The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 68

“Because,” Daphne says, giving a happy little sigh and taking a long sip of her wine, “you’re

–

right the boys here would throw themselves at my feet just because I’m the only girl here

– at least, the only admitted girl here.”

I raise my glass in toast to her, conceding the point.

“But,” she continues with a shrug, “I’m not going to throw myself at the first boy I find myself attracted to – fall in love, get wrapped up in a marriage I haven’t really considered, find myself ten years from now tied to a life that I didn’t want. I want to be more careful than that.”

I nod, understanding. “So, you want to choose your boys carefully. Clever work, Daphne.”

She grins at me, accepting the compliment. “Seems a waste sometimes, though. All these boys for the pickings and I just….leave them on the vine.”

“A job perk left unused,” I murmur, agreeing. “Is the job worth it, besides that? You seem really isolated here.”

“I am isolated,” she says, shrugging before grinning at me, “which is partially why I’m so

–

glad you’re here now seriously, you’d better make it through to the spring semester, I’ll be desolate if you leave me after only a couple months.”

“I’ll do my best,” I say, nodding seriously, “just for you.”

She laughs along with me but then I tilt my head to the side, considering her again, wondering about her past. “Daphne, how did you end up here?”

“My uncle got me the job,” she says quietly. “He was the tailor here before me he brought me in two years ago, when his heath started to fail and he couldn’t keep up with the work. And then when he died, they gave me his spot, because I’m fast, and I work hard, and I know the uniforms inside and out.”

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, realizing that she really is all alone here now that she’s lost her

uncle as well.

calls only

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be,” she says, her smile soft. “He had a long life, and I’m not unhappy here. I’m cozy. and warm, and busy I like all that. And the Academy pays incredible wages, so it’s well worth being alone for a little for the money I can stash away and send home to my mom. I figure a few more years of this and I’m…totally free.”

you?” I ask, genuinely curious. “Total freedom?”

at the idea. “I don’t need a big mansion or anything – just…the ability to travel where I want, to support myself.

that…well, I never even thought of that as a

want,” she says quietly.

leg across the bed and giving her a little kick. “Do you seriously think

–

a little low laugh. “Every girl in the nation. human and wolf- has had a crush on Rafe Sinclair since he hit puberty. That height? Those shoulders,

wrinkling my nose at her but laughing anyway, “you wouldn’t think he’s so cute if you had to listen

that not even that would be enough. I sigh because I mean, I know Rafe’s reputation in the world I’ve seen the tabloids, and I’m aware that my brother is objectively good looking. But

close to it. “Poor Jesse,” I sigh, resting my head

at me. “Something tells me your Jesse needs to have his heart broken a bit, doesn’t

much, and I know his

Chapter no

him. He deserves some loyalty, after all. “Jesse’s not a bad guy, Daphne, I don’t want you to think that. Just

easy to fall in love with, that

Rafe?” I ask, curious,

–

at me. “Nobody actually expects Rafe Sinclair to look their way. You cousin the duke,” she

not precisely disliking learning about this side of my brother and

knee. “Tell me everything. Ari – how the hell did you get in

fast, then, as I fill her in on my journey. Daphne’s a good listener – rapt, asking questions when necessary, but always letting me take the lead. But as the story continues, I see her perk up a little, her intuition tingling, when Luca’s name starts to be repeated more and more as I go on. By

sentence to

says, bursting into a laugh and grabbing the bottle to refill my glass of wine, just a little bit. “Just…you light up a bit, when you talk about

I protest, but my cheeks