The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 39

I continue glaring at Jesse, but Rafe moves on with his interrogation of Ben.

“What makes you think Luca hasn’t figured out that Ariel’s a girl?” Rafe says as he leans forward, eager for Ben’s answer and apparently deciding to trust him.

“I don’t think Luca knows because he hasn’t tried to hit on her yet,” Ben replies, laughing. “Didn’t you see him this afternoon with the seamstress? Luca loves women – he’s dying for some female attention. If he knew Ari is a girl, he’d be all over her.”

“True,” Rafe murmurs, leaning back against the couch cushion and staring into space a bit as he thinks it through.

Jesse’s eyes sparkle as he again catches my eye. My mouth draws to a thin line as I stare at him, shaking my head at him because he is loving this just a little too

much.

God, I want to smack him right now.

But that would give way too much away.

“Well, how did you know?” Rafe asks, blinking back to reality and turning his attention back to Ben.

“Because,” Ben says, turning to smile at me. “I have four younger sisters. You guys – you protect her the same way I’d protect my sisters if they were sleeping in a communal room with a bunch of guys for two weeks. Plus,” his smile widens now as he settles onto the carpet and leans back on his hands, clearly feeling more relaxed. “You laugh like a girl, Ari.”

“What!?” I shriek.

And Ben bursts into laughter at my reaction, and then Rafe and Jesse do too, and I blush, because I hear it now – it was a very girly shriek.

And so I start to laugh too, and we all laugh harder as we hear it, because my laugh – it really does hit higher notes than theirs, lilting above over their low, resonant

tones.

My face reddens even further, and I press my hands to my cheeks. And then, experimentally, I try a lower laugh, seeing if I can make it more boyish

Chapter 39

peels of laughter that come from me as I grab a pillow off the couch and hurl it at

when his laughter fades, shrugging and giving

and grabbing one from the edge. “Plus, I like girls. It’s nice to have one around.” He sends me a

it’s too nice,” Rafe says, his voice a low growl again. “I said you’re family now, which means hands off the little

grin at me. “I don’t think I’m Princess Ari’s

little appalled sputter, but before I can

Jesse calls, and we all turn in time to see the door swing open, revealing

smirk, a little pasty box balanced in his hands.

calls, grinning at my mate. As Luca walks in I take the

I don’t say anything, because…honestly, I’m still trying to catch my breath. God damn it, Luca in that high–collared black uniform, with the

wolf howls inside me, rolling onto her back like she’s been knocked out cold. We’re never going to make it here, I whisper to her, laughing inwardly, but she doesn’t even bother

hear the words as well as the humor

Sun, Tu Mar

Chapter 39

my face and lean over, smacking Ben hard

laugh, because we know he’s dead right.

fascinated by this crazy aspect of on new life, and dash

then the smell hits my nostrils and I groan, reaching immediately for the covered tray which I now realize holds some delicious dinner, but Rafe just laughs and swats my hand away. “That’s

little as the food moves away and my stomach growls – I didn’t realize that I was starving. But I cheerfully grab the pewter pitcher and the little metal cups that come along with it, surprised to see that there are five,

lift the cover from the tray. “Five!” I say, slipping over the back of the couch so

–

“Asked them to please send mine here. I didn’t think you’d mind. I guess Luca did the

a plate and a set of silverware rolled in a white napkin. “Seriously, why are we still talking?

eat.”

the glasses of water and hand them around.

was something a little better than water,” Luca murmurs when

right, I’m a little glad that we’re obliged to keep sober tonight. With a few drinks in me and him looking like that? I’d probably have to sit on my hands to keep myself from reaching out and stroking his

dish on my knees as I dig in to my meal steak, roasted potatoes, green beans lathered with butter, fresh brown rolls. A shiver goes through me when I

than it is in the barracks. I had no idea we’d be living in relative luxury candidacy really lowered

meal tonight?