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

shout, pushing the satchel back

and Jackson beats me, obviously, even carrying both of our books. He grabs

you even know where this is!?” I gasp

I’m stupid for not knowing

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

not doing

doing it for me.

panting by the time I get to the door. Jackson, predictably, is not.

from his shoulder

towards the door, anxious to

see you,” Jackson murmurs, turning

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

just raises an ironic eyebrow,

grin and grab

nods once before turning away, heading down the

and twist the handle, pressing

clearly annoyed. “And what emergency has kept you away today, Cadet Clark?”

sir,” I say, hurrying to my seat.

Clark” Neumann says, turning back to the

I nod, agreeing to the terms,

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

do it again in a heartbeat, damn

already bathed, changed into a fresh uniform, and sitting

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

dead in their tracks.

standing stock still. “What’d

all alone!” I shout as Rafe closes the door and I get to my feet, grabbing the note I got at breakfast off the coffee table and waving at them. “And I have plans! Which you

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

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the hell is Daphne?” Rafe murmurs.