The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 31

Jackson takes a long moment to size up Luca, I think feeling more comfortable with direct confrontation than small talk. “No secrets, Grant,” he says quietly. “Just genuinely f**king good at it.”

Luca’s smirk deepens. “At least you’re good for the grunt work,” he says quietly, and my spine straightens at the cruel edge to his words. “Even the military needs its brutes on the front line.”

The table goes quiet at the clear implication in Luca’s words. My eyes flick over Luca again, unsettled by this aggression.

“I seem to recall,” Jackson says slowly, carefully, “that I beat you out on the intelligence exam too, Grant.”

Jesse’s mouth forms into a scandalized, delighted little “o” as he looks eagerly between Jackson and Luca, and a scandalized little laugh stumbles from Ben’s mouth. Rafe and I are completely silent.

Luca just leans back in his chair and grins, flicking his eyes over Jackson like he knows he could take him.

Even though…honestly, he might be the only person at the table who believes that.

“Thanks for breakfast,” Jackson says, smoothly breaking the awkward silence and standing up from his chair.

“Stay,” I say, leaning forward, the word popping from my lips before I realize it.

“Nah, I’m finished, and I want to warm up,” Jackson says, pushing his chair in and looking towards the tray–bussing station. But before he goes, he flicks his blue gaze back to me and holds my eyes seriously. “But thank you for the invitation. No one…no one has asked me to eat with them yet. It means a lot.”

I stay still for a moment, captivated by his gaze, but then he just nods to me.

And I nod back.

And then he’s walking away.

“Ari, why the hell did you ask him to eat with us?” Rafe growls, leaning across the table to yell at me once Jackson’s out of earshot.

“Because I felt bad for him, Rafe,” I say, gesturing in Jackson’s direction. “Didn’t

– no one, for two whole weeks you hear what he just said

“And did you ever imagine,” Luca says, his voice dry, “that maybe there’s a reason why no one asked him to eat with them? Because he’s a dangerous jerk?”

to glare at Luca, suddenly angry. “Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot, Luca,” I say, my voice low. He blinks at me in surprise. “Don’t try to pretend I’m silly enough to not have bothered imagining why people might not like Jackson. But I also don’t imagine that most people have your particular reason for disliking him, okay? Just because you don’t like him doesn’t mean that everyone else

stares at me, I think a little shocked to see the funny little Shrimp he’s

are you two talking about?” Jesse asks, leaning

standing up with his own tray and nodding up towards the clock. “No one’s talking

as I grab my tray. Rafe waits patiently for Luca, Jesse, and Ben to move ahead, falling in next

explaining this,” he says quietly, glaring down at me, “the moment we get into the Academy.

up at him, words on

grin instead, my eyes crinkling as I look up at my brother. “Does that mean you think I’m going

the rack below his. “It does,” he says, his voice sure. “I believe in you, Ari. Even if I’m going to kick your ass for

in me at my brother’s

what I needed to hear as

Chapter 31

my fate.

to our ranking, which means that Luca, Jesse and Rafe are invited in way before Ben and I. I give Jesse and Rafe both hugs and wish them good luck, knowing that I won’t see them again until the ceremony in which the final rankings are announced. We’ll be allowed back in the

ranked in the middle of the pack a status which will surely change

as I turn away from him, hoping to hell he makes it too – Ben, he’s become a

from him. As we pass through the door, I’m surprised to

I do a bit

and messing with

is pulled away from my mate. I shake my head to clear it and step into place at the back of the line. Once I’m there, the professors begin

looks as confused as I do after the experience, but…I mean, nobody looks any worse for the wear. So I attempt to pat down my anxiety

turn comes.

the professor comes

the professor looks me seriously in the eye.

the sphere in your hands, Clark.

pulse. I go still with surprise as I watch the black clouds, and as I stare I even

you.

jump a little before handing

and then I blush, because I feel a little ridiculous. I mean, I didn’t actually do him any favors. He smirks at me, looking me up and down before he moves with his colleagues to the back of

when someone barks my name again.

curse as I realize that all of the other candidates are lined

L

my hands on my left knee in a runners