The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 43

“Hi!” 1 say, forcing my face into my best cheerful–Princess grin. “There’s coffee! Come sit down!”

Luca just narrows his eyes at me a little more, suspicious, and goes to the other side of the table, sitting with Jesse.

My stomach twists at this – Luca almost always sits by me. And while Ben took his spot today…I don’t know. Something about the way Luca keeps his eyes on me even as he rounds the table…

God, I feel like a little rabbit being watched by a hungry wolf.

We’re wolves too! My wolf reminds me, snapping her jaws eagerly in response to Luca’s predatory prowl. Let’s not let him see us sweat.

I nod, inwardly, and proceed as if absolutely nothing is wrong, determined not to let Luca think that I know at all why he might be in a mood.

Even though that I am well aware that I am very much the cause of it.

–

–

I did more thinking last night, and I decided in the end that I’ve been very foolish with the dream state. Even though my wolf is disappointed in my decision, I’ve decided not to use it anymore – it’s just too risky.

Instead, I’m going to put my feelings for my mate aside and concentrate on succeeding here at school. After all, that’s why dad didn’t let girls in in the first place – there’s enough to do here without romantic distractions.

I’m not going to be the first girl in, just to fail out because I couldn’t stop mooning over a boy.

Rafe, Jesse, and Ben chat excitedly about their mornings, those on Warrior track eating faster than Ben and I because they have a workout this morning while Ben and I have an extra hour before class.

“Why do you think that is?” he asks me frowning.

“Who knows,” I say, giving a little shrug. “Maybe we’ll have like…extra homework to do in the mornings or something.”

“Nerd track,” Jesse murmurs, and I shoot him a dirty little glare.

Chapter 43

“Don’t be jealous, dumb jock track.” I throw back at him, and he just grins.

good,” Rafe cuts in smoothly, always

around my eggs, because I’d much rather he was his old self. This quiet, moody Luca – it makes me

Jesse asks, nudging Luca

eyes up to me. “Weird dreams again.”

me, but I quickly dart my eyes back to my plate, inwardly

was so troubling about it?” he asks, and I can tell that

glare at my cousin, wishing I could shoot death rays from my pupils to knock him dead in

I knew so little about my friends. For instance, I shared with you

my earlier determination to

his head to Luca, fascinated

his eyes still trained on me, “I have no idea what any of your

Rafe asks, turning to Luca, confused: “Why does that bother

oddly angry for someone who is pretending to so casually talk about desert. “Let’s just…all go around.

at me, picking up on the weird vibe. “Um, I like…chocolate cake?”

Luca says, dry. And then he turns to

pudding, and Rafe that he just likes chocolate chip cookies, I renew my determination to stick to the plan I made

– I’m never going to meet him there again. The plan I came up with last night to convince him that it was real? That was foolish – it is so, so much simpler to just…..never go there

because in public Luca never calls me by what he thinks is my name – he always

going on here?” Rafe asks, quietly looking between

too, Luca,” I say casually, taking Ben’s desert when I can’t

a long moment, see his shoulders slump. Though

—

him, trying to

–

and shaking his head and reaching for another piece of toast from the bread basket. “Everyone knows that you don’t actually like chocolate cake.”

head whips to Jesse, his eyes going

I start to stay, but he’s

toast and talking with his mouth full, “is strawberry ice

at the memory of twenty–some birthdays when I wouldn’t

cream

turn my eyes back to Luca.

in complete shock,

table is silent for

his head swiveling between us, delight on his face as he realizes that he just caused some kind