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.

–

on dad’s knee. Don’t make the girl feel guiltier

then heaves a deep sigh, forcing himself, I think, to move

steady nod as he takes a deep breath. “At least it’s all over, now.”

but then I go rigid in my dad’s arms, looking up at him

he says, giving me a steady nod. “Where

his face. Instantly I drop my arms from around his shoulders. “You’re you’re taking me home!?”

–

–

you home, Ariel – the fuss with your ex–fiancé is all cleared you don’t have to

up,

((

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

pass

“Did I slow Jackson down too much?” I ask, my voice getting squeaky

–

sniffing suspiciously again.

I. Late?” I ask, my voice sharp as I turn to stare at my dad, my lips a thin line.

asks again, completely baffled.

made it across the line within the top 60% of candidates…you did…”

sweeps through me, because at least Jackson

–