The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0509

Ben leans closer to Jesse, probably explaining quite patiently that Jesse's completely misinterpreting the entire situation, as I tug on Luca's sleeve, feeling his anger surge, trying to draw his eyes back down to me.

"Luca, please," I say quietly, a little desperate, glancing between him and Jackson. "I can explain."

To my surprise, Luca snaps his eyes shut and forces himself to take a long, deep breath. And I realize that this is not at a performance - that he's actually working, really hard, to control his temper and to not flip out, even though everything inside of him is telling him to do that. After a few long moments, Luca opens his eyes again, settling them on Jackson, who sits very still on the couch, watching Luca's every move.

"What are you doing here, man?" Luca asks, and even though his voice trembles a little bit with his anger, I can tell that Luca is working incredibly hard to be casual, to appear cool.

Jackson, I can see, senses this too. His reply is just as even. "I'm having dinner," he says quietly. "Ariel asked me to come."

to me. "Okay. Could I... have

say softly, taking his hand and tugging him

of his chair, his face worried, like he's going to stand up and come with us - like he's worried at me. I look wide-eyed in Rafe's direction and

there's no risk here - Luca would never hurt me, and he's working so

mate and I. I owe him this conversation. In

quietly shut. He slumps back against the wall, letting out a long breath, running his hands through his hair. "So, are you like, aware of the deal that Jackson and I struck?" he asks, confusion mixing with his dulling anger now. "Because...we kind of made a deal that he wasn't supposed to be here for these sorts of

and tell him the full truth as plainly as I can. "But...I don't like how you and Jackson made that decision without asking me, Luca. I told him this as well, but I'd like to be consulted, in the

"It wasn't really like that, Ari," he says, snapping a bit, even though guilt chases his anger soon after the words leave his mouth. I can feel that, down the bond. "We weren't trying to decide your time for you...it's just very hard for us - or me, at least -

and fair, to not snap at me. And even as I'm worried and anxious about this conversation, a big part of me admires - very much - how hard Luca is working to control

feel Luca go rigid as

I say quietly, forcing myself to