The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0751

And then I lift my finger, and hold it close to Luca's mark for comparison, and see that Jackson's...right. That it's quite subtle, but the mini mark is...different. It...shines, almost? Just barely perceptible, an incredibly faint line of silver tracing through it? And Luca's mark has none of that.

"Oh, that's really incredible," I murmur. Then I burst into a smile, looking at the mini mark. "See? I knew the mini mark was real."

Jackson just laughs and shakes his head, putting his hands on my hips and stepping close, dropping a kiss to my hair. "Not my mark yet, tiny. But..." he hesitates and then drops the point. I lift my eyes and meet his in the mirror, knowing what he's thinking, because I'm thinking the same.

That he needs to give me his mark. That the Goddess ordered it, and we both know it now. But also that...I am not ready. Not right now - not so close to my last marking which was, at best, traumatic. And even though I know Jackson would give it to me now if I asked for it...

"I just need a little time?" I whisper.

He nods to me, just once, quite simple. Letting me know that he understands and that the moment I'm ready, he's here. And not because the Goddess demanded it - because it's time.

For us, it's time.

I sigh, leaning back against him, and Jackson wraps his arms fully around me.

"Did my scent change?" I murmur.

it's not

Honestly, you did smell different when I saw you in the hall - I think your scent...did change. And then when he rejected

him in the mirror. "Where on earth

at me. "The

up into his face. Jackson smiles down at me like he can't help it, like looking at

sigh and gaze up at him. "You really think we're

mean," Jacks murmurs,

over my heart to go out wantonly taking lovers and getting marks, Ariel." I smirk at

rest my chin on his chest, gazing up at him with all of my love shining in my

my line,"

I stand on my toes and kiss him back grateful for him, for his kind heart, his enduring nature, not

I'm going to take this gift the universe has given and run with it. Because I know

the kiss for both of us, tucking away any physical desires that that's stirring in him for my sake, knowing that I'm not ready for that just yet. But that

second as he works to control himself.

"Wanna get some breakfast in the hall

smiling softly as he turns his eyes back to me. "Yeah, that