The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0452

Jackson blinks, clearly still working to clear the sleep away as Jesse and I peer at him from either side. "McClintock isn't a real name," he murmurs, looking between us. "We don't...have last names in the Community - they just assigned McClintock to me when they gave

me my identity paperwork, which was surely forged. The name doesn't mean anything to me."

"Wait, so," Jesse says, a devious smile curling his lips. "You're like...just Jackson? Like a pop star?"

"What?" Jackson asks, turning to him with a frown.

"Jacks," I say, a little breathless, completely captivated by the other part of his story. "Are you...do you seriously want to be a Sinclair?"

He turns his head back to me and takes a deep breath, blinking and still trying to wake up. "If you're a Sinclair then I'll be one too," he says, quite simply, holding out a hand to me. "If...that's how last names work. But I don't know how it works."

the depths of me, and I completely ignore his hand as I hurl myself back onto the bed and into his arms. Jackson laughs and catches me even if he doesn't get it doesn't understand my reaction or indeed how incredibly sweet he is by offering to give up his last name for mine - for ours, my family. Because, of course, it's usually the opposite - if he marked

I am. "Sure, buddy," Jesse says, reaching out a hand to clap Jackson warmly on the shoulder.

us already dressed in his Cadet uniform. "Are you

his gorgeous cheek as I hop out of

to be all big brother about it!" Rafe

looking around at the three of us as I scoot off to the bathroom. "Actually," he sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not sure I mind it so

the bed last and wrapping

what?" Rafe asks, frowning between

and disappear into the bathroom,

groaning my misery, absolutely drenched with sweat as I trail after

to me. "Breakfast