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.

he says, nodding to me before moving away. I smirk a little as he goes,

anything as he moves away from the door, heading back to the center

asks. “What

bad vibes,” Luca says, scowling. “I

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

the couch across from Luca and glare at

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

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

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

Chapter 30

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 the gestures of a

this conversation here! This is not public information!”

deal of chamomile tea very soon, because I am not going to wait around for you in that boring–ass fog forest for hours while you do

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

little as it hits me right in the chest. “And it’s really boring! There is nothing to

to my chest. “Fine,” I growl, glaring

himself a little as he jumps off the couch and storms for the door.

and I gape after him for a moment before

door. “What the hell is going on with

grab my Chemistry textbook off the coffee table and take it with me towards my nook. “And so am

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

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

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

had such a long day, and the workout Jesse put me

eyes are flickering shut

almost immediately after

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

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 much

wide to hear the anger still lacing it. “I know

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

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 here.

Luca demands, glaring down at me. “Now!”

a step back from him. “You’re bigger than me, Luca! It’s bullshit to use

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!?”

Sun, 10