The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

When I wake up the next morning - or, at least, I think it's morning - it's not like this weird mountainous hospital room has windows - I smile, because I smell Jackson. But then I frown, rubbing at my eyes, because...

I mean, I took a shower. His scent wouldn't be all over me anymore, so why...

But then, when I follow my nose and peer over the side of my bed, I burst into a smile because I have my answer.

Jackson's laying there, on a way-too-small mattress of all things, dead asleep. I grin, looking at him, wondering how the hell he got here and why he's not back at the Academy yet, but...

Well, also, I just look at him. Because he's so damn handsome, even with his mouth hanging open and his arm splayed out to the side, and so incredibly precious to me, even though we've only been bonded for less than two days.

Before I can stop myself, I crawl out of bed and drop down onto his mattress, curling up at his side with my head on his chest. Jackson jumps the moment I touch him, but he instantly calms when he realizes what happened. "Don't scare me like that," he murmurs, instantly wrapping his arms around me and pulling me tight.

I laugh. "Good morning to you too."

him rolling his eyes at my insistence on a greeting. "How are you?

stomach instantly growls in response. "Starving,

at me and starts to sit up, like he's going to go get me some food immediately, but I laugh and stop him with a hand on his chest. "Just stay still with me for a moment, Jacks," I whisper, wanting nothing more than to have a peaceful few minutes with him before

also like everything, in this moment, is...completely

minutes of just holding each other, our breathing slowly coming to match, our heartbeats synching up, I raise my chin to look up at him. "Jacks," I whisper, curious. "Why aren't you at school? And where did you get

little. "I'm not at school because I refused to go." Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

stare at him. He tightens

simple. "I wouldn't leave without you. The professors got pissed, but what are they going to do, carry me?

at him. "One night with me in

kicked out," he says, his voice completely unworried. "I'm just getting a demerit

He peers at me for a second. "Ari, I'm like...very good at this military stuff. They're not going to kick me out and lose everything I can offer just because I slept in the wrong facility