The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 96

But of course, time does pass, and we do eventually stop kissing when things again get heated. Because what Jackson said before really was the truth this is not the time or the place for it.

–

Somehow we separate ourselves from each other, though we’re never really more than an inch apart, and we take a moment to get comfortable, organizing our supplies and taking inventory before Jackson passes an apple to me.

“Here,” he murmurs. “Eat, please. And then you should probably get some sleep.”

I take the apple but laugh at the suggestion that I’m going to get any sleep. I mean, I just confessed my deepest secret to my mate what, does he think I’m going to just curl up and take a nap?

–

“I’m serious,” he growls, though I wave a hand at him, dismissing the implied danger in his voice that probably makes other men quail. We’re both well aware that he’d never hurt me. “You should rest, Ari.”

“Well, so should you!” I protest. But when I look up into his smirking face I scowl, shaking my head. “You seriously just don’t need it?”

“Nah,” he says, shaking his head and reaching for the canteen. “The water I need, we have to share that. But food and sleep that’s all for you. I’ll keep watch.”

–

“I’ll rest,” I say, hesitant. “But Jackson….there’s still a lot we need to talk about. And I’m not going to be able to sleep until we…come to terms with some stuff.”

“Okay,” he murmurs, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me tight to his side. I smile up at him, pleased that he’s not fighting me on it, but then I realize that he’s….well, he’s got a ton of questions, doesn’t he?

But before he gets to those…I have to start.

“Jackson,” I murmur, turning more fully to him now and taking his face seriously in my hands, gazing at him. “I am so…so sorry that I’ve had to keep this from you.”

Emergency calls onlyDOOM &

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broad hand coming up and wrapping around

I shake m easily, Jacks. You were tortured

shouldn’t forgive me so I know you were.”

why her trail always seemed to lead to you. I mean, I get it now.” He frowns a little, lowering

possessive question already in his eyes. Slowly he nods, believing me. “Again, Jacks, I hope you can forgive me for it, over time. It wasn’t easy but…I didn’t have a lot of choice, not

an easy shrug, already over it. “I don’t care. I didn’t mind waiting, Ari

say, smiling at him but still feeling a little guilty. Luca’s response in some ways made more sense he punished me, a little, and rightfully so. I lied to him for weeks. But

–

closer in his arms, pulling me cozily into his lap. again and against his chest as he presses a kiss to my hair. “It’s all worth it. I don’t want to make myself feel mad just because I

I lean against his chest, tucking my head for a second beneath his chin, cozy and warm despite the chill in the night air. Because…maybe he should be mad. There is…there is more coming, after all, that he’s not going to be

–

even though none of it is my choice either, even

out for

are, my wolf growls, fierce.

myself to the task, immediately agreeing. Jackson he’s big, and he’s

–

calls only be

Chapter 96

it all,

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a bit more desperate for love and affection than I’d like him to be. He’s willing to wipe away all the offenses against him, just to have me in

my eyes shut, begging the Goddess for strength so that I

murmurs, nudging me with his nose, and I realize that

lifting my face to look into his.

not. I grin at him, laughing a little. “We’ll figure it all out. It will all turn right.”

myself as I reach up to stroke his hair, tucking it back behind his ear over and over again. “Jacks,” I murmur, as he looks down at me with such tenderness in his face, his expression. A tenderness that is…not totally unfamiliar, if I’m being honest because he has looked at me that way before, even if he thought I was a