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

his reality back together. I press my hands against my thighs, waiting, working

he whispers, his green

I nod seriously.

“You’re sure?”

I nod again.

you know?”

My wolf she knew instantly when I smelled him.”

Rafe asks, exhaling deeply and dropping his hands from his face, resting them on his knees.

he’s I shake my head. “Jesse’s scent marking is enough to confuse my scent, I think. Jackson figured out his mate

me.”

you

his head to the side. “That’s why he’s trying to kill you – because he thinks have something to do with keeping his mate away. But you know it’s him…so…” My brother studies me carefully, narrowing

my cheeks. “What!? No! I don’t even know him! And!” I fling a hand out in the direction in which Jackson disappeared, “He keeps trying to

mate!” Rafe’s face screws up in confusion. “Doesn’t that

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

we should call mom,” he murmurs. “She has a mate. She knows more

“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 and

weighs way too much, but certainly as a sign of solidarity. When he’s on his feet, Rafe uses his grip on my hand

close.

“But we’re doing this on my terms now, okay? Which means you don’t

earnestly up into

“And,” he

forbid it.”

don’t say another damn word to

scowling and pulling away from him, knowing it’s logical but hating the way he pulls his big brother

growls, grabbing my jacket and tugging me close to

1

go,” I groan, pulling away, but he doesn’t let me go.

Ariel,” he snaps, glaring down

rolling my eyes up at him. But when he lets my jacket go, I stay close, hardly a hand’s breadth between us as we walk the short distance back to the barracks and inside for

breakfast.

like a hawk when we 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 it this close, but Rafe just waves a

to describe it as Rafe fills his own tray and mine with whatever’s left, a random assortment of cereal and breakfast meats and

almost out of his boots before muttering his apologies and

up at

me between the shoulder blades and making me stumble towards our table. I just heave a sigh and ignore him, sitting next to Ben when I

other half of my secret – not seeing how he reacted to the

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

on his own,” Rafe growls,

breakfast and doesn’t get involved, but Luca lifts a spoonful of cereal

breathes, staring at me. “You know you’re not allowed to –”

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