The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 71

“Shit,” Luca whispers, staring down at me as he freezes.

The knock comes again, more insistent this time.

“Ari!”

My eyes flare when I hear Jesse’s voice outside the door. “Oh no!”

“Ari!” Jesse shouts again, pounding on the wood. “Let’s go!”

Luca jumps up, looking frantically around at the floor as I sit up, piling my hair on top of my head as he bends over and grabs my cap, flinging it at me. Hasty, I shove it onto my head, tucking my hair up beneath it as Luca moves to the door, his eyes roving over me to make sure that I’m disguised.

“Get up!” he hisses, and I jump to my feet, realizing that I’m still sitting on his bed –

Not at all compromising –

Luca takes a deep breath and then pulls the door open, leaning casually against the wall.

“Hey, Jesse,” he says, doing his best to keep his voice even and failing, just a little bit. “You change your mind about coming to the party tonight?”

“Nice try, Grant,” Jesse says, his voice dry as he puts a hand on Luca’s shoulder and shoves him aside, his eyes landing immediately on me as he looks into the room. “Oh hey, cousin,” he says, baring his teeth. “Whatcha doing here!?”

I scowl at Jesse, crossing my arms and not bothering to pretend that this isn’t precisely what he thinks it is.

Jesse just laughs at me, shaking his head and glancing over his shoulder, where Ben peers. into the room.

“I actually am here for the party,” Ben says, his voice light as he comes in and closes the door behind him. “Though you…

Chapter 71

got to get you back to the room, Rafe’s on the rampage

Luca says, frowning at Jesse and looking him

to flip out and pretend that I’m mad at you for making out with your mate, Luca?”

eyes go wide.

guys are mates!?” Ben gasps, staring between Luca and

I finish tucking the spare strands of my

just thought you guys were into each other!”

Luca asks, staring at Ben

a

growl, stepping forward with my hands

of this!” Jesse says, spreading his hands out and silencing us all. “God damn it, you’re all making me be the voice of reason, and you know I hate that. But Rafe does not know,” he says, looking significantly at Luca now. “And if you

and trying to decide if he can take Rafe. But we

and over towards me after a moment, sadness and regret all over his face, and I can’t help it – I move to his side, slipping my

Shrimp smells like you now so unless we’re all in for a much larger fight with a much larger Prince tonight, I think we need to get Ariel back to the room and into the bath. Yes?”

my mate with a shrug. “He’s not wrong. This is…not the time

Luca’s chest but he squeezes my hand and nods, his head hanging. “Yeah, I guess,” he mutters, clearly displeased. I feel a sudden pang of anxiety now which is…. not mine. And my eyes go wide as I realize that…that it’s Luca’s anxiety, which I

as I realize that I can feel that Luca is anxious that he doesn’t want to let his mate away from his side for a second. Even

his to protect.

–

that we’ve recognized each other as our mates now solidified our bond, accepted it,

–

want me out of

as well. Luca’s eyes go wide and then he laughs in delight, realizing what’s happening. We just

and I hate

is very

1. go.

Ariel!”

fine,” I say, but then I stand on my tiptoes and tilt my head back, looking up at Luca, who