The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0458

I sit for a moment, my hand in Luca's, considering my options.

Part of me wants to push back - to just tell my parents to spend the money for me as they've always done. But still another part accepts that what they're saying is right - that I've been insisting for months now that I'm not a little girl and that I should be able to make my own choices. Plus, part of me wonders...well, whether anything can be done for the people of Jackson's world, those in the Community who are suffering, or perhaps who have escaped like he has? If something can be done, and I can help it with these resources...I'll want to do that. "Okay," I say softly, and I raise my eyes to meet my parents. Dad works hard to keep his expression stern but mom gives in, beaming at me. "And...I can take a few days? To talk to Luca, and to...make some decisions together about how it should be spent?" "Yes, love," mom says, leaning forward to give my arm a fond squeeze. "We'll set up a video call for a few days from now and you can tell us what you've decided. We'll go from there."

Things move quickly after that, with my parents assuring me that they'll make some preparations on their end while Luca and I talk. And then my parents give me hugs and kisses goodbye, my mom squeezing me tight for a long moment and whispering to me to take care of myself because I'm very precious to her. I press my face to her shoulder in that moment, taking a long sniff of her scent, memorizing it. By the time she passes me on to my dad and moves to hug Luca I'm very nearly in tears, because I love them both so much - and they're so good to me - and I'm a little overwhelmed about all of this money - and I'm going to miss them -

"Ariel," my dad laughs, wrapping me up into a hug of his own. "Come on, little girl, pull yourself together - you're a Cadet, after all."

"Cadets can cry too," I mutter, burying my face in his suit jacket and getting a few tears on it.

hair. "Sweet girl. I love you so much, Ariel. Keep your chin up, darling, and don't let these boys boss you around more than they ought. Don't forget that even though you look

Luca's side as he shakes my dad's hand, looking quite serious and I think feeling better about his position with my parents.

and it swings shut behind us, but I stay close by his side as we start down the

to breakfast. "For believing in the gym - for wanting to support

it, Luc," I say, smiling at him and bumping my shoulder into him as we go. "I'm not just sending

a little as he slips an arm around my shoulders. "Yeah, but it doesn't hurt that I'm so pretty, does

walk quickly towards the hall where breakfast is served, but Luca goes suspiciously silent. "What?"

me, clearly deciding whether or not to ask. But I roll my eyes at him and give him a sharp nudge down the bond that makes him grin and then speak. "How do you...know that Tony guy, Ariel?" he asks. "And what's all

the others," I say quietly, my expression pleading. "I'm...not sure how much I

secret amongst the rest of you that I don't