The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0236

“Jacks!”

Jackson hears his name called behind him, but he doesn’t register it, or doesn’t care. Instead, he just continues to stride forward in the dark, not really knowing where he’s going, just needing to get…out. Get away. Disappear into the night, into the wilds, into… whatever.

Any place but that castle.

Any place but here.

“Jacks! You asshole!” the voice comes again, closer this time, and Jackson’s instincts make him pay attention to it, his wolf turning inside him to growl at whatever’s coming. “Slow down! I know you can hear me!”

Jackson moves on, determined, but inside him his wolf turns again, raising his nose a little, a whine in his throat. Jackson pushes him away, but the wolf persists, pressing his snout into Jackson’s hand. Come on, the wolf says, listen. It’s Jesse. We like Jesse.

Jackson is the one growling now, insisting that he doesn’t like anyone, but his wolf just nuzzles against his hand, sad, not wanting to run anymore. So Jackson sighs, and slows, and turns when Jesse’s footsteps come near.

“What the hell man,” Jesse says, bending over and panting a little, “I’ve been chasing you for like, twenty minutes!”

“Should have been faster,” Jackson mutters, shrugging and looking away, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.

“Don’t be a dick,” Jesse growls. “I’m trying to be nice to you, the least you could do is let

me.”

Jackson huffs, turning to glare at Jesse a little. “Do you seriously think that’s going to fix anything?”

up straight and crossing his arms, “I think that being nice to you is just going to make Ariel magically not have a second

to walk away again. “Jacks!”

you get it!? I am being nice

glare at him. “Do what?

people do! People who care about each other! When something shitty happens, you

doesn’t do anything,” Jackson grumbles, discontent – but honestly, nothing, really, would work for him right now. Nothing can make this better – nothing will make this

– his mate. But she’s not really his, is she? He’d thought he’d had her, he’d thought for a blissful couple of days that she was his.

he never really had it,

was all an illusion. Because she was

sighs, grabbing his arm again and making him

actually stop him. But they pause anyway, on the top of a hill,

on Jackson’s arm. “Something shitty happens, and even though they can’t do anything about it, the people who care about you

not getting it.

To iu

his hands. “To

you from throwing yourself into a ditch, or whatever!” Jesse pauses, staring at Jackson, waiting for him to respond, but Jackson just stands perfectly still, staring at him. “Or to throw