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.

smirk a little 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.

asks.

says, scowling.

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

on the couch across from

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

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

weird for me too, you know!” I hiss leaning forward,

Chapter 30

glancing over

“We cannot have this conversation here! This is

chamomile tea very soon, because I am not going to wait around for you

meaning behind his words,

it hits me right in

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

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

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

door. “What the

sighing 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 am I. I’m going to bed. Sleep tight, guys.”

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

room as the bathroom

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

not that it’s not interesting – it’s just that I’ve had such a long day, and the workout Jesse put me

are flickering shut before

immediately after that…

the birch forest, looking around at the

arms around myself, steeling myself for the hard conversation that’s going to come next. Because I know I owe him an explanation, but god, it would have just been so

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

and then gasp as he appears between the trees, striding towards me. I press my eyes shut, willing my clothes to change, my hair to tuck itself up

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 at me. “Now!”

taking a step

going to try to talk to me about what is fair right now, Ari?” he spits out, stepping closer to loom over me. “After all of the

– this dream!?”

10 Mar