The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"I'm a public figure too," I explain to Jackson, incredibly sorry, "and...my reputation, unfortunately, matters. If Luca has confirmed to the entire nation that I'm his mate, and then I'm stepping out with this super hot Alpha, kissing him in the streets? The press is going to tear me to pieces - call me unfaithful, say that I've betrayed Luca. No one will believe me that I have two mates - everyone will say that I'm a liar. And...I mean, as a political figure...I can't be seen as a liar."

"Oh," Jackson says, his eyes unfocusing as he looks away from me and starts to process this. "So...he claimed you first. So that I couldn't."

"If he did it," I say softly, needing that to be stated. Because, well, while it doesn't look precisely good for Luca right now...I'm not willing to damn him without confronting him first and getting the truth from his own lips.

Still, Luca isn't my priority in this moment.

"How are you feeling about this," I murmur, softly running my fingers through Jackson's newly cropped hair, loving the way that it feels against my skin. I feel so much calmer than I did even half an hour ago - and it's not only that I got a chance to process everything, but also because Jackson is here, holding me, being steady and warm as he always is.

He turns his head to me, frowning consideringly. "How do you want me to feel about it?"

I scoff and smack him lightly on the shoulder. "I want you to feel how you feel!"

Jackson laughs a little, his pretty blue eyes crinkling. "Okay, I just...I mean, I want to support you, Ariel. And I think that if he did this then it was an absolutely horrible thing to do that you should be livid. You're right - it's not up to one person in a pair to make unilateral decisions regarding these kinds of announcements. He took that from you."

question." He laughs at me, smiling, and I can't help

me," he murmurs, leaning forward and gently pressing his forehead to mine. "But

and Jackson grins, pulling me tighter, liking that sound. And I lift my arms, wrapping them around his neck as I shake my head at him. "Jackson, this was a blow to you! He took a shot, he made a move to actively counter your claim on me!

a shot," Jackson murmurs, "but it didn't land, Ariel. I just...I'm not wounded by this. It's not something

letting my fingers lace together behind his neck. "I don't get it. How

takes a

put words to his emotions, which I know is sometimes foreign to him. "If did this, then he did it at least partially to

But

this sort of thing."

me, looking a little worried that he won't express himself clearly. I nod to him,

did..." he growls a little, the sound rumbling in his chest, and I can't help

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