The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0532

"No, Jackson," I say, pulling away a second. "What?"

"Nothing," he whispers, his face suddenly a little said. "I was...going to ask you for a promise you couldn't keep. So. I won't ask it."

I tighten my hands in his shirt, desperate to know what it is that he wants, desperate to give it to him -

But how seriously he looks at me right now? I exhale slowly and let it pass. Let him have his secret.

"Please," I whisper, a little desperate to move on from this, tugging him closer to me. "Please kiss me, Jacks."

He leans forward then, pressing his mouth to mine, kissing me long and slow. And as he does, I'm well aware that whatever he asked me for in this moment I'd give to him - no matter how much, or how unfair. And in the distance of the dreamscape, somewhere, my wolf howls -

Because she, too, knows that it's the truth.

Jackson and I kiss for a long time after that, serious and intent, slow - none of our usual eager joking, or laughter, or experiments. Instead, he just holds me close and we pass a great deal of emotion across our bond - devotion and sincerity and assurance. Because honestly, I think the situation between Rafe and Daphne freaked us both out - reminded us that... relationships can end.

And that both he and Luca have asked me to end one of my relationships.

to happen, for me at least. And even though he tries to hide it away, I can feel that Jackson is hoping with quite real desperation that it's not him who has to collapse into his bed like Rafe did tonight. That... that he's worried that losing

I break our

sorry," he murmurs, dropping his head, I think a bit ashamed that I

stroking my hands through his hair. "Just - you don't need to

myself before I say

-

even though that's truly what I'm thinking and feeling Because if I say that say that out loud to him, and mean it - promise it -

absolutely not at all ready

turn sensing more than I want him to, and I

Jacks?" I say quietly, rubbing a hand up and down his arm. "It's been a lot tonight - a lot of emotion. We can face it again when we

and turns towards me, doing his very best to move on

you want to talk

he says, a

mouth, running

1.n

done touching me, even if we have taken a break from the