The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0934

"Hey," I growl, pointing my finger between Rafe and Jesse, starting to get pissed. "I am here for Jackson - I have been very kind throughout all of this huge, insane surprise tonight -"

"That boy has been there for you, Ariel," Rafe interrupts, still very, very serious. "And you dragged him through some pretty devastating mud over the past couple of months -"

I squeak in protest, turning to stare at my brother with my mouth open. "I so did not!"

"Two other mates?" Rafe says, arching an eyebrow at me.

"Both of whose marks you got before Jackson's?" Jesse adds, forcing me to spin to glare at him in turn.

"None of which was my fault!?" I counter, glaring hard.

"We're not blaming you," Rafe says, and I turn back to him. "I'm just saying - if you're not completely there for Jackson - without hesitation, without question - I'm going to judge you for it. Hard. That guy has been at your side through a great deal of stress. He deserves the best in turn from his mate."

that? That I need to be told how much Jackson loves me and how good he is to me? That I'd

scootching closer and putting a warm hand on my shoulder. I turn to him now, that desperate frown still curving my lips. "We're just saying - if you were considering taking your time to work through your own emotions on this - don't. He's going to need your full and unconditional support right from the

that," I whisper, staring at

says, nodding deeply to

and my cousin both sigh and

yet so relaxed. "Where is this all coming from!?" I

a shrug. "You're

bit, slumping back into the cushions, hating that my brother and my cousin know me so well.

Rafe says, smiling at me softly. "Your heart always wins out in the end. For what it's worth, I think you're going to be a

whisper, staring

really - and raises his glass to me. "To Princess Ariel - step-mom

my glass too, shaking my head and then drinking the rest of the contents down.

I whisper, looking over at Jesse and