The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 86

presses a

I usher Daphne into the room then, where she’s warmly greeted first by Rafe, who brotherly kiss to her cheek – making her blush and then by Jesse, who kisses her hand like a Duchess, making her laugh.

“Hi,” Luca says, stepping forward with his hand out, his dimples on full display as he greets. my friend. “I’m Luca Gra-”

“Oh, no need,” Daphne interrupts, smiling at him as she presses his hand. “I know who you all are –

Luca Grant, Ben Ternicki,” she peers around Rafe to where Jackson is hiding, “Jackson McClintock.”

“Impressive,” Rafe says, raising his eyebrows at her. “How do you know all that?”

“Well,” she says, grinning at my brother, “your dad pays me a lot of money to keep all of this information ready in my mind,” she says, tapping her temple with her forefinger and making me grin. “Honestly, I could probably rattle off all of your measurements, too.”

“Oh really,” Jesse says, a wicked grin on his lips as he leans forward. “And who amongst us has the largest…inseam.”

–

I groan, tilting my head back, wrapping my arm around Daphne’s honestly, that’s precisely the kind of joke I told him not to make –

“Oh, Jesse,” Daphne says, tilting her head and pouting her lips a little in mock pity as she steps forward, patting him consolingly on the shoulder. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

The entire room bursts into laughter, Jesse laughing especially hard with delight at my clever friend. I tug Daphne away to the couch, glancing at Jackson to see him smiling as well, though I can tell that he’s still uncomfortable.

“Did you bring us wine?” Rafe asks, taking the bottle from Daphne like a gracious host and raising his eyebrow at it. “You trying to get us kicked out, ma’am?”

“Oh, I figured,” she says, laughing just a little, “perhaps for later? For a little toast, just to say thanks for having me over?” She shrugs, anxious. “I mean, one bottle split between…” she

takes a second to count, “seven? Honestly, no one’s getting drunk off of that.”

Rafe concedes the point and thanks her graciously for the gift, placing it on the side table of his own little chair as the dumbwaiter’s bell rings. He and Jesse go off to get the food while Luca settles in on Daphne’s other side, chatting with her while I take a second to glance over at Ben and Jackson, who settle onto the floor on the other side of the coffee table.

Ben. I’m pleased to see, is being very warm to Jackson, as I knew he would be. A little thrill of happiness passes through me because Ben he’s really wonderful, isn’t he?

We’re so lucky to have him here with us.

Hope he makes it through the Examination, my wolf says suddenly, pacing anxiously in soul.

go still at the thought.

my

week, and even though we all know it’s coming inevitably along, we’re all anxious about it.

is he even doing well in his studies? He’s

I

Ari?” Luca asks, and I turn, suddenly distracted.

instincts take over and I turn my mind towards

the City for midwinter,” Luca says, smiling at me, and I burst into

– I can introduce you to so many people,

“I invited Daphne to come see me at midwinter, at

Emergency calls only

Chapter 86

* .096%

D96% 15:38

flapping a hand at him,

boring,” a voice says, and I turn in surprise to see Jackson sitting with his arms looped around his knees, clearly listening in on our

perhaps the most shocked of us all Luca, of course.

–

except for maybe

against the Atalaxians in decades.

to Luca then, a little swell of pleasure running through me to see his lips starting to curl

eyebrows going up like

you say anything before?” Luca’s curiosity has a hint of suspicion to it, though I wonder if only I can hear it since we’ve gotten so close

chance?” Jackson aska, his voice quiet, a

“Well, then you’ll have to come too,” he says, nodding quickly before turning back to Daphne and chatting

turn to my other mate, I to find his eyes already on

say softly to Jackson, though I know his Alpha hearing picks up on it despite the fuss in the rest of the

see,” he replies, quiet. Jackson nods once, and then turns his attention back to Ben as Jesse hands him a plate of food.

evening passes beautifully, just as I hoped it would. I’m replete with happiness as the hours pass, as everyone begins to relax into casual conversation and a great deal of laughter. Daphne, I note, blushes every time Rafe talks to her at first. But as the evening goes by, she calms, letting her personality show more

in a way

her the most. He teases

conversational doors for Daphne to tease him right back. He takes each and every one of her ribs with a great

to feel warm and happy. I sigh, considering that my cousin really is a good guy. I wonder, passively, why he tries to hide

breath as Rafe gets up and crosses to the fireplace, joining in the boxing