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

myself to my own feet as Jackson grabs my book satchel off the floor, thrusting it against my chest when I finally stand up straight. “We’ve got to go,” he

I shout, pushing the satchel back

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

even know where this is!?” I gasp as we get

I’m stupid for not knowing that of

it, especially as I consider that Jackson fulfilled his promise to Rafe

not doing it for Rafe’s sake.

doing it for

I get to the

unstrapping my satchel from his

glancing towards the door, anxious to

Jackson murmurs, turning

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,

eyebrow, which makes me laugh.

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

then nods once

grin, and twist the handle,

what emergency has kept you away

say, hurrying to my seat.

Neumann says, turning back to the board as I

to the terms, even as I realize

another chance to spend the morning with Jackson under an

in a heartbeat,

changed into a fresh uniform, and sitting

have you been!?” I snap the moment the door opens and they come breezing in.

stop dead in

at me, standing

door and I get to my feet, grabbing the note

room and snatches the note from my hand. I

1

is Daphne?”