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.

tracks are equally good,” Rafe cuts in smoothly, always

down at my plate as I push around

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

terse, flicking his eyes

scandalized smile as he slowly shifts his gaze to me, but I quickly dart my eyes back to my plate, inwardly stringing together a fluid and vehement line

in. “And what was so troubling about it?” he asks, and I can tell that he’s almost vibrating with

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

low and dangerous, “was that I knew so little about my

my earlier determination

cake was delicious,” Jesse chimes in, turning his head to Luca, fascinated as

says, his eyes still trained on me, “I have no idea

asks, turning to Luca, confused:

around. Say our favorite deserts. Ben?”

me, picking up on the weird vibe. “Um,

Luca says, dry. And then he turns

his favorite is bread pudding, and Rafe that he just likes chocolate chip cookies, I renew my

there again. The plan I came up

Ari?” Luca asks, and Jesse turns to him a bit with a frown, because in public Luca never calls me by what he thinks is my name –

going on here?” Rafe asks, quietly looking

“I like chocolate cake too, Luca,” I say casually, taking Ben’s desert when I can’t

after a long moment, see his shoulders slump.

—

peer at him, trying to figure it out,

–

of toast from the bread basket. “Everyone knows

to Jesse, his eyes

start to stay,

a bite of his toast and talking with his mouth full, “is strawberry

the memory of twenty–some birthdays when I wouldn’t even touch the cake – only wanting scoop after scoop of strawberry

cream

as I turn my eyes

staring at me in complete shock, his jaw

for a long

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