The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0216

“I’m going to kill your brother,” dad says, shaking his head as he looks me over, frowning at the blood all over me and narrowing his eyes as he gives me a suspicious sniff. But if he smells Jackson or Luca, he doesn’t say anything.

“Go easy on Rafe, dad,” I murmur, raising a hand to run it fondly over his stubbled cheek. “ It was all Jesse’s idea anyway.”

Mom and Cora laugh at this but dad continues frowning, not ready to joke. “I could have lost you, Ariel,” he whispers, his voice tight. “Do you – do you know what that would have done to me?”

“Don’t, dad,” I say, shaking my head, my lip trembling as tears start to threaten my eyes again. My dad – he’s so strong, so steady – seeing him emotional like this? God, I can’t handle it – not at all. “I’m perfectly fine – nothing happened

–

–

“But it could have happened,” he whispers, devastated even by the thought of it. “It almost did – Ariel, from what Jesse said, you almost died

–

((

The tears start to slip down my cheeks and my lips turn down in a desperate frown, because I hate that I did this to him hate that he was this worried.

–

a hand and placing it softly on dad’s knee. Don’t make the girl feel guiltier than

at mom for a moment and then heaves a deep sigh, forcing himself, I think, to move

me a steady nod as he takes a deep

likewise grateful that the Examination is done but then I go rigid in my dad’s arms, looking up at him with suspicion. “Dad,” I say slowly, “what do you mean by

now,” he says, giving me a steady nod. “Where you’ll be

his face. Instantly I drop my arms from

–

–

Ariel – the fuss with your ex–fiancé is all cleared you

up,

((

until dad lets me go, staring at me in shock. “Dad, I’m going back to the Academy! I mean, unless I

pass

door, suddenly desperate to know. “Did I slow Jackson down too much?” I ask, my voice getting squeaky in my panic. Did they did they say I failed because

–

my dad asks, and then he leans towards me, sniffing suspiciously again. “Who

sharp as I turn to stare at my dad, my lips

dad asks

awkwardly. “Ariel, if you’re asking if you made it across the line within the

leaves my lungs and relief sweeps through me,

–