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

you carry this!” I shout, pushing

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

this is!?” I gasp as we

not

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

he’s not doing it for

doing it for me.

time I get to the door.

satchel from his shoulder and handing it to

nod, glancing towards the door, anxious to

Jackson

I call 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,

eyebrow,

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

and then nods once before

grin, and twist the handle, pressing into

“And what emergency

hurrying to my seat. “No emergencies. Just…lost track of time…. studying.”

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

terms, even as

to spend the morning with Jackson under an oak tree, holding his hand and sharing secrets?

in a heartbeat, damn the price.

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

the moment the door

boys stop dead

me, standing stock still. “What’d

the door and I get to my feet, grabbing the note I got at breakfast off the coffee table and waving at them.

plans,” Rafe asks, frowning at me as he crosses the room and snatches the note from my hand. I don’t answer, planting my hands on my

1

is Daphne?” Rafe murmurs.