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

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

I shout, pushing the satchel back to

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

is!?” I gasp

over my shoulder at me, like I’m stupid for not knowing that of course. he would

his promise

I know that he’s not doing it for

doing it for

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

good?” He asks, unstrapping my satchel from his shoulder

nod, glancing towards the door, anxious to get

Jackson

myself. Jackson turns, staring at me. I shake my head, speaking all in a hurry. “Come to our room,” I beg, “come spend time with us. We want you

an ironic eyebrow,

you there,” I say as I grin and grab the door handle. “Which is all

second and then nods once before turning away, heading down the hall.

the

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

hurrying to my seat.

tardiness will make itself known by a reduced grade on your next quiz, Clark” Neumann says, turning back to the board as I sit down.

nod, agreeing to the terms, even as I realize

chance to spend the morning with Jackson under an

again in a heartbeat,

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

been!?” I snap the moment the door opens and

boys stop dead

standing

closes the door and I get to my feet, grabbing the note I got at breakfast off the coffee

at me as he crosses the room and snatches the note from my hand. I

1

is Daphne?” Rafe murmurs.