The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"One, Ariel Sinclair," Ben says, laughing, "if you tried to kill me, I could take you."

I laugh too, grinning at him.

"And two," he continues, and my face falls along with his as real sorrow appears in his eyes, "if you're asking me if I'm jealous of you having two of the most eligible men in the nation so upset that you're not singularly in love with them that they're ready to kill each other?" He leans forward, a bit intent, a bit sorrowful. "Yeah, babe. I'm jealous."

"Oh, Ben," I murmur, setting my plate of cake aside on the coffee table and leaning forward to him, reaching out. "It will be all right - it will all -"

"It won't, though, will it?" Ben murmurs, taking my hand and looking down at his knees as he squeezes it, sweet and sorrowful and hopeless. "Not if I...if I want him..."

I squeeze his hand back, not knowing what to say, but the door opens and we both turn to it, both of us sighing to see an exhausted Rafe walk through.

"What is this," Rafe murmurs, his eyes flicking over my hand held in Ben's, the half-eaten chocolate cake on the coffee table. Ben and I...we really didn't go easy on it, did we? "A third mate?"

"If only I were so lucky," Ben sighs, standing up and then bending over to give me a fond kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you, Benji," I murmur, looking up at him with true gratitude, not yet letting go of his hand just yet. "For being so nice to me."

patting my cheek and then standing up straight, looking up at Rafe, the man he loves. "I take it

on the shoulder with true gratitude, "we need some

"Hours!?" I exclaim, appalled.

hours," Jesse, says, coming silently through the door in a way that

towards

to breakfast, Ben!" I call after him, knowing that the morning meal will be served in rooms tomorrow instead of the Hall so that we all have time to pack. Neither Rafe or Jesse counter me, but after the door clicks shut, my cousin and my brother

I know that I'm in for it

and making plenty of room for them. "Eat some cake while you yell at me.

the couch from me in Luca's usual spot that Ben just

I bite out, getting angry at him for teasing me when he knows I'm obviously

Rafe asks, all innocence, curling his legs beneath him and sitting on the floor next to the couch as he reaches for the cake that Jesse slices, puts on a plate,

can tell he's

room if Luca and Jackson weren't relatively fine. "Why didn't you tell us, Ariel?" Rafe asks, more serious now as

lie, Rafe," I snap, a little angry myself now - because it's not like I did this out of complete selfishness. It's not like I didn't have my reasons. "You would immediately have sent