The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0727

"Whoa," Ben says, holding his hands up at the door, his eyes going wide when he sees the vicious expressions on his friends' faces. "Guys, calm down. Obviously, you know I'm not going to hurt her." With a concentrated effort, Rafe reels in his protective instinct and swallows. "I'm sorry," he says through his teeth. "It is...difficult. She's hurt, we're -"

"No, I get it," Ben says, nodding as he takes a single step into the room. Jesse too settles back, just a little, though his muscles still stay tensely wound, ready to pounce. "I um...I went to the Captain and told him you needed a phone? I didn't tell him why - he wasn't happy about it, but he handed it over."

"What?" Jesse says, blinking, still trying to put all the pieces together.

"Thanks," Rafe says, solid, holding out a hand. "Bring it here. Shut the door."

"I thought you might want to...call your mom," Ben murmurs for Jesse's sake. "This seems beyond our capacities." He puts the phone in Rafe's hand and then slips his hands into his pockets.

"What do you mean?" Jesse asks, looking back down at Ariel, reaching out a hesitant hand and stroking it softly over her hair. Fear rushes through him again as Rafe dials the number and puts the phone to his ear, passing the first-aid kit to Jesse. Jesse frowns as he takes it, running his eyes over her blanketed form, wondering if there are more wounds than he's seeing besides the one on her neck. "Is she hurt elsewhere?"

"No," Ben says with a shrug. "I mean, I don't think so. I just I mean, do you know what to do? When a girl gets rejected by her mate?"

Jesse just stares at Ben, blank. Ben shrugs, glad he takes his point.

please clean up her neck?" Rafe snarls, glancing at Jesse as the phone connects and begins

out some gauze and saline solution and turning Ariel's head to the side so that he can inspect the bite. He gently begins to pat at it, cleaning

Jesse murmurs, glancing up at

grimacing as he runs his

still with

says, awkward. "And says he's going to kill

moment before he nods and looks

not looking at him. "If you seriously think Luca is getting away with this with

Ben. "This is fucking Ariel Sinclair! Not only is she the sweetest goddamn person on the earth, she's our last hope in this whole fucking wark If Luca Grant put her out of commission, he's to blame for everything that befalls Moon Valley! And even if he weren't I'd rip him

into his hands, finally understanding

you two

up straighter when the sweet voice sounds on the other line, worried. "Mom-um -

other end

you get - okay! Fine!" He

and Jesse watch in rapt