The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0529

"Ben!" I object, turning to glare at him, kind of not believing that he's pushing Daphne to face her feelings for Rafe so bluntly.

"I mean, it's true," Ben says, turning to me.

"Daphne is allowed to make her own decisions on her own time!"

"Agreed," Ben says, nodding and looking between us. "Until...well, until it gets unfair to Rafe. I mean, he's...he's pretty gone on you, Daphne. And trying really, really hard to be your boyfriend. If you don't want that..." He pauses, and shrugs.

Daphne takes a deep breath and lets it out, heavy. "I have to tell him."

"Daphne," I say, my heart breaking a little for her, shaking my head. "Don't let Ben push you into things if you're not ready -"

"No, he's right," she says, straightening her shoulders. "I'm...I'm just being a coward. And cruel. Rafe has been so good to me and...I have to be fair."

"Okay," Ben says, nodding.

We're all quiet again for a long moment as my mouth pops open - as I realize that...what started out as a chocolate run has ended up in a plan to dump by brother.

quickly raising her glass to her mouth and emptying it before

say, going still, clinging to her

know in my heart that I don't feel the same way about him...dragging it out would just be cruel." I stare at her for a second before looking down at my mug of wine

it, thinking that I'm going to need a bit

this right now," Ben says, laying a hand on his

her shirt so that it lays flat and neat. "Um, can we go?" she asks, looking up at us. "Before I

I say,

on the little table, reaching out

own glass and

us head out of her

back upstairs in a much different mood than when we left. I hold Daphne's hand the whole time and she grips mine in return, I think grateful

to the room, my family and my

the chocolate?" Jesse asks, frowning as he peers at

Ben says, casual, heading into the room as I stand with Daphne at the door, her hand still tight in mine. As Ben sits on the couch I look at Rafe to find his eyes already on us, a frown on his lips, sensing that the mood has...shifted. "Um, Rafe?"

at his book and Jackson, I notice, is just studying.

Rafe says, standing slowly and crossing the room to us. He shifts his eyes to our joined

starting across the room. My heart aches, suddenly, my allegiances torn