The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 74

“Luca,” I growl, shoving uselessly at his shins, “let me up.”

Luca just glares at Jackson at the door and then over at me. He can come to you, Luca says. into my mind, possessive and predatory. I narrow my eyes at him, pissed.

But there’s no time to think any more about it, because suddenly Jackson’s smokey pine scent strengthens and I look up to see him at my side.

“Here,” Jackson says, holding out the note to me and looking between Luca and I curiously. He frowns, a little, when he notices Luca’s legs stretched out over my lap.

“Thanks, Jacks,” I say, smiling up at him.

“Jacks?” Luca asks, and I turn to see him raising an eyebrow, his eyes flicking between the two of us. “What, the two of you are on like…a nickname basis now?”

The room is silent for a long, awkward moment as my two mates glare at each other and my cheeks go red. Honestly, I hadn’t even noticed that I’d given Jackson a nickname it all happened very naturally.

“Yeah, I guess we are, Grant,” Jackson says, his voice quiet and dangerous.

–

The room returns to its awkward silence as I lower the note to my lap and awkwardly stare at it, not knowing what to do or how to mediate this. Because obviously, obviously I’m the cause of all of this and I’m the only one who knows it.

–

“Well, I for one like it!” Jesse says, grinning at the drama and leaning against the doorframe. “Are you sure you won’t stay for dinner, Jacks?”

I flick my eyes to my cousin, grateful.

“Nah,” Jackson says with a sigh before reaching out a hand and giving me a warm pat on the shoulder. I look up in surprise at the touch, and then grin at him, unable to help it. He smiles back before he turns and heads towards the door. “A little…crowded in here, as it is.”

Ben and Rafe call their goodbyes as Jesse ushers Jackson out the door, telling him to come

time with us soon. Luca is noticeably silent as I unfold my note and read through

it?” Rafe asks, leaning towards me, almost as if he

from Alvez,” I ignoring Luca’s jealous energy as best I can. “He wants to see me at office hours

office

with that,” Rafe says, relaxing instantly and

you mean?” I ask, refolding the note and tucking it between

I’m sure mom hired him for a reason, but I think a

about?” Luca asks, frowning

probably intending to tell Luca the truth, but I speak first, interrupting.

his eyebrows in

ones in that class,” I say cagily, looking between Rafe and Jesse. “It’s not right to share anything unless Jackson and

says, sighing and

that I do not care,” Ben murmurs from his place by the fire, and a grin breaks onto my face at his exhausted tone. “And, further, that if any of you have any pain killers….it would be great if you crushed them up and placed them quietly under my tongue. Thank

turn to Luca, eager for the opportunity to change the subject. “What did

Chapter 74

consent to,” Lauca says casually, giving me a smirk. But in my mind, he takes a different tact. Don’t think we’re finished talking about this, he murmurs, his words

dream state, letting him know that we can talk about it more

closes his

freshly–showered head down on my pillow, a little anxious about how

which is apparently a

walk, isn’t it? Because Jackson – he has just as much of a right to my

that to both of them – but doing that opens a whole can of worms that I’m not sure I’m ready to face just yet. I mean, I haven’t even let Jackson know that I’m a girl yet, let alone his mate I can’t just casually spring that all on him when he comes by to deliver a

a circle in my soul. We should tell

over her silky fur. And

–

howl of discontent but lets me be with it, knowing that I’m right that I’m trying to balance too

and work to fall asleep, eager to meet