The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I take a moment to memorize the location of the enemy soldiers before I set my binoculars aside, pulling my gun over to me. When I put myself in position to fire and again look down the scope, I find the soldiers quickly, moving down the ravine towards the river, not bothering to try to be sneaky anymore. I guess since they made a great deal of noise taking out the other team, they know that there's not much point in stealth. No, speed is much more important.

Still, none of it's going to do them any good at this point.

"Any notes?" I ask Rafe and Jackson, centering my scope on the man in the lead.

"Fire at will, Cadet," Rafe says, pride already ringing in his voice.

I smile, take one final moment to aim, and then pull my trigger.

A bright spot of neon blue appears on the chest of the man in the lead. He skitters to a stop and then curses vehemently, punching a fist down towards the ground in his frustration. The men behind him skid to a stop too, trying to process what happened, but I'm already pulling my trigger before they can figure it out, blue splattering across the second man's chest as well.

The three behind him panic, but I'm ready for them, shifting my gaze and my aim a little higher and taking out the man in the back of the line next as he makes a run for the treeline, paint appearing suddenly across his back. This has the effect I wanted, with the last two men nearly tripping over themselves, not knowing who I'm aiming for next and blocked by the man who stops in front of them.

One spins, looking for me across the river, while the other makes a mad dash to the left-

But it's too late. Before either can really process what has happened, I've hit them too.

"Five down," I say, pleasure sweeping through me at my accomplishment and my wolf pouncing victoriously inside me, emitting vicious little yips of joy.

I hear his wolf howl his pride. It makes me break into a ridiculous smile, even though I know our job isn't

the KO of the men on the map before picking

voice comes back on. "Ariel, what

of my real name, my

channel - just me you and Jacks - just...tell me what

treeline ahead of me and report what I see. "Honestly it's quiet, Rafe. Why? What's up?"

says, his voice deep and wary. "It has been way too quiet. There should

do you think is happening?" I

see, Ariel. And if Jackson tells you to get

back to the main terminal," Rafe murmurs, and then the earpiece beeps

slowly after that; and as Rafe said, not much happens. The most interesting bit is when a whole troop of Ambassador cadets appear at the riverside, carrying white flags of peace, moving forward towards us. Lwatch them curiously down my scope as Rafe and Jackson discuss how the third team, captained by two Cadets whose names I don't recognize - invested in a large Ambassador

a short bit of discussion, Rafe orders me to

gasp, horrified. "Rafe!

counters, growling. "Follow your damn

come with good

Jackson cuts in, smooth. "They don't have any

smirk a little, liking that tone a little too much for...maybe the wrong reasons, in

sigh, refocusing my