The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Of course, Gorgeous," Luca says, frowning at me a little, like he's ashamed that I felt like I had to ask. He loosens his arm around me. "You don't have to -"

"I know," I say, interrupting and looking at him quite seriously. "But Luca, it's not like we haven't had our own challenges these past two days too -"

He smiles at me, at the understatement of it all, and I can't help the matching smile that takes my lips.

"I just don't want you to think you're not important to me," I murmur, pressing a warm hand to his cheek and sending a great deal of warmth down our bond. "Or that she's more important, or -"

"I get it," Luca says, nodding to me and pressing a kiss to my cheek. "We're good, Ari - go check in with your friend! Friendships are important!"

A great deal of love swells in me at Luca's support and I hug him tight for a moment, so grateful for him. Because there's something in me that knows that he came off as the selfish one in this whole thing - tha he was the one to first say he wanted me to give up Jackson, that he wanted a timeline on me making my choice between them.

But really, overall, Luca has been so supportive of me at every turn. Hell, he was eager to have me even when he thought it meant changing his entire understanding of his sexuality. He just...loves me, and wants me to himself like everyone else with a mate does, and he isn't shy about voicing that. But when it comes to what I want, and what I need?

has been on my side, even if it takes him a moment to

to have

second before he lets me go. And I beam at him, pressing another kiss to his mouth before I stand up and move over to the bar. Ben - angel that he is -

say, almost skipping to Daphne's side, where she hands me a glass of champagne and gives

she replies, laughing

to ensure the bottle was sealed before I opened

with her hand and shaking her head, even as she

wake up on the floor of this train twenty-four hours from now, or absolutely anywhere else, completely under Daphne's control -" Jesse continues in mock-seriousness, grinning at me now that Daphne

calls, her face still buried in her

given him ammunition like this?" Rafe asks, laughing and stepping close, taking his own champagne glass from Jesse. "Daphne, this is enough for years worth of teasing. He may spin this one out until the end of time." Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ

up at the Prince and the Duke with a

Jesse says, grinning at her and lifting

him, "saves me from having to buy you a sweater, doesn't it?" We