The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I got home a little too late to see anyone. I mean, Rafe was probably awake somewhere, but I didn't really feel like going to find him, so instead I simply cracked open the door to my parent's room and called softly inside to let them know that I was home - groggy affirmations greeted me from both, which made me smile. I left Rafe's special cake on the coffee table with a little note of explanation, laughing a little, and then I went to bed.

I wake up late, and immediately looked for Daphne, but then I sigh when I remembered that mom moved her to her own bedroom last night. Scowling, I pull myself out of bed and dress casually for breakfast, wishing she was here so I could tell her what happened with Luca's uncle last night and get her perspective. Daphne's really even-headed - she'd definitely give me good advice on how to handle this.

My stomach growls as I yawn and pull a hairbrush through my hair, so when I finally set out for breakfast I'm definitely eager to get there.

But when I push open the door to the breakfast room...

Instantly, I know that something's wrong. The room goes from hushed, angry whispers to absolute silence as heads turn and see me standing at the door. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"What," I say, freezing with my hand on the door, my eyes going wide. "What's wrong?"

Rafe, Ben, and Jesse sit at one end of the table, Daphne between them, all huddled over a copy of a magazine. Juniper lounges at the other end of the table, sighing like she's so bored by all of it, and Markie freezes stock still at the sideboard, where he is loading up probably his third plate of bacon and eggs for breakfast, staring anxiously my way. Cora and Roger stand with him, but Cora just grimaces when I come in and Roger looks at me with a great deal of pity that makes me feel even worse - because if even Roger isn't teasing me!?

God, something really is wrong.

Frantic, I move my gaze to my parents, who are sitting at the center of the table right in front of me. "Come in, Ariel," my mom says on a heavy sigh, putting down her own copy of the same magazine that Rafe and my friends are looking at. When I glance around the table again, I see another copy at Markie's seat, and one more in front of Juniper.

ask, worried. "What is

starting to come around the table towards me as my dad stays stoically in his seat, his

obviously not

realizing that Jackson isn't here. Igasp, and stumble back a step, starting to freak out. "Where is Jacks? Did he

Mom says, finally reaching me and taking me by the shoulders and looking me in the eye. "Jackson is fine, he's just late for

it's all

no

darling,

We'll talk about it as a

mom's assurance that Jackson is fine, just late and struggling with fashion. Because she wouldn't lie to me - she wouldn't say that he

wasn't.

way the room is looking at me right now, it's obviously got

ask, my voice tight with worry as she guides me around the table to the seat next to her, where Cora brings me a cup of tea with milk and sugar. "What's -

me, and taking both of my hands in hers. "Now, I don't want you to