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.

is probably a good thing. “So,” he says, looking studiously down at the floor with his brows drawn, “do you think he’s

as I lean back against the toilet tank. “I mean, anything is possible, and I think he’s being nice to me because he does sense a connection.

“It’s all just so weird, Ari,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “I don’t know how to navigate

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

get to know your mate,” he murmurs, “that’s important. But there’s so much at risk. And he did seriously

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

your mate, he’s got some impulse to protect you?” Rafe asks, looking up at me. “I mean, that makes sense…the way dad protects

comparison to dad and mom –

I…just

And Luca?

gleefully at the thought of them. And very

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Chapter 48

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in the rump. She spins in a circle and then trots off, spirits high.

a big sigh. “I’ll try to be nicer. Though

but a knock

somewhere else, Jesse,” Rafe says, his voice

Jesse replies, dry, “but actually our uniforms are here.”

pulling on my cap. Rafe gets to

it. “I want to

Rafe starts to strip off his shirt as I pull the door open, but I’m a little

wrist and tugs me out of the bathroom, snicking the door shut behind me. “You have a guest, Mr. Clark,” he says, his voice half devious and half angry. “Who is asking for you

wide as I follow Jesse’s gesturing hand towards there door, where I burst into a grin to see the seamstress here in the flesh, a black box in her hands.

excited.”Hi!” she says, beaming at me, “I’m so happy to see you! I made

and head for my nook. “Come over

both the seamstress and I stop short in our tracks, our eyes

say, grimacing at my cousin a little as

kind of…figured it out yesterday.”

Chapter 48

face as she looks between my cousin and me. “Oh,

Jesse groans, covering his face with his hands and turning away from me, his—- shoulders shaking a little bit. “You can’t

me as I put the box on my bed and start