The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I move fast down the hall, Jackson at my heels, and I hope desperately that we're lucky enough to evade the guards who prowl these halls at night. I mean, we haven't had a problem with being attacked in our own Palace...ever? So the guards are few and far between. But still, we've got to move fast - because if they see us, they're definitely going to tell my mom that I'm out of bed.

And I really, really want nothing more right now than a few stolen hours with Jackson.

My mate runs after me, shaming me a bit with his speed and his silence, and I can feel the joy pulsing through him as we go. He's checking his steps, I know, to let me take the lead - but then again, I'm the one who knows where to go. When I get to the end of the hall I fling open a door and wave him through, whispering "to the top! All the way up!" sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Jackson sends a gorgeous grin over his shoulder before he starts to run up the stairs, so sweet and handsome that it makes me stumble in my steps a bit. But I recover quickly, dashing up after my mate. Wher Jacks gets to the top of the fourth flight he pushes open the only door there, and steps out onto our rooftop garden.

says, going still so fast

ancient, gnarled olive trees that stand in the four corners

handing them to my mate, who follows. "So, she built us this little garden. She said kids are like plants - they need sunshine to

I ask, pulling open the little fridge and pulling out a bottle of white wine, pouring us each a glass. "There's food, if you want it." I nod towards the cabinets and the fridge,

says, watching me curiously and peering around. "You guys

at him and nodding my head to the side, silently asking him to follow me to the center of the garden, where you can see the stars between the branches of the trees you lay down on the ground. "Mom didn't grow up with much, so she has kind of a scarcity mindset. She stocks snacks all around the Palace so that if anyone ever feels a single hunger pang, she can be on it. Plus, growing up, Rafe did eat pretty much constantly. So it was kind

He does, handing me one of the glasses. "Your mom didn't grow up with much?" he asks, a little confused. And I guess that makes sense - mom wears her Queen status like she was born to it. "Mom was an orphan," I say, peering at Jacks, curious that he didn't know this. I thought everyone in the country knew mom's story. "She and Aunt Cora grew up together in the orphanage - it was only when they were all grown up that they found out that they were biological