The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Jackson just stares at me, shocked and unblinking - and for a split second I realize how rare it actually is for people to look him in the eye and defy him.

But his surprise is not long lived, replaced immediately by anger.

"Ariel, you will fall in line -"

"No way!" I throw back, baring my teeth at him. "Jackson, you're being overprotective! I've got a big gun, I'm up here all alone, I've got radio to contact you and binoculars so I'll know miles away if anyone is coming —"

"I am not leaving you alone in a battle trail again, Ariel," Jackson snarls, leaning even closer and wrapping his hand around my arm. "Never again."

My mouth goes a bit dry as I stare at Jackson, realizing what all of this is about.

"Jacks," I whisper, reaching up and pressing his cheeks between my hands, staring into his gorgeous blue eyes. "That's - that's not going to happen again -"

"The psychopath that hurt you the first time is out there right now coming for us with weapons!"

"Paintball guns! Dulled knives!"

he can't rip you apart with just his bare hands, Ariel," Jackson's hand tightens on my arm as he stares at me, quite panicked, "then

delicate," I snap, offended, dropping my hands from his face and glaring up at

and working hard to find his words. "Wright is nearly as good as Rafe and me - he has

to my knees and moving closer to Jackson, wrapping my hands in his shirt and tugging him closer, making him open his eyes and look into mine. "Jacks, I

exhales slowly, frustrated, I think not even wanting to give me a platform to object. But then he

- are wasted

a waste," he snaps.

you actually keeping me safe," I whisper, "I would agree. But you're just sitting

that the argument doesn't

back hard on my

the valley, trying to figure things out. We sit in silence for a long few minutes, my mind turning, before I speak again.

Jackson snaps, still terse, not happy that I haven't just given in to his plan to hang out with me all

you to go back down the

"I'm not going -"