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 -

unending, so loud in our tight stone room that it feels my eardrums will shatter. Ben wraps an arm around me, pulling me away, back against the stone of the

I no longer have any idea which of my emotions are mine, and which are theirs - I want to scream, and scratch,

me up in a tight ball

the feelings change - shock and confusion adding to the anger, and a sudden sense of shame, and

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 the fourth wolf, who is a

"Shift the fuck back! We are getting to the bottom of this, right

his grip on his neck. Luca shifts then, and my eyes go directly to him, groaning when I see his bloody

to be next to him instantly, to check on his wounds - but Ben tightens his hands on my arms. "You stay...right here..." 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

out of it as badly as Luca did, but I see his hand move instantly to his jaw, rubbing it like he's assessing the

a moment later, turning to me in his rage. "Ariel!?" he says, glaring down at me.

of us get to our feet and I look awkwardly around the room, tears welling in my eyes, not knowing where to begin. I feel so horribly selfish

have no