The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

He blinks once, I think shocked.

"I'm serious,” I say, squeezing his hand, holding his gaze. "I've had time to think in here - time is the only thing I have - and when I get home? You're the only mate I want. I don't want Gabriel – and I don't want Luca, okay? I just want you. Me and you and that's it forever."

Jackson swallows hard and I can see hope filling him.

I turn my head to the side, a little surprised by his silence. "Isn't that what you want too?"

Slowly he nods. "But...I don't want to hold you to it, Ari. If that's not the destiny your grandmother wrote for you."

"Yeah well," I sigh, frustrated. "Granny and I need to have a chat. But what she said was that she wanted me to have my mate's marks - not that she wanted me to live in some kind of bizarre foursome. And that's why I don't want to run right now, Jacks - because..." I bite my lip. "I think I need to explore the magical connection between me and Gabriel. I think that my grandmother gave this link not because she thinks he's some great match for me - but because his magic can lend something to mine."

Jackson sighs and looks away. "It would be easier if he were ugly."

I laugh a little, squeezing his hand. "Nobody's as pretty as you."

Jackson raises his head and an eyebrow along with it. "I'm not sure I'm precisely pretty."

"You're very pretty."

and – I suspect – hiding a blush.

I say, wrinkling my nose at him. "And

smile and blushes a lovely raspberry red, making me

to you

"Stop, no she doesn't."

“Just like all the tabloids. I mean come on, Jacks, you're gorgeous." I grin at my mate and tug on his hand again. "So, Gabriel's lesser attractiveness

times hotter. I bite my lip, looking him up and down, tempted to throw

knowing that I have to be good.

me to just...give you the mark now? Through the stupid

my nose and shake my head, even as my wolf

the idea. "You'd change my scent

my magic," he points out, tilting his head. "Which means you could blow the whole place up. And then there would be no

people I like in there. Benny and

die, Ariel, he says, holding my gaze quite seriously. "If this Gabriel is as unpredictable and power-hungry and violent as you say he is? He could kill you, and then...the world would lose its flame. Its entire

thinks the universe would come to a grinding

me to live a long full life