The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 171

“Ariel!” Mark shouts, bounding across the room like the big puppy that he is and grabbing me in a hug.

“Baby!” I shout, dropping Luca’s arm and laughing as I hug my brother back, my eyes pressing shut with the pleasure of it. Mark- he’s not even the baby of the family, he’s nearly two years older than Juniper, but he’ll always be my baby, and he lets me fuss and cluck over him like a mother hen.

“I’ve missed you,” my Markie murmurs, hugging me close and tucking his head down against my hair. “June’s been so mean to me and there’s no one to stop her

(C

I laugh, pushing back a little so I can look up into my little brother’s sweet face. Mark favors Rafe and my dad, of course, but he’s more of a mix than

Rafe and I are. While Rafe and I are our parents‘ twins, Mark has some of

mom’s softness in the curve of his cheeks, in the lighter highlights in his

hair.

get so tall? Has it always been like

))

Mark my very

the left, where five kids charge for Jesse the second he steps

taking me down!” All of Jesse’s siblings grab onto him, shrieking and laughing, pulling him to the ground despite his mock protests, piling on top of him, shouting his name and how much they’ve missed him.

his siblings for a second, pleased

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Caleb, who is thirteen now and pretends he’s too cool for fun and games, shrieking and getting in on the fun. After a second of pretending to fight them off Jesse starts to grab each of his siblings by turn, giving them each what they need to feel

Luca says, his eyes wide as he

“It’s been murder on me and my chair – they’re always wanting rides up and down the hallways. Playing horsie and piggy–back–chauffer is

give him a kiss on the cheek, murmuring how good it is to see him. Grandpa laughs and tells me that he feels just the

sister’s scowl kindles something in me, and I can’t help · I grin, and leap for her. “Junie Junie!” I sing, dancing around Grandpa Henry’s chair and reaching for her, taking two handfuls of her long now–black hair in my hands and holding it up like pigtails as I bounce around her, singing the song she hates so much. “Our

me with her hands and trying to back away, though I