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 look, but

through me, I'm completely overwhelmed. I no longer have any idea which of my emotions are mine, and which are theirs - I want

in a tight ball as more noise

and confusion adding to the anger,

my senses slowly coming back to me, and my face goes still when I see that there are four wolves in front of me now - Rafe's huge dark wolf snarling as 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

done!" Jesse shouts, glaring viciously between Jackson and Luca. "Shift the fuck back!

shakes himself, just a little, and Rafe loosens his grip on his neck. Luca shifts then, and my eyes go directly to him, groaning when I see his bloody lip, the swelling already starting around his

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

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,

later, turning to me in his rage. "Ariel!?" he says, glaring down at me. "Is there something

on me. The two 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 and overwhelmed - because

no idea where