The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 22

Jesse and I quietly pack our rucksacks over the next half hour while Rafe pitches a fit with the Lieutenants, insisting that he be allowed to transfer to my team or me to his. Jesse grimaces at me, shaking his head to let me know that he doesn’t think that it’s going to work.

I just sigh and roll my eyes at my cousin, communicating that I don’t even want it to work. I mean, it would be different if I was being sent out in the forest with Jackson – but I’m not. As far as I know? No one on my little team of five people wants me dead.

Eventually the Captain is called over and he has about four short words to say to Rafe before my brother scowls and stalks back to our bunks, grabbing Luca along the way and dragging him with

1. US.

“You,” Rafe snaps, shoving Luca to a stumbling stop before our bunks. “Are responsible for him.” He points a stark finger right at my face, his eyes still on Luca’s. “If Ari dies, you die. If he even gets a papercut, you get a papercut. Am I perfectly f**king clear?”

“Geeze,” Luca says, looking Rafe over with surprise and a little distaste as he runs a hand through his mussed hair. “Message taken, your Highness. I’d have done it anyway, all right? We’re friends.”

“You’d better f**king take this seriously –” Rafe leans in, just getting started, but Jesse cuts in smoothly.

“It’s so nice to have friends,” he says, looping an arm around Luca’s shoulders and grinning broadly at my brother. “Let’s not try to drive them all away today, right? Rafe?”

Rafe scowls, leaning back and realizing that he’s going a little overboard.

I sigh and shove Rafe’s pack into his arms. Jesse and I prepared it while he had his meltdown at the front of the barracks.

Rafe sighs and slings it over his shoulder, glancing at all of the candidates who are starting to filter to the front of the room. “Fine,” he snaps, turning to me. “You take care of yourself, all right? You know how to do this shit. Don’t let anyone boss you around or take advantage of you.”

“Right back at you, cousin,” I say, giving him a little glare – because as much as I love my brother, it’s getting a little embarrassing at this point.

Rafe shakes his head at me as I pull my own pack on my shoulders and turn towards the front door. And then as a foursome, we start to walk forward.

“Good luck out there,” Jesse says, his voice calm as he gives me a harmless little punch on my shoulder. “You’re going to kill it.”

“Don’t be too jealous when I take first.” I say, grinning at him. And then we reach the door, and Jesse and Rafe start towards their groups – Rafe giving me another anxious look before Jesse drags him

away.

Chapter 22

suddenly, it’s just me

him?” Luca asks, frowning after Rafe. “He treats you like you’re made of glass or

that.” I sigh, staring after my big

kind of…a mascot.”

but burst into a grin when

one. I get them all full of spirit and then send them out to kick ass while I cheer on the sidelines. All of the

shoulders, and I know we both ignore the tingles that run through us like…god. I don’t know, like twinkling starlight under my skin, or fresh winter air blowing in the first snow, or something equally dramatic and wonderful.

our numbered van and taking me with him, “no sitting on the sidelines today. Do you know how to do any of this survival

turns

a fire, I’ll punch anyone

with cold expressions. I blink, surprised – because while I don’t know any of

–

to “Well, look who it is,” says the tallest a broadly built guy with dark hair and pale, pale him stand his shorter twin and another who looks unrelated, with dusky brown hair and freckles. “The Prince’s pet, and his

my mouth falling open

is this?

–

and putting his hands on his waist, grinning at the three other guys with the easy confidence

granted, he probably can.

easy though his tone carries just the barest edge, “looks like our reputation, naturally, proceeds

you are.”

the tallest says, stepping forward and glaring into Luca’s face. A little bit of me is pleased that he has

I’m ranked

Chapter 22

higher than you.”

the name – alongside my two

the top ten,

Alan an easy smile.

matters how. “And none of us are

with a frown because I mean – I’m shit at a lot of