The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0972

My eyes flash down to Jackson, still asleep beneath me, and grief floods me. My poor mate - he's been so good to me, and we've been through so much, and it was finally, finally getting good. And now this! Another bond, another mate!?

A fourth mate!? Who - who the hell needs four!?

Jackson stirs, sensing a change in the room, a little frown coming to his lips. I freeze for a moment, watching as he turns his head and then exhales slowly, peacefully falling back to sleep.

I exhale too, my breath shaky, and then quickly climb off of him. Because I can't – I can't wake him now - he'll flip out, and I'm already flipping out -

Suddenly, completely unable to think of anything else to do, I rush for the door, pulling it open and dashing out into the hall. I pull the bedroom door shut behind me as quietly as I can and then stride for the living room, desperate to get away - to get my thoughts together -

"Baby?"

I moan at the sight of my mom in the living room, sitting with a cup of coffee in her hand in the pre-dawn light, already at work.

My lip immediately starts to tremble as I stop in my tracks, staring at her. "Mom, something's wrong," I whisper, shaking my head.

"Oh, sugar," mom says, immediately standing and dropping her cup, coffee splashing all over the table. She reaches for me. "Come here. Come here right now."

up in her arms, pulling me close. "What's wrong, baby?" she

against her and begin to spill everything

about twelve words in when my mom goes stiff against me, sniffing at my hair, and

her, appalled. "Why - why the hell are you smiling!? This is a

and simply turning away from me when she

to pull my hand away, but she has an iron grip. She

Laughs!

as hell at

Ariel," she says, shaking her head, her pretty rose-gold hair falling back over her shoulders as

stumble after her,

news of my three mates and my mate's new daughter, I don't think he's any more prepared than I am

to her bed and then sitting me down on it, urging me to sit back amongst the pillows and put my feet up.

pulling her own feet

my voice hesitant with fear. "Why...why are you being so...cool

a pretty smile and leaning forward to cup my cheek

a fourth bond not be as bad –“ I snap,