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.

at the floor with his brows drawn, “do you think he’s like…figured it out? That he’s helping you because he knows you’re his mate?”

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

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

know your mate,” he murmurs, “that’s important. But there’s so much at risk. And he did seriously try to hurt you, which makes me very wary to let

going to try to hurt me again. Honestly, if anything, it feels like his instincts are swinging in the

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

to dad and mom – because they feel

I…just met him.

And Luca?

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

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murmur, swatting her playfully in the rump. She spins in a circle

sighs, hanging his head a little with a big sigh.

but a knock comes out the

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

so much for the advice, Rafe,” Jesse replies, dry, “but actually

my cap. Rafe gets to his

for it. “I want to take a minute

make it fit better. Rafe starts to strip off his shirt

me by the wrist and tugs me out of the bathroom, snicking the door shut behind me. “You have a guest, Mr. Clark,” he says,

burst into a grin to see the seamstress here in the flesh, a

she says, beaming at me, “I’m so happy to see you! I made some modifications, but, um…” her eyes drift over to

about him,” 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 for bringing these up yourself! What’s your name? I’m Ariel

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

at my cousin a little as I resume my steps. “I forgot

of…figured it

Chapter 48

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

his face with his hands and turning away from me, his—- shoulders shaking a little bit.

as I put the box on my bed and start