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

thrusting it against my chest when I finally stand

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

do run then, and Jackson beats me, obviously, even carrying both of our books. He grabs my hand and basically drags me through the halls once we’re inside, towards my

do you even know where this is!?” I gasp as

for not knowing that of course. he

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

know that he’s not doing it for

it

I get to the door. Jackson, predictably, is not.

from

towards the door, anxious

see you,” Jackson murmurs, turning away.

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

eyebrow, which makes me

there,” I say as I grin and grab the

second and then nods once

I grin, and twist the handle, pressing into

what emergency has kept you

my seat.

reduced grade on your next quiz, Clark” Neumann says, turning back to the board as I sit down.

the terms, even as I realize that…

Jackson under an oak tree, holding his hand and

in a

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

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

boys stop dead in

me, standing stock still.

my feet, grabbing the note I got at breakfast off

as he crosses the room and snatches the note from my hand. I don’t answer, planting my

1

hell is Daphne?”