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.

equally good,” Rafe

a little, looking down at my plate as I push around my eggs, because I’d

asks, nudging Luca with his elbow. “Didn’t

eyes up to me. “Weird

as he slowly shifts his gaze to me, but I quickly dart my eyes back to my plate, inwardly stringing

it?” he asks, and I can tell that he’s almost vibrating with eagerness now, just dying for more material

wishing I could shoot death rays from my pupils to knock him dead in

little about my friends. For instance, I shared with you all what my favorite desert

go rigid despite my earlier determination to keep

Jesse chimes in, turning his head to Luca, fascinated as to

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

confused: “Why does that

Luca says, his voice oddly angry for someone who is pretending to so casually talk about desert. “Let’s just…all go around. Say our favorite deserts. Ben?” he says, and I jump a little when he snaps his gaze

picking up on the weird vibe. “Um,

dry. And then he turns to Jesse, clearly keeping

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

a figment of his imagination – 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

bit with a frown, because in public Luca never calls me by what he thinks is my name – he always calls me Shrimp.

going on here?” Rafe asks, quietly looking

casually, taking Ben’s desert when I

slump. Though the expression on his face is it relief? Or disappointment? Or….

—

him, trying to figure it out,

–

says, laughing and shaking his head and reaching for another piece of toast from the bread basket. “Everyone

to Jesse, his

start to stay, but

says, taking a bite of his toast and talking with his mouth full, “is strawberry ice cream, with whipped cream, and so many sprinkles on top

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

cream

faces goes pale as I turn

me in complete shock, his jaw hanging almost to

for

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