The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0735

I laugh. "You picked the wrong Sinclair boy if you didn't want to be teased," I say, grinning at her as I settle back into the cushions. "Mom and dad would have been far more polite."

Daphne sighs dramatically and gives a big shrug like it can't be helped. "I shall simply have to endure, then." She scoops Mittens up into her hands and lifts him to her shoulder, where he starts to bat playfully at her curls.

"Daph?" I ask quietly, studying her face. "Is...is Jesse your mate?"

She turns to me, her face quite solemn. "I honestly don't know, Ari."

My mouth twists a little. "I mean, you'd know," I say, trying to be gentle.

But she shakes her head, looking off into the kitchen, I think wanting mine and Jesse's mothers to be separate from this conversation. "I know what you mean but...it's more complicated than that," she murmurs. "The connection with him - it wasn't instant, and my wolf just...can't decide. It's not like other mates - the bond, if there is one, has not snapped into place. But the way we feel about each other? And the way he smells?" She groans and rolls her eyes, tilting her head back against the couch.

"Oh, you're exaggerating," I sigh, grinning and tilting my head back too. "Jesse smells like corn chips and despair."

"Oh, no he doesn't," she sighs. "He smells like a chai latte, and old books, and a warm old sweater..." "So, like wet wool?" I say, my face again twisting with doubt.

and swats at me. "Shut up.

grin, nodding to her. "I'm just teasing. You know my cousin has my whole heart. But, you're getting mixed messages?

says, her

because he's half human? Or..." she shrugs. really don't know. I think that's why I tried to deny it for so long but... he's really special to me, Ariel. Even if he's not my mate, I want to

happy for my friend. "Good. I'm

me,

first time that

she doesn't have his mark or a ring. Just his strange little half-substantial shadow

forward and wrapping me up in a warm hug.

close, taking a deep breath of her own

In the other

I hear the soft

mom

think that I get to talk to him soon. And quite suddenly I start to realize