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

few deep breaths, his face tucked away against his palms, clearly putting the pieces of his

me. “Seriously,” he whispers, his green eyes peeking over hist fingertips. “He’s your

I nod seriously.

“You’re sure?”

I nod again.

do you

My wolf she knew instantly when I smelled him.”

don’t know?” Rafe asks, exhaling deeply and dropping his hands from his face, resting them on his

my head. “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 with it. But he

me.”

you

you – because he thinks have something to do with keeping his mate away. But you know it’s him…so…”

to my cheeks. “What!? No! I don’t even know him! And!” I fling a hand out in the direction

screws up

in the air. “But do not mistake my being mated to him for any like affection! I have no idea what’s going on! I am brand

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

out my hand to my brother. “Let’s just…get through the week,

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

close.

hear him use my barrack nickname. “But we’re doing this on my terms now,

looking earnestly up into his

“And,” he

forbid it.”

eyes at me again. “You don’t

it’s logical but hating the way he pulls his big brother card and bosses me around. “Can we

grabbing my jacket and tugging me close to his side.

1

groan, pulling away, but he

snaps, glaring

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.

the door like a hawk when we come in. Ben and Luca at the table with him. Jesse throws his hands up in

with whatever’s left, a random assortment of cereal and breakfast meats and granola. When another

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

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

just heave a sigh and ignore him, sitting next to Ben when I get to the table as far away from my other mate as I can get.

half of my secret – not seeing how he

you,” Jesse snaps, glaring at us. “I wake up and

own,” Rafe growls, glaring at me

but Luca lifts a spoonful of cereal to his mouth, blatantly watching

me. “You know you’re not allowed to

growl, flicking my eyes in Luca’s direction