The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 48

1

My eyes go wide as I gasp, spinning to see Alvez walking down the hall, completely nonchalant. But that was no ghost, sneaking an intimate touch when my brother’s back was turned.

“What is it?” Rafe asks, turning towards me.

“Sorry, I uh–just saw a spider,” 1 murmur. “Really big one.”

“Gross,” Jesse says, a shiver running through him. I grin at him, because Jesse hates spiders.

“Yeah, let’s get out of here,” Rafe says, nodding towards the elevator at the end of the hall. “Ari and I have to have a chat after all.”

“Really?” Jesse gasps as we step into the elevator. “What about!? Do I get to come. too?”

“No,” Rafe says, slinging an arm around my shoulders and glaring over at our cousin. “Siblings only for this one.”

Jesse hangs his head back as the elevator lifts us swiftly into the air. “That’s so unfair,” he groans. “Come on, I’m basically a sibling – our dads our brothers, our moms are sisters! Genetically, I’m pretty much the same

“Don’t be weird,” Rafe says, glancing over at Jesse with his brows knit as the elevator door opens and we start down the hall.

Jesse continues to complain all the way into the room but Rafe ignores him and I laugh, because Jesse can be such a baby when he doesn’t get his way. But eventually Jesse flops, defeated and depressed to be deprived of the gossip, onto his bed as Rafe pushes me towards the bathroom.

“Rafe, you can pee alone,” I mutter, tossing my chemistry book onto my bed as I

1. go.

“This is about secrecy not bodily functions,” he murmurs, shutting the door behind him and leaning back on it. “Which I’d think would be something you appreciated, considering this is a conversation about your mate. So?” He raises an eyebrow at me. “Spill.”

I sigh, closing the lid to the toilet and sitting down on it, taking off my cap and

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Chapter 48

taking a moment to massage my sore scalp under its tight braid. Rafe listens quietly and carefully as I tell him everything about Jackson about his apology in the bathroom that allowed me to see a different side of him, my impulsive invitation to breakfast, and then about his waiting to go into his obstacle course. with me, and the hint and the help he gave.

“So,” he says, looking studiously down at the floor with his brows drawn, “do you think he’s like…figured it out? That he’s

to me because he does sense a connection.

minute before he sinks to the floor a bit. “It’s all just so weird, Ari,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “I

I say, but I smile at my brother because it feels nice to be able to talk

murmurs, “that’s important. But there’s so much at risk. And he did seriously try to hurt you, which

try, Rafe,” I say quietly. “I don’t think he’s going to try to hurt me again. Honestly, if anything, it feels like his instincts

got some impulse to protect you?” Rafe asks, looking up at me. “I mean, that makes sense…the way

anxiety stirs in me at the comparison to dad and

Jackson? I…just met

And Luca?

important, my wolf says, prancing gleefully at the thought of them. And very good

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Chapter 48

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for you to say, I murmur, swatting her playfully in the rump. She spins in a circle and then trots off,

Rafe sighs, hanging his head a little with a big sigh. “I’ll try to be nicer. Though it

starting to thank him, but a knock comes out the

else, Jesse,” Rafe says, his voice exhausted.

for the advice, Rafe,” Jesse replies, dry,

I say, standing up and eagerly pulling on my cap. Rafe gets to

asks, heading for it. “I want to take a minute to myself.”

him and heading for the door, eager to see what the seamstress did to my uniform to make it fit better. Rafe starts

behind me. “You have a guest, Mr. Clark,”

eyes go wide as I follow Jesse’s gesturing hand towards there door, where I burst into a grin to see the seamstress here

see you! I made some modifications,

I say, flapping a hand in his direction as I take the box from her hands and head for my nook. “Come over here! Thank you so much

gasps, horrified, and both the seamstress and I stop short

my cousin a little as I resume

kind of…figured it out yesterday.”

Chapter 48

on the seamstress’s face as she looks between my cousin and me. “Oh, a secret within

little bit. “You can’t do this

asks, stepping closer to me as I put the