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."

away and – I suspect – hiding

hot, Jacks" I say, wrinkling my nose at him. "And rugged. And

hide his smile and blushes a lovely

you know Faiza just refers to you singularly

"Stop, no she doesn't."

I grin at my mate and tug

me a bit, which just makes him...a thousand times hotter. I bite my lip, looking him up and down, tempted to throw my national duty

knowing that I have

me to just...give you the mark

even as my wolf

approval of the idea. "You'd change my scent and then the ruse would

my magic," he points out, tilting his head. "Which means you could blow the whole place up. And

people I like in

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

that he thinks the universe would come to a grinding halt without me. And while I think that's ridiculous - obviously, I can't be that important - I see the true meaning beneath his

wants me to live