The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 66

We spend a long time under that tree as Jackson tells me the long story about how he stayed up for three weeks in a row, only giving in because he was so incredibly bored by the end of it. About how he just wandered around at night all alone, doing chores and going for runs just to have something to do. About how he missed dreaming, and missed rest, because while he wasn’t precisely tired, in a bodily sort of way, he was exhausted mentally.

“We need sleep, I think, to turn off our minds,” he says at the end of it, thoughtful. “Life’s hard enough as it is we need time away from it all, I guess.”

“Yes, that makes sense,” I murmur passively, all my words blurring together as I sit with my chin still propped in my hand, just staring at him, mesmerized.

Because god, he’s gorgeous. Jackson – he’s so brutal at first sight, all harsh lines and scars and darkness. But the more time you spend with him and the more he opens up the more you see the grace in him. It’s almost, somehow, like he…tucks it away, hiding it. But when he lets it out?

His face just….lights up, like a flaming beacon in the night. And god, is he breathtaking.

“I mean, it makes sense, right?”

I startle out of my reverie and curse myself for letting myself get lost in “Hmm?” I say, straightening up.

my mate’s

gaze.

He laughs at me. “Sorry,” he says, running a hand through his messy hair, “I’ve been boring.”

“Jackson,” I say, my voice low with the understatement, “you’ve been the opposite of boring. I got…completely lost in what you were saying.”

He grins, desperately pleased at the compliment, and his mouth to say more –

opens

But I gasp, suddenly looking around. “Shit, what time is it!?”

my god,” he says, dropping my hand suddenly and springing to his feet. “Shit, Clark,

“Oh

we’re late

to my own feet as Jackson grabs my book satchel off the floor, thrusting it against my chest when I finally

carry this!” I shout, pushing the satchel back to him. “Run!”

obviously, even carrying both of our books. He grabs my hand and basically drags me through the halls

where this is!?” I gasp as we get

at me, like I’m stupid for not knowing that of course. he would know where

dwell on it, especially as I consider that Jackson fulfilled his promise to Rafe that he’d see me to my next class

know that he’s not doing

it for

I get to the door. Jackson,

satchel from his

towards the door, anxious

you,” Jackson murmurs,

after him, knowing that it’s costing me even more time but unable to stop myself. Jackson turns, staring at me. I shake my head, speaking all in a hurry. “Come to our room,” I beg, “come spend

ironic eyebrow, which makes

say as I grin and grab

and then nods once before turning away,

and twist the handle,

looks over at me, clearly annoyed. “And what emergency has kept you away today,

say, hurrying to my seat. “No emergencies.

make itself known by a reduced grade on your next quiz, Clark” Neumann says, turning back to the board

agreeing to the terms, even

to spend the morning with Jackson under an oak tree, holding his

it again in a

late that I’m already bathed, changed into a fresh uniform, and sitting on

snap the moment the door opens and

stop dead

standing stock

the note I got at breakfast off the coffee table and waving at them. “And I have plans!

I don’t answer, planting

1

is Daphne?” Rafe murmurs.