The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0907

But eventually her tears subside, just a little. And she quiets and stills. And raises her head to look into his face.

His heart breaks to see the very real sadness there, and he lifts a hand, brushing at the tears on her cheek with his thumb, his eyes taking in the rough redness around her eyes, and the sweet, adorable freckles that dust her nose, and the lush, raw shape of her lips.

Jesse clenches his jaw as his wolf snarls, wanting her. Wanting her with a desperation that...

That is completely unfair. Inwardly Jesse snarls at his wolf, smacking him on his nose, forcing him to back down. His wolf grumbles but humbly obeys, working hard to deny his instinct to give Daphne the space she needs.

"Don't look at me," Daphne murmurs, embarrassed, raising an arm to wipe her nose and her cheeks on her sleeve.

"Please, don't ever ask that of me," Jesse whispers, running his hand over the tumbling auburn waves of her hair. "It would be the greatest regret of my life, to never look at you again."

But she flinches away, and he sighs, thinking...well, that it was the truth, but perhaps not the kindest thing he could say.

"I'm glad you're safe," she says softly, sitting straighter, putting some distance between them. "I was...worried about you. We all were."

out, though, and takes her chin in his hand, turning her

gently taking her chin from

whispers,

flash a bit. "Do

-

sets her jaw, moving back an inch or two, the little cat peeking out at Jesse from behind her. "Are we more than that, Jesse? I don't think we are. Not

we

a seamstress at your school, Jess," Daphne snaps, saying the line she's rehearsed in case this day ever came. The thought she's said over and over to herself, to remind herself of her new place in his life. "You're a mated man. That is...our

he says, leaning forward towards her. "That is...that is so

dimpling as her mouth turns down at the corners, and his wolf howls with regret to make her so sad, even for a moment - even though he knows

back. "It - a clean break is better, Jesse. Don't drag this out,t's impossible - however we felt before is impossible. And I don't

desperate for that to not be true, and Jesse takes a deep breath, trying his best to stay

he says quietly, anxious for her to hear him. "My situation is

asks, tense and prim

when she's angry like that, but he works very hard and keeps