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.

little as he goes, thinking he needs to work a bit

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

he asks. “What did he ever do to

bad vibes,” Luca says, scowling. “I don’t trust him.”

tonight,” Ben says, 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 Ben walks

across from Luca and glare at him

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

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

me too, you know!” I hiss leaning forward, admitting

Chapter 30

presses his eyes shut, gritting his teeth, his whole body going tense. I kick him, glancing over the edge of the couch at where Rafe slowly has Ben go through

“We cannot have this conversation here! This

that you have a great deal of chamomile tea very soon, because I am not going to wait

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

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 except wait!

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

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

him for a moment before

towards the door. “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

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

room as the bathroom door creeks open. “Where did everyone

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

– it’s just that I’ve had such a long day, and the workout Jesse put me through,

shut before

immediately after that…

to blink in the soft light of the birch forest, looking

the hard conversation that’s going to come next. Because I know I owe him an explanation, but god, it would have

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

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

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

down at me.

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

me about what is fair right now, Ari?” he spits out, stepping closer to loom over me. “After

– this dream!?”

Sun, 10 Mar