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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coming up and wrapping around my wrist like he wants to be touching me all

takes my lips as I shake

shouldn’t forgive me

the castle, why her trail always seemed to lead to you. I mean, I get it now.” He frowns a little, lowering his head to my neck and taking another long sniff. “Is that..Jesse? Has he been scent marking you?”

you can forgive me for it, over time. It wasn’t easy but…I didn’t have a lot of choice, not if I wanted to stay

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

ways made more sense he punished me, a little, and rightfully so. I lied to him for weeks. But Jacks he’s so instantly ready to move

–

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 should. I have you now, don’t

overwhelmed, as 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 pleased about it’s actually not so simple as him having me

–

just forgives me at every turn, even though none of it is my choice either, even if the

who is going to watch out for Jackson’s heart, in the trials to

are, my wolf

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

–

only

Chapter 96

it all, isn’t he? And..

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than I’d like him to be. He’s

to pure and sweet. I press my eyes shut, begging the Goddess for strength so that I can

nose, and I realize that

to look into

like it’s so easy to just not. I

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