The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0963

"No, they didn't," I say quietly, shaking my head. "I'm good."

"And the pictures of you in a crown..."

I shrug, giving Luca a quick summary of my time, holding out my wrist so he can see Gabriel's mark there too. His eyes widen at first when he sees it and I note, with a bit of a smile, that his fangs extend a little bit, a growl rumbling in his chest. But Luca tucks it all away quite masterfully and I drop my arm, not bothering to mention Jackson's mark.

Because that's clearly visible, isn't it? Just where the curve of my neck meets my shoulder. Luca's eyes flick to it, and then to his own mark high up, beneath my jaw. Except they're different, aren't they? Luca's mark has faded now - just a collection of scars. Jackson's is healed but alive, blushing warm and pink.

Luca sighs, dropping his eyes from my neck, his shoulders slumping. "I'm so, so sorry, Ariel," he says, shaking his head. "I regret...everything, that day. Everything

I did was wrong. I was a...fool and a child. And I'm so incredibly sorry."

"I forgive you,” I say, meaning it, my wolf howling a little to see him in such genuine pain. I care about him, after all – after everything. And he means this apology - we can tell that he does, both by the true grief we can see in him as well as...well, alongside the little pulse of it that I can feel coming down that's left of our bond.

Because it's still there, that little scrap. Not enough, anymore, for us to have a true and vivid connection like we once had. But...still extant. Still my mate, in this tiny

little way.

Luca just shakes his head, I think overwhelmed. I tilt my head to the side, thinking that it's so strange that I...just don't know precisely what he's feeling. When I'm so used to knowing.

for him finally, my

head to look at

you as I could have been, was I?" I whisper, my heart sinking,

"Ariel -"

choose Jackson as you accused me of doing - at least, not at that point. But I was hiding things from you

was what?” Luca's eyes go wide

a little and

"Like hell they don't!"

shaking my head, wrinkling my nose and taking a step away.

on from it?"

can both agree to

me, reaching for me again. "Ariel, yes -

ground. "I always want you in my life. I think that given time there's space here for a

his tracks, narrowing his eyes at me, straightening up and slipping his hands in his pockets probably to avoid grabbing

smile. "Oh no, Luca,

"I never -"

laughing and shaking my head at him. "You broke our