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.

–

mom murmurs, reaching out a hand and placing it softly on dad’s knee. Don’t

a moment and then heaves a deep sigh, forcing himself, I think,

giving me a steady nod as he takes a

go rigid in my dad’s arms, looking up at him with suspicion. “Dad,” I say slowly,

mean that we can bring you home now,” he says, giving me

I gasp, staring up at his face. Instantly I drop my arms from around his shoulders. “You’re you’re taking me

–

–

of course we’re taking you home, Ariel – the fuss with your ex–fiancé is all cleared you don’t have

up,

((

until dad lets me go, staring at me in shock. “Dad,

pass

as I turn to the 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 he carried me across the finish line? I don’t know the rules –”

–

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

I ask, my voice sharp as I turn to stare

my dad asks

says, interjecting awkwardly. “Ariel, if you’re asking if you made it across

huge rush of air leaves my lungs and relief sweeps through me, because at least Jackson is getting through

–