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.

nodding to me before moving away. I smirk a little as he goes, thinking

the door, heading back to the center of the room and gesturing for Ben. But Ben pauses,

so rude to him?” he asks. “What did he ever do

Luca says, scowling. “I don’t trust

Luca, whose jaw drops open, probably surprised that Ben – who he could take out with a single punch – is calling him out for bad behavior. But I just sigh as Ben walks away to go work

couch across from Luca and glare at him a little.

voice soft. “You have been in a mood all day, and you’ve been taking

my “Luca sputters, leaning forward to glare at me. “Get my shit

weird for me too, you know!” I hiss leaning forward, admitting for the first time in person – however

Chapter 30

tense. I kick him, glancing over the edge of the couch at where Rafe slowly has Ben go through the

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

eyes fly open, instantly glaring at me. “Fine,” he snaps. “Then we are having this conversation tonight. And I would suggest that you have a great deal of chamomile tea very soon, because I am not going to wait around for you in that boring–ass fog forest for

so,” I hesitate now, trying to figure out the meaning behind his words,

little as it hits me right in the chest. “And it’s really boring! There is nothing to do there

chest. “Fine,” I growl, glaring at him. “I’ll go to

he almost shouts, forgetting himself a little as he jumps off the couch and storms for the

moment before

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

couch as well. I grab my Chemistry textbook off the coffee table and take it with me

velvet curtain shut and flop onto my bed in despair, burying

room as the bathroom door creeks

and Rafe stay up for a while, talking softly. I get changed into the pajamas that Daphne thoughtfully packed into my uniform box and re–braid my hair once it’s dry, but it’s the Chemistry book, in the end, which really does

it’s just that I’ve had such a long day, and the

eyes are flickering shut before I

almost immediately

the soft light of the birch forest, looking around at the pretty yellow leaves

going to come next. Because I know I owe him an explanation, but god, it would have just been so much

eyes go wide to hear

as he appears between the trees, striding towards me. I press my

open my eyes and look down, I’m relieved to see Luca’s fingers wrapped around the sleeves of my black uniform, not the white nightdress I always wear when I first appear

Luca demands, glaring down at me.

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

to try to talk to me about what is fair right now, Ari?” he spits out, stepping closer to

– this dream!?”

10