The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"You're the only sniper, Ariel," Rafe says, dry. "And your specialization was noted on the form, which I wasn't happy about. I had hoped you would be a low-level candidate for picking as your specialization was a secret. We had to make...serious concessions to ensure that

we got you."

"So you got me?" I gasp.

"It's unlikely that we didn't," Jackson says with a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest, clearly not happy about it. "Like Rafe said, we made one hell of an offer for you."

"Awwww," I sigh, clasping my hands under my chin, looking at my brother and my mate with clear love all over my face.

"If you could...just pretend to be a boy," Ben laughs, reaching up and gently tugging on my wrists, begging me silently to drop my hands.

I laugh again, giving him a grin and slumping back in my chair in what I hope is a more manly position. The way Rafe smirks and rolls his eyes at me lets me know I've completely failed.

"Okay, so," Ben says, leaning forward, wanting more details.

But on my other side, Luca stands up, looking towards the front of the room. "Results are out," he murmurs, starting towards the desk where a Lieutenant lays a few half-sheets of paper as Cadets all over the room likewise start to stand up. "You guys stay here, I'll bring them back."

None of the rest of us move, everyone just watching tensely as Luca makes his way to the table, grabs a few sheets, and hurries back before most of the other Cadets have even made their way to the table.

"He's fast," I murmur with a frown, watching him.

us," Jesse murmurs. "Just be glad he doesn't come to morning run," he finishes, smirking at me and making me scowl, all of my smug joy at being on everyone's draft wish-list fading as I remember

any further with that particular conversation, Luca comes back to the table with three sheets. I bend over the one that Ben and

after a moment, my head whipping up.

putting the sheet down and looking seriously at our

was probably everyone's top ambassador seat," Ben says, pretending to be smug to hide his disappointment. "And I get

his face betraying his clear regret at

says with a

"What!?"

out on the table in front of us, tapping his name where

the name of Luca's captains at the top

at Luca and then over at my brother and Jacks. "He's a

fine military mind," Rafe says with a scowl. "And has been working his ass off since his relative...disgrace. We protested it," Rafe says, gesturing between himself and Jackson while holding my gaze.

Luca says, tapping the list again and showing me that Tony's name is on the list somewhere below

didn't get Tony either!?" I gasp, appalled, smacking my hands down on

Jackson for this too?" Rafe asks, putting his own hands on the table and glaring

I counter, narrowing my eyes even further. "You

and it was not listed. I'm not picking a guy for the team just because I like him -

"Which clearly backfired!"