The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0524

"Well, that's shit," Luca murmurs, narrowing his eyes at the map. "A battle schematic where there's just no chance at winning? I...I hate that."

"Yeah, but that's war," Jackson murmurs, nudging the candies back into place with his fingertip. "Sometimes you get to the point where it's not about winning. Just...surviving to fight another day."

My stomach sinks as I process his words because...I mean, the lesson that Luca is learning today is a very real one - he's learning it because we all, one day, might have to put it into action in real life.

But...but not us, right? Not me, not my friends? My heart sinks as I look around at everyone, thinking about heavy casualties, thinking about losing them -

But a tug down my bond to Jackson draws my eyes back to him, to find his gaze already locked on my face. Slowly, gently, he shakes his head no, sending a wave of calm and peace down our bond, assuring me that he's never going to let it happen.

My lips lift into a tenuous smile as I hold his eyes. He smiles back and hope blooms in me because, as foolish as it probably is to believe anyone when they make a promise about surviving a war...I believe Jacks. I believe in him.

He only breaks our gaze when Luca sits up straight.

"Well," Luca says, his voice suddenly sparking with new interest. "What if you just...look it like that the odds are 50/50. That you're either going to die and lose everyone...or, you're going to win." Quite quickly, excited, Luca begins to narrate a crazy plan for what the Floutians could do if they just threw everything they had at the problem - just went full force, knowing that the result was potential full destruction.

lean forward, watching him move the pieces

really seems

the way that the much-reduced Floutians could, potentially, surround the Thrimpolites and force their surrender, we're all looking at the table in silence with raised

Jackson stays completely still,

turning a warm gaze on Luca. "You should write that up," he says, laughing a little. "I mean, I've studied this battle a dozen times, and no one has ever brought anything up like that. It's crazy, for sure

maybe?

-

end of its rope, looking for some kind of last-ditch

alive?

work."

holds Jackson's gaze for a second

wolf turns in

heart, chasing

my mates, wanting them to have this moment for themselves without me bursting through with a song and a dance about how