The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"What!?" I gasp, grabbing the magazine and lifting it up, reading the headline and realizing that the other half of the cover is, of course, a picture of Luca in his boxer's getup - which, essentially, just means sweaty and shirtless. And, of course, he looks stupidly good with his boxing gloves up by his face, his expression all tough and gritty and determined.

But I tear my eyes away from the picture of my handsome mate to read the headline splashed across both of us.

"CONFIRMED: LUCA GRANT MATED TO PRINCESS ARIEL."

"Ohhh my god," I murmur, my fingers tightening against the cover in my shock. Because, I mean, it's not a secret within our inner circles that Luca and I are mated - but this is not public knowledge, and certainly not something my parents would have wanted me to announce so openly and so early on in my relationship.

And, especially, since I have - you know - a second mate that's going to complicate all of this - this is not at all a good thing for me.

But who did this?

I mean, I know that my family knows, and that Luca told his mom and his uncle, but to everyone else he introduced me to last night - he always said girlfriend, never mate. Because that's incredibly personal, and considering who I am, and what my position is within this world...

God, spilling this to the press? It's a huge betrayal.

My fingers hesitate, a little, as I begin to flick through the pages of the magazine, because I am suddenly quite terrified that I know who leaked this...

to me. Someone who wants everyone to know that we're mated, especially since there's another claim on my affections

read the article. I sigh, and press the magazine shut in my hands like that could keep

the confirmation, if it's there at all, that Luca did this. I

up at my mother. "Mom?" I whisper, not really knowing

heart is breaking, and she reaches for me in an instant,

I whisper, horrified, not

is unclear, sugar," she replies, her voice grave. "He...he didn't deny it, when he was asked by

confused, wanting to see her

mom leans back a little so that I can look into my father's stern face. He's not mad at me, obviously, but I can tell that he's keeping his temper on quite a tight leash. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in

his gym early this morning," Rafe adds from across the table. I look over to see him standing, his hands in his pockets, his face sorry for me. Next to him, Ben and Daphne look exactly the same. Jesse just looks pissed as hell, and starts across the room to pour himself a cup of coffee that he probably doesn't need, just wanting something to do. As he does, Markie slips back into his seat next to Juniper, watching everything with

But, then again, she is my sister. Maybe

a sigh, reaching for

blankly

told that he is

says, his words clipped as he sloshes creamer into his coffee before turning to me, his cup tight