The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Jackson grins.

"Are you ready for all of this?" Dominic asks, his eyebrows knitting together with worry.

Jackson's smile falls. “Ready for what?"

"For...this," Dominic says, waving around to the ridiculous closet and all that it implies. "Fatherhood to three kids. A life as a member of the Royal family, a national figure, a political entity unto yourself. The Princess's consort. As the father to Princes and Princesses. It is...not a simple life, Jackson."

Jackson clenches his jaw and looks down into his drink, truly considering it. Inwardly Dominic's powerful wolf shakes out his fur, quite pleased with his new son-in-law, pleased that he takes the time to consider the question instead of just blurting out whatever it is he thinks Dominic wants to hear.

"I'm ready for it," Jackson says quietly. "Or, if there are ways that I'm not...I know she'll help me. If this is what life with Ariel and these children is, then I'm ready for it."

"Good man," Dominic says, putting his drink down and opening his arms to Jackson. Jackson goes a bit still, not knowing what to do, which just makes Dominic laugh as he steps forward and wraps Jackson up in a hug.

Jackson's eyes fly wide as Dominic presses a kiss to the side of his head because...he's never, ever had a mark of affection like that from another man. From a father figure, at that.

back and keeping a hand cupped around the back of Jackson's head. "We love you, kid. I love you. We're so pleased to have you as part of the family. We'll

looking down into his drink, at once incredibly pleased at the words and simultaneously remarkably embarrassed at the tears that line

he says on a sigh, guiding Jackson back towards the door.

hates vegetables," Jackson murmurs, still

it," Dominic says on a

up and leaning away from her. "I don't want more pineapple - stop trying

as she leans closer to me with a big piece of pineapple stabbed on the end of a fork. Isnarl and push her hand away just as a grape hits my head gasp and spin to glare at Jesse,

the children," Jesse says, grinning like the demon he is, pulling another off the stem and winding back his arm. Rafe

bit still as the bedroom door opens

shouts, abandoning her quest for grapes and jumping off the couch, dashing towards her father. Jackson's face breaks into a smile as he bends down and

in one piece, Jacks," Rafe says, leaning

turns his eyes to me, his gaze warm and loving and proud and happy. My

I've waited long

says, waving her

over her