The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0626

Luca grabs my arm and hauls me back to his side the moment I gasp, my eyes going wide and shiny, and attempt to dash into Newtown's main - and only - square. "Ari," he growls, shaking his head.

"But it's so cool," I whisper, fascinated, looking around at the little store and the three bars and the restaurant and all of the rooms above. Who lives here? What sort of stuff goes on in those rooms? And where do the -

"What are you talking about?" Luca says, laughing a little and drawing my attention suddenly back to him. "This place is a dump."

"It is not a dump - why are you being so mean!?"

"Ari," Luca says, a broad smile breaking out over his face as he gestures at the little town, "every single building here is made of plywood. It's a dump - it would all fall over in ten seconds, if it wasn't held up by Cadet lust and debauchery and the need to let of some Alpha steam."

"That's so cool," I whisper, turning my head back to the square, fascinated. "I've never been anywhere like this."

"Most people would count themselves lucky to be able to say that," Luca says, dry.

But I just flap a hand and give him a scowl. Because Newtown might be...a little ramshackle, but it's fascinating - there are whole lives happening here that I know nothing about! And which I'm desperate to explore.

"Okay," Luca says, taking my other arm and turning me fully to him now so that I can't get distracted by the town. "Come on, Ari, you've got to be cooler than this. You're not the naïve princess fascinated by the seedy underbelly of Academy life anymore, right? Who are you?

I sigh, realizing that he's right. "I'm Daphne."

what is

not be

"And the number-two rule?"

say we

once. But then he raises an eyebrow at me.

stomp a foot, pouting at him. "But

narrowing his eyes, voice low with warning. "This is homework -

homework is fun!" I protest, my whole heart in every

very hard against his smile and beats it. "What. Are we not. Going.

fun," I answer, sighing, looking down at

great deal of fun even now. Still, know that Luca is right -

get carried away and that I

right," Luca says, straightening up and letting go of my arms. "And what

as I list each that Faiza assigned for my first trip. "Daphne and

giving

we

"Ari!"

body close to him even as Luca puts a hand in the center of my chest, holding me physically back as he scowls at me. "It would be the perfect place to try it! Ben says," I look around, eager,

"Ben says

of the Evening here."