The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0476

The run is as grueling as I knew it would be, with Rafe, Jesse, and Jackson each taking turns to backtrack and run at my heels, forcing me to pick up speed or get trampled down by their gigantic feet.

By the end of it, I'm bending over with my hands on my knees, my head hanging, trying to catch my breath while the three of them chat casually about their plans for the day.

"Come on, little man," Rafe says, clapping me on the back and making me stumble a few steps forward. "You smell terrible. Let's get you showered before breakfast." He just grins when I straighten up and glare at him.

I scowl, following along with them, but glance anxiously up at Jackson when he drapes a casual arm around my shoulder. "Do I really smell?"

"It's a nice musk," he says, giving me a sad smile that breaks into a laughing grin as I tilt my head back and groan with embarrassment. Together, the four of us hurry back to the rooms to clean up before breakfast.

Breakfast passes quickly as we fall easily back into the rhythms of the school. Ben and I sit on either side of Luca, giving him some tips about how to pay attention in lessons when things get particularly boring - something he's apparently never tried before - but before I know it, we're slugging down the rest of our coffee as we stand, Ben and I still planning to head for the library for our free study period.

a finger in his face. "You're on bodyguard duty now and when you walk him to class.

his eyes at Rafe and ducking under the finger as he heads for the door. "We've survived this long, I'm sure we can make it out of the library alive." I laugh and hurry to keep up with Ben, waving over my shoulder at my brother, my cousin, and my

start for the elevators that will take up to the library on the top floor. "An

say with a happy sigh. "Plus, they're not so bad." We

them, and making out with the others," Ben says, dry, shooting

finger as the elevator doors pop open again. He laughs, shrugging as he admits it, and the two of us make our way into the library

towards the glass ceiling, the round velvet and leather chairs gathered together in little study groups. "This place is amazing," I murmur, shaking my

done," Ben says, flopping into a chair settled neatly next to the fireplace as I take the one across from it. "Not with people coming over all the time to fan over Luca, to try to buddy up with Rafe and Jesse as royals." "Well, that's we have Jackson to scare them away," I say cheerfully, folding my legs beneath me

laughs, grinning at me. "Don't think he doesn't

eyes and thinking of

I just wrinkle my nose at him and shake my head, letting him know that it's not important, the two of us get started, sorting

before a shadow falls across