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

off the floor, thrusting it against my chest when I finally stand up straight. “We’ve got to go,” he says, looking

you carry this!” I shout, pushing the satchel back

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

this is!?” I gasp as

like I’m stupid for not knowing

this, though there’s no time to dwell on it, especially as I consider that Jackson fulfilled his promise to Rafe that he’d see me to my next class even though it means he’ll be even

that he’s not doing it for

doing it for

the time I get to the door. Jackson, predictably,

He asks, unstrapping my satchel from his shoulder and handing it to me.

the door, anxious to get

you,” Jackson murmurs, turning

time but unable to stop myself. Jackson turns, staring at me. I shake my head, speaking all in a hurry.

an ironic eyebrow,

I say as I grin and grab the door handle. “Which is all

once before turning

twist the handle, pressing into

me, clearly annoyed. “And what emergency

my seat. “No emergencies.

quiz, Clark” Neumann says, turning back to the board as I sit

I nod, agreeing to the terms,

morning with Jackson under an oak tree,

do it again in a heartbeat, damn the

Jesse and Rafe come into the room late so late that I’m already bathed, changed into a fresh uniform, and sitting on the

I snap the moment the door opens and they

boys stop dead in their

at me, standing stock still.

grabbing the note I got at breakfast off the coffee table and waving at them. “And I

at me as he crosses the room and snatches the note from my hand. I don’t answer, planting my hands on my hips and frowning at him, letting him. figure

1

the hell is Daphne?” Rafe