The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

And so I just curl up against mom at the head of the bed, listening to my dad and my brother fight about whether or not I should be at the school, and what the hell Rafe was thinking taking me there, and how I've survived so far. I can hear Rafe supplying information that Jackson told when they were away at the shower, apparently, about the identity of the cadet who shot me with a crossbow and whether or not he has a further vendetta against me, but I quickly find myself slipping into sleep as I lean against mom.

"Come on, baby," I hear mom murmur from my half daze. I blink into consciousness, realizing that dad and Rafe are still going at it, and then I look up at mom next to me. "Let's get you cleaned up," she says, unhooking me from the IV and tugging me away.

I nod, following her to the second door in the room, yawning as we pass through it and a few more doors before we enter a pretty utilitarian private bathing chamber. She helps me strip down and then I shower as mom fills me in, quietly and calmingly, on the gossip from home. Markie is fine - he doesn't like school, loves sports, wants a pet squirrel more than anything in the world. Juniper hates everything, apparently, and won't wear anything but black - dyed her hair black, too, in a fit of rebellion. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I smirk, thinking fondly of my taciturn little sister, missing her with a sudden intensity that surprises me. But I dry off with a scratchy towel and then pull on the supplied one-size-fits-all-Alpha pajamas - which, obviously, swim on me. But mom laughs and helps me pull the drawstring of the pants tight before leading me out into the hospital room again and back to the bed.

Rafe, I'm interested to see, have fallen silent and aren't looking at each

to any decisions about Ariel's fate in the

for the past few hours. She just winks at him,

murmurs, massaging his temple with his left hand. "We decided to pick it

sarcasm as she tucks me into bed. Dad just glares at her half-heartedly before turning to me, leaning down to give me

and I look up at him, hoping he can see in my face all the love I have for him in my heart - so much that it aches. His face falls a little then, and I smile, because I think he sees it. "I just want

Dad obliges me, wrapping me up tight for a long, long moment. And then he lets me