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.

a little as he goes, thinking he needs to work

moves away from the door, heading back to the center of the room and gesturing

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

bad vibes,” Luca says, scowling. “I

open, probably surprised that Ben – who he could take out with a single

across from Luca and glare at him

keeping my voice soft. “You have been in a mood all day, and you’ve been taking it out on everyone else. Get your

“Luca sputters, leaning forward to glare at me. “Get my shit together!? Are you kidding me,

leaning forward,

Chapter 30

tense. I kick him, glancing over the

this conversation here! This

very soon, because I am not going to wait around for you in that boring–ass fog forest

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

Shrimp!” he snaps, grabbing one of the pillows and throwing at me. I gasp a little as it hits me right in the chest. “And it’s really boring! There is nothing to do there

hugging the pillow to my chest. “Fine,” I growl,

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

a moment before slowly turning back to Ben and Rafe, who stare at

says, glancing over towards the door. “What the

and 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

their goodnights as I swing my velvet curtain shut and flop onto my

voice say out in the room as the bathroom door creeks open. “Where did everyone go?”

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

a long day, and

shut before I know

immediately after

of the birch forest,

my arms around myself, steeling myself for the hard conversation that’s going to come next. Because I

wide to hear the anger still lacing it. “I know you’re here, I

trees, striding towards me. I press my eyes shut, willing my clothes to change, my hair to tuck itself

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 wear when I first appear

down at

I snap, shaking myself free 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

you seriously going to try to talk to me about what is fair right now, Ari?” he spits

– this dream!?”

Sun, 10