The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 60

Time at the Academy presents neat little patterns for us, and Rafe, Jesse, and I fall gratefully into them. Because life? It is busy. Every morning Jesse gets me up early, making me go for a run with him even before we go to breakfast. I’d enjoy these moments with my favorite cousin more if I wasn’t so damn tired every day.

“Can we get a coffee maker in the suite,” I pant, my breath puffing in little clouds in the damp and foggy air. “I can’t go for these runs without the aid of caffeine.”

“Come on, Scrimpy!” Jesse laughs, putting on a burst of speed and swatting me on the shoulder as he pulls ahead, obliging me to keep up. “Let your zest for life wake you in the morning! Not caffeine!”

“Life would be much more zesty with a little espresso,” I growl, sighing and speeding up to keep pace. “With a side of biscotti!”

After our run, we hastily get dressed and go to breakfast with our group. Luca, to my chagrin and agony, continues to ice me out. He sits with me at every meal, and at dinner he jokes with me and the rest of our group like nothing’s changed. But not once does he try to pull me aside, to make a moment to talk about what happened between us in the birch forest.

What he maybe, probably now knows the incredible secret he’s carrying, that I’m trusting

him with.

Breakfast, of course, wouldn’t be the best time to talk about anything, gathered as we are around our little round table, but still I’m dying to talk about what happened, to learn what he figured out about my secret, and he just…won’t let me.

–

“Luca,” I growl the next morning when Rafe and Jesse get up to go speak to some other warrior candidates about a group project they’re working on and Ben obligingly tucks his nose into a book. “What are –”

“No here, Shrimp,” Luca replies, his voice low. “This is a way bigger conversation that we’re not having in the Hall.”

“Well then why won’t you meet me in the…” I hesitate, glancing Ben’s way, because I almost

said dream. Ben just turns his page, looking for all the world like he’s completely lost in his textbook. “Forest,” I conclude, the word pressed between my teeth.

Luca narrows his eyes at me. “Oh, you want to meet in the forest?” he says, his lips turning up with the irony of it. “The one you can just make disappear whenever you’re done talking? Come on, Shrimp. You haven’t played fair for weeks, and you’re still not. I need… more than that.”

My mouth falls at his stubbornness and I realize, quite suddenly, that Luca – whatever he has figured out – is not at all freaked out.

at me.

he sips his coffee, turning his eyes back to his textbook – we all pretty much read at breakfast today, trying to cram everything in while we can – because… Luca is

choices…

mate take the brunt of

whisper, looking down at my plate, feeling

with wide eyes. “Don’t worry about it,” he says, glancing over at me. “Just… not here. Not at dinner, either. We need a space where it’s just

“So when…”

exasperated, lifting his eyes to meet mine. “Considering how your cousins never let you out of their sight, that’s

at the way that he emphasizes the word cousins,

consider anything, Rafe and Jesse return to the table. “Ready?” Rafe asks, looking towards Luca as he lifts

says, cheerfulness immediately returning to his expression as he gets to

Ben as Luca and Jesse collect their things.

boys start to head towards their early class. As he leaves, Luca brushes his arm against mine casual enough that it could

and see him looking

it makes me want to jump right back into

is going to quiz us hard today to see who has been able to keep up with the insane

away from me, his voice so soft that he could

looking up

his eyes down, but I see the way his lips turn up. “He’s obsessed with you too, all right?” My jaw drops open a little bit. “Whatever little lover’s quarrel you’re going through here it’s going to get sorted out. Trust him – he’ll come

–

his eyes to me now, and I turn my head to the side, still shocked but also incredibly interested. “What do you mean?”

his way. He’s a great guy, but he wants the upper hand.” Ben shrugs. “But think about who you are, Ari. If you owe him an apology, give it, but

perceptive friend with an open mouth, before my face bursts into a smile. “When did

textbook as I change seats, moving closer and bringing my book and coffee along. “Like I told you, four sisters. Luca’s no puppy dog that’s going to follow you around begging for treats, but

out. And get back to work,” he says, nodding to my

love you,” I murmur, bumping

study, my mind successfully turned

I think to myself, concentrating. My wolf huffs in discontentment, but she

me as I slip into the seat next to him, settling my chemistry books on the text in front of me. Instead, Jackson just glances my way before turning