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.

as he goes, thinking he needs to work a

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

he asks. “What did he ever do

vibes,” Luca says, scowling.

frowning at 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

across from Luca and

know,” I say, keeping my voice soft. “You have been in a mood

forward to glare at me. “Get

weird for me too, you know!” I hiss leaning forward, admitting for the first time in person – however tacitly that the dream state really is

Chapter 30

his teeth, his whole body going tense. I kick him, glancing over the edge of the couch at where Rafe slowly

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

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

a little, surprised. “Wait, so,” I hesitate now, trying to figure out the meaning behind his words, “you can go there and

snaps, grabbing one of the pillows and throwing at me. I gasp a little as it hits me right in

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

as he jumps off the couch and storms for the door. “So will

Luca leaves and I gape after him for a moment before slowly turning back to Ben and Rafe, who

door. “What the hell is going on with you

off the coffee table and take it with me towards my nook. “And so am I. I’m going to

curtain shut and flop onto my bed in despair, burying

Jesse’s voice say out in the room as the bathroom door creeks

takes me forever to fall asleep, not least because Jesse, Ben, 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

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

eyes are flickering shut before I know

immediately after

the soft light of the birch forest, looking around at

that’s going to come next. Because I

Luca’s voice rings out through the grove, and my eyes go wide to hear the anger still lacing it. “I know

between the trees, striding towards me. I press my eyes

little shriek when I feel hands wrap around my upper arms, giving me a shake. But when I 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

Luca demands, glaring down

of his grip and taking a step back from him. “You’re bigger than me, Luca! It’s bullshit to use that to try to intimidate me

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

– this dream!?”

Sun, 10 Mar