stares down at his arm. Desperate, I snap my hands up, pulling at his arm – but, f**k, they do it again my hands start to heat immediately when they come into contact with him –

“What the f**k!” Jackson shouts, but he doesn’t run this time, he leans in closer, cutting off my air with the pressure of his arm against my windpipe. “What the f**k is happening!? What – what are you!?”

I cry out in pain and fear as Jackson realizes again what he must have dismissed as his imagination before-

That there’s something about me about us – that’s that’s different –

I scrabble at his arm, desperate to get away, but he’s so much bigger than me –

Suddenly there’s a sound like the crack of thunder in the air and I gasp as my breath comes back. My eyes fly open and I gasp as Jackson falls away from me, clutching the side of his head.

“Get the f**k away from him!” Rafe roars, his voice louder than I’ve ever heard it before, the Alpha command thick in his voice.

Jackson stumbles back and almost falls to the ground, but regains his footing as Rafe strides towards him, pulling his fist back and cracking Jackson against the jaw once – twice –

Jackson moans the second time and falls to the ground, his hands going to his face. Rafe pulls his leg back and delivers a kick to Jackson’s ribs and I swear I hear something crack.

“Stay the f**k away from him,” Rafe shouts, his voice desperate and afraid. “You touch him again, and I will kill you!” He kicks Jackson again and something in me breaks when I hear Jackson groan and then cough into the dust.

“Rafe!” I shout, stumbling forward. “Rafe, stop!”

My brother doesn’t listen, continuing to kick, and then he kneels down on the ground next to Jackson and cocks his elbow, ready to punch him in the face again while it’s pressed against the ground.

“Rafe!” I scream, running forward and grabbing his arm, putting my whole weight into it and knocking Rafe off balance so that he and I both fall into the dust.

Jackson pushes himself away from us, gasping for air and scrambling to his feet. Rafe turns to him in a rush, pushing to his own feet, and I let him go, covering my head, terrified suddenly that

Chapter 20

Jackson will retaliate-

the fog, working himself into a run and getting heading back

brother, calling his name, my voice

I have no idea if it’s Jackson’s, or if Rafe busted his hands when he hit him–1 reach for

when Rafe pushes me away, making me fall flat on my ass in the

wide in horror when I see that there are tears in

gasp, desperate –

as he gets to his knees. “I have been begging you to be careful – what the f**k were you thinking going out here alone –”

wanted to let Jesse

the tears that fall from his eyes. My eyes go wide and my heart sinks, because – I mean, I know he doesn’t think that – but f**k, it hurts

“I told you it was a bad idea for you to come here –” he growls, his voice shaking and desperate, “I told you it would be dangerous – but you and f**king Jesse just laughed and pretended it was a game – but then you almost get killed by that f**king asshole – because you wanted to go for a stupid run by yourself – because you

to interrupt, desperate, getting to my own knees

him.

me if you got hurt!?” he shouts, his voice breaking now as he grabs my shoulders and shakes me. “Do you –” his lip trembles now, and he completely gives up on trying not to cry – “do you know what it would do to me if you got hurt? F**k, Ariel, it

of my being.”

now too, shaking my head at him, guilt filling every sorry,” I cry, shaking my

he pulls me to him, his arms around me tight. “I love you so much I’ve always loved you, even

breaks from me and I bury

Chapter 20

ever hurt you,” he gasps, and I can feel his rage passing a little, his breaths coming

–

as I press my eyes shut and lean my cheek against his chest. “You’re right it was stupid I should have woken one of you up

–

dad–style Alpha rage. Rafe raises a shaking hand to

a little. “Someone’s going to hear you and figure it

too and loosens his hold on me, looking down into my face and shaking his head. at me like I’m the most agitating thing he’s ever seen. “When mom

middle of the trail, clearly not caring if someone comes by and finds us.

from him, hunching over, emotionally and physically exhausted even though it’s not even seven in the

going on, Ari,” Rafe whispers, still shaking his head a me like he’s trying to figure it out. “That guy he’s got it out for you it’s like he’s trying to kill

–

I bite my lip, because….well, because I have an answer to that question,

mouth and his eyes flare, flicking back up to mine. “What is it?” he instantly demands, because, damn it,

release my lip, my