The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0961

But my grin falls when I turn my head to look up at Mark, because that

devastation...it persists.

"Mark," I say quietly, leaning towards him, wanting very much to play the big sister right now.

"Still not yet, Ari," Mark says on a sigh, glancing down at me. He gives his best attempt at a smile, but it fails.

"Okay, then let me get you a drink, little boy," I say, resting my cheek against his

arm.

Ben laughs a little. "He's not a little boy at all, Ari," he says, shaking his head. "He's gigantic - nearly as tall as Rafe and Jacks -"

"Incorrect, Benny," I say, spinning my head to grin at him. "He's just teeny tiny, like me. Come on, both of you - drinks all round."

drinks and handing them round, but we're a quiet little group tonight. None of us feels particularly chatty, each of us instead

would. Privately I wish that they would just talk to one another, thinking that they could really be a help to each other. But, not wanting to push it, I just sigh and leave them

city as dusk falls. I sigh, happy, struck by the beauty of our capital city even as my thoughts turn to the surprising new developments of my life. To Jacks, and sweet little Marigold, and how she fits into our world. Because while

for our second and final year? How do we manage to balance Marigold's needs with our own responsibilities and ambitions? What am I supposed

when my eye suddenly catches on movement in our courtyard below. My attention immediately shifts, something in my wolf instinct allowing me to focus immediately on the figure that

At me.

lips curl quietly into a smile, because even if the figure is

precisely who

of my glass of wine down in a single gulp and leaving the

Mark

sel

floor, heading for the door that leads directly to that

Jackson asks, interested but not

the doorknob. Just going