The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Luca!" Rafe shouts, just as Jesse shouts Jackson's name, both of them baffled.

I shake my head at Jacks, begging him to understand as I keep moving forward, as I place myself between my mates. And the moment I step actually between them, holding out a hand, palm out, towards each, begging them to stop -

I realize that it was a mistake.

I mean, I don't know what else I could have done, but it was a mistake.

Because in that moment, each of my mates sees that I'm not denying the other. Luca's eyes flash to Jackson's just as Jackson's move to his. There's a brief moment of silence before Jacks releases a horrible, desperate snarl. Luca roars in response before, in a flash, they both shift into their wolves.

Ben realizes what is happening half a second before everyone else, and he's the only one to move in time. My friend releases a shout, hurling himself up from the couch and leaping over the coffee table to tackle me to the floor just as the two wolves crash into each other above us.

And god, the sound they make -

eardrums will shatter. Ben wraps an arm around me, pulling me away, back against the stone of the fireplace as cover my ears with my hands, tears slipping down my cheeks. I try to

I'm completely overwhelmed. I no longer have any idea which of my emotions

me up in a tight ball as more noise

to the anger, and a sudden sense of shame,

he holds Jackson's scruff in his mouth, not biting him but a warning growl rumbling deep in his chest. Jesse's familiar brown wolf stands between Rafe, Jackson, and

Jackson and Luca. "Shift the fuck back! We are getting to the bottom

just a little, and Rafe loosens his grip on his neck. Luca shifts then, and my eyes go directly to him, groaning

he murmurs in my ear. "For just a little longer, okay?" Realizing that he's right, I stop, though I can't stop the whimper in my throat as Luca stares at me,

my right, and when I look I see Jackson getting slowly to his feet. He didn't come out of it as badly as Luca did, but I see his hand move instantly to his jaw, rubbing it like

rage. "Ariel!?" he says, glaring down at me. "Is there

look awkwardly around the room, tears welling in my eyes, not knowing where to begin. I feel

just I have no idea