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.

I smirk a little as he goes, thinking he needs to work a bit on

door, heading back to the

so rude to him?” he asks.

got bad vibes,” Luca says, scowling.

with a single punch – is calling him out for bad behavior.

on the couch across from Luca and glare

“You have been in a mood all day, and you’ve been

glare at me. “Get my shit

for me too, you know!” I hiss leaning forward, admitting for the first time

Chapter 30

his whole body going tense. I kick him, glancing over the edge of the couch at where Rafe slowly has Ben go through the gestures of a cross–body punch.

this

we are having this conversation tonight. And I would suggest that you have a great deal of chamomile tea very

I hesitate now, trying to figure out the meaning behind his words, “you can go there

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 except wait!

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

off the couch and storms

after him for a moment before slowly turning back to Ben

door. “What the hell is going on with you

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

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

say out in the room as the bathroom door

a while, talking softly. I get changed into the pajamas that

and

flickering shut before

almost immediately after that…

eyelids again to blink in the soft light of the birch forest, looking around at the pretty

next. Because I know I owe him

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

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

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

Luca demands, glaring down

me!?” 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 intimidate me

try to talk to me about what is fair right now, Ari?” he

– this dream!?”

Sun, 10