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

says, holding out a hand to me. “We’ve got to get you back

says, frowning at Jesse and looking him up and down.

you want me to flip out and pretend that I’m mad at you for making out

wide. “Wait, you

gasps, staring

I ask, frowning at Ben as I finish tucking the spare

you guys were into

asks, staring at

rolling his eyes, “anyone with a pulse knows that you’re deeply into Shrimp

growl, stepping forward

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 want to keep your head on your shoulders, I would suggest that you keep this a secret.

runs a hand through his hair, clearly doing the math and trying to decide if he can take Rafe. But we both know that he can’t, and that even

regret all over his face, and I can’t help it

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.

shrug. “He’s not

head hanging. “Yeah, I guess,” he mutters, clearly displeased. I feel a sudden pang of anxiety now which is…. not mine. And my

feel that Luca is anxious that he doesn’t want to let his mate away from his side for a second. Even though he knows, obviously, that I’m in good hands with Jesse

his to protect.

–

is that we’ve recognized each other as our mates now solidified

–

doing such. And he doesn’t want me out of

sending my own wonder down the bond as well. Luca’s eyes go wide and then he laughs

I hate to

is very interrupt,

1. go.

Ariel!”

attention back to Jesse, even though I can’t stop grinning. “Fine fine,” I say, but then I stand on my tiptoes and tilt my head back, looking up at Luca, who obliges me by pressing a kiss to my