The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 50

Luca freezes for a moment before scowling at me and dropping his hand from my shirt, crossing his arms over his chest before he sinks back into the couch cushions, glowering.

“No!” I say, throwing myself over the arm of the couch and stumbling my way to the door, my face still pale from my shock. “Um, sorry it’s good to see you, Jackson! I’m glad you could come.”

I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Ben and Rafe coming over. Luca, perhaps predictably, stays on the couch, though he’s moved to lean against the far arm of it so that he can watch the goings–on at the door, his arms still crossed.

“You’ve got a really nice setup here,” Jackson says, his eyebrows raised as he looks around the room.

“Thank you,” Rafe responds, reaching out a hand. I see the corner of Jackson’s mouth twitch upwards at Rafe’s relative warmth as he shakes my brother’s hand. But it’s gone in a flash. “Where is your room located?” Rafe asks.

“I’m closer to this guy,” he says, nodding to Ben.

“Really?” Ben asks, surprised.

“I’m four doors down,” Jackson says, leaning against our doorway. Ben looks even more surprised now, perhaps wondering if Jackson is just very perceptive? Or if he, Ben, hasn’t been perceptive enough..

“You’re letting a draft in,” Luca calls from his place on the couch. “Maybe it’s time. to shut the door.”

A little shocked, I glare at him over my shoulder, because the door has been open for hours. “Would you like to come in?” I say to Jackson, gesturing towards the room. “We don’t have any food left, but…”

“That’s okay,” Jackson says, nodding at me and pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket. “I just came to give you a copy of my schedule. Maybe you could tell me a time, tomorrow, when we could meet for the homework?”

“Come to dinner tomorrow,” Rafe offers instantly. “Ari really doesn’t leave the room much. He’ll be here all night. I’m sure you can find a quiet space to work.”

Chapter 50

I turn slowly to glare at my brother, but sigh when he just glares back. He is definitely not going to let me go galivanting around in the castle alone with my

mate.

“Yes, Jackson,” I say, taking the schedule from his hands anyway. “Please, come for

dinner.”

“All right,” he says slowly, frowning as he looks between Rafe and me, probably wondering about our weird over–protective cousin relationship. “See you tomorrow, then.”

“Bye!” Luca shouts from behind us, his word harsh and obviously making I clear that he wants Jackson gone now.

I roll my eyes, but keep my focus on Jackson. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for this,” I hold up the now–useless schedule in my hand.

little as he goes, thinking he needs to work a bit

anything as he moves away from the door, heading back to the center of the room and gesturing for Ben. But Ben pauses, frowning at Luca.

to him?” he asks. “What did he ever

vibes,” Luca says, scowling. “I don’t

could take out with a single punch – is calling him out for bad behavior. But I just sigh as Ben walks away to go

from Luca and glare at

have been in a mood all day, and you’ve been taking it out on everyone else.

glare at me. “Get my shit together!? Are you

I narrow my eyes. “This is weird for me too, you know!” I hiss leaning forward, admitting for

Chapter 30

gritting his teeth, his whole body going tense. I kick him, glancing over the edge

I whisper–hiss. “We cannot have this conversation here! This is not

of chamomile tea very soon, because

the meaning behind his words, “you can go there and like, hang around? Even

the pillows and throwing at me. I gasp a little as it hits me right in the chest. “And it’s really

at him, hugging the pillow to my chest. “Fine,” I growl, glaring at him. “I’ll

a little as he jumps off the couch and storms for

gape after him for a moment before

the door. “What the hell is going on with you two?”

pushing myself up off the couch as well. I grab my Chemistry textbook off the coffee table and take it with me towards my nook. “And so am I. I’m going to bed.

curtain shut and flop onto my

out in the room as the bathroom door creeks open.

to fall asleep, not least because Jesse, Ben, and Rafe stay up for a while, talking softly. I get changed into the pajamas that

it’s just that I’ve had such a long day, and the workout Jesse put me through, combined with the minute details of the periodic. table…

eyes are flickering shut before I know

immediately after

eyelids again to blink in the soft light of the birch forest, looking around at the pretty yellow leaves flickering in the wind.

come next. Because I know I owe him an explanation, but god, it would have just

through the grove, and my eyes go wide to hear the anger still

press my eyes shut, willing

open my eyes and look down, I’m relieved to see Luca’s fingers wrapped around the sleeves of my black uniform, not the

Luca demands, glaring down

snap, shaking myself free of his grip and taking a step back from him. “You’re bigger than me, Luca!

fair right now, Ari?” he spits out, stepping closer to loom over me. “After all

– this dream!?”

10