The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0323

And my heart sinks, thinking of the reality of that. Thinking that my sweet Jacks - he's really got no one in his life to hold him and coddle him and be his safety net. Well, almost no one.

"He's got us," I whisper, looking into my mom's eyes, which I know are precisely the same shade as mine. "Which...I mean, it isn't nothing, mom. We're formidable."

"It's true," she says, a slow grin coming over her face. "Pint sided, but formidable."

We both laugh again, and she strokes my cheek. "I love you so much baby," she whispers, "I just...I care a great deal about that boy already."

"Why?" I ask, a little curious.

she murmurs, and I immediately put the pieces together -

wrapping my arms around her, putting my head down on her chest as she tugs me close. "You're so nice. Thank you for taking care of him. And

know he is sweetie, and I know that it's not easy for you. I know it's complicated, with Luca too. Just...try to remember that

so far?" I ask, kind of terrified

"this is all...for the future. Because I don't think it gets simpler for the

solidify my promise to be on Jackson's side, even when things get hard. Because mom's right - in

for my bedside table again, where she slides the drawer open and pulls something out. "Speaking of the future," she murmurs, putting a little green bottle into my hand. "This should

ask, staring at it. And then my eyes go wide when I realize what it is. "Oh," I say, a

mom keeps it in her bedside table too. The day I figured out that it's a contraceptive tonic - a mild and specific variety of wolfsbane, combined with ginger and wild carrot - I had blushed for days at the idea

or shameful about sex, Ariel, even if...well, if your mate situation makes it a little more complicated. But considering your choice of career, I don't think

I don't," I confirm, my eyebrows raised. God, it sure would be hard to pretend I'm a boy at Alpha Academy with a big pregnant belly to