The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 21

1 stare wide–eyed at my brother, waiting for him to react.

But Rafe just…stares at me, his face ghostly–white, until I start to get seriously worried.

“Rafe,” I murmur, leaning forward a little, starting to reach out a hand to touch him.

“What the f**k Ariel,” Rafe whispers, so fast that the words all bleed together into one, so low that I can barely hear him. But the sentiment…is perfectly clear.

“Well it’s not like I asked for it,” I say, spreading my hands out, my eyebrows going up. “I didn’t do anything. Rafe!”

“We’re getting you out of here,” he says, his head snapping back towards the barracks, coming back to himself now and just like dad – immediately springing into action. “We’re calling mom – this

is over

“What!?” I gasp, and then I dart forward, smacking him as hard as I can on the arm,

“Rafe! No!”

He turns his head to me and growls, ready to retort, but I hit him again, which makes him pause.

“Rafe! You are not taking this from me just because that idiot doesn’t know how to handle himself! I want to be here I want to train as part of the Academy! This isn’t up to you anymore, you asshole!”

Rafe blinks at me in surprise – probably because I don’t think I’ve ever in my life sincerely called him an asshole. But I bare my teeth at him now, meaning it, because he kind of is being one. Rafe is not in charge of my future even if he thinks he is.

“He is going to kill you, Ariel,” Rafe growls, leaning forward and staring at me, making me see what’s at risk here.

“He’s known something was up since the first night, Rafe,” I counter, stubbornly crossing my arms. and glaring at him. “We’ve gotten through almost two weeks of him having no opportunity to hurt me – we can get through a few more days!”

“And then once you’re in the Academy?” he says, raising his eyebrows. “Because he’s f**king good, Ari he’s definitely getting in too.”

“When we’re in the Academy we’re allowed to carry weapons,” I say, speaking my ideas aloud as I think them because honestly I haven’t planned this far ahead

– – “I’ll learn how to protect myself!”

Rafe groans and buries his face in his hands, realizing that he’s not talking me out of here without a big fight – and also realizing, I think, that as much as I’m his little sister I’m grown now it’s

actually not his job to decide whether I stay or I go.

And damn it? I’m staying until they make me leave.

–

Chapter 21

Mar

takes a few deep breaths, his face tucked away against his palms, clearly putting the pieces of his reality back together. I press my hands against my thighs, waiting, working to slow my own breathing.

starts to look up at me. “Seriously,” he whispers, his green eyes peeking over hist fingertips. “He’s your

I nod seriously.

“You’re sure?”

I nod again.

you know?”

My wolf she knew instantly when I smelled

dropping his hands from his face, resting them

“Jesse’s scent marking is enough to confuse my scent, I think. Jackson figured out his mate is here, and that I have something to do

me.”

you

– because he thinks have something to do with keeping his mate away.

know him! And!” I fling a hand out in the direction in which Jackson disappeared,

face screws up in confusion. “Doesn’t that mean

not mistake my being mated to him for any like affection! I have no idea what’s going on! I am brand new

off into the distance. “Maybe we should call mom,” he murmurs. “She

mom,” I sigh, and then I push myself to my feet, holding out my hand to my brother. “Let’s just…get through the week, all right? And then we’ll figure out this stupid mate stuff when we’re enrolled in the Academy

hand – not because I can actually pull him up, he weighs way too much, but certainly as a sign of solidarity.

close.

we’re doing this on my terms now, okay? Which means you don’t go anywhere alone, and you stick to my god damn side

nod, looking earnestly up into his

“And,” he

forbid it.”

don’t say another damn

way he pulls his big brother card and bosses me around. “Can

grabbing my jacket and tugging

1

go,” I groan, pulling away, but

glaring down at me.

close, hardly a hand’s breadth between us as we walk the

breakfast.

come in. Ben and Luca at the table with him. Jesse throws his hands up in the air like we can’t believe what we’ve cut

and breakfast meats and granola. When another candidate leans over

his boots before muttering his apologies and darting away, wide–eyed.

to cool it, Rafe,” I say, looking up at him

I just heave a sigh and ignore him, sitting next to Ben when

not need Rafe finding out the other half of my secret – not seeing

were you,” Jesse snaps, glaring at us. “I wake up and you’re both

for a run on his own,” Rafe

lifts a spoonful of cereal to his mouth,

at me. “You know

already schooled me, all right?” I growl, flicking my eyes in Luca’s