The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0225

As mom sits down on the bed with a bounce as I quickly read through my notes – one from Daphne, apologizing profusely for her betrayal, and the other from Luca – just a quick scrawl saying he’s glad I’m alive and he’ll see me soon. Smiling, grateful for both of them, I move towards my clothes.

“So!” Mom says, grinning devilishly at me. “Are you sleeping with both of your mates, or just Luca?”

I freeze, turning to her, shocked.

Mom bursts out laughing and I scowl, picking up the hat on the top of my clothing pile and throwing it at her. “Mom! Stop doing that just to shock me!”

“Oh, come on,” she sighs, laying back against my pillows. “What’s the point of having a daughter if you can’t embarrass her about her love life. So?” She raises her eyebrows at me, clearly wanting an answer.

And, well, because I have been wanting to talk to her about this, I sigh and nod. But I have trouble looking at her as we broach this awkward topic, so I concentrate, mostly, on getting dressed as we talk. Mom, perhaps sensing the delicate nature of this conversation, doesn’t give me any flack about it.

“I’m not sleeping with either of them,” I say quietly. “Though, with Luca, things are… progressing.”

“But not with Jackson?” “Well, considering that he’s known for like,

my mom asks, “what does that mean?” Her voice is gossipy – I think to put me at ease. Because if she were worried, or scolding, I’d definitely be too embarrassed to go on. “I mean like… I am very attracted to him, mom. And it’s not that I’m not into Luca much am. It’s just…different.” I look up at her before I turn my back, tugging off the pajama – I very shirt and reaching for the black sports bra that Daphne made me. I smirk, wondering how she arranged to send this

It sounds like things are different between you and your mates because they’re very different people. I

spicy.

the sports bra down over my chest. “Oh,

says, raising her eyebrows and cocking her head. “But I think Cora was

my head. “Mom, I can’t talk to him about

primly squaring her shoulders. “We already know the answer to

and

more considered lines. “Your dad is more empathetic about this stuff than you give him credit for. You should try. He’ll have a better

look down at my feet as

worry,” mom says with a sigh. “I’ll tell him before you get home.”

she, too, can read my

finals so that he’ll let you stay to take them,” she says, pointing a warning finger at me. “But you bring those boys home for winter break, both of them. And your