The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Ariel," my mom calls after me. "Please, come and talk to us -"

"It's time for the meeting anyway, Ella," dad murmurs. "She needs space to think and we don't have any more time to talk."

As I head into the darkness of the hall Jackson's voice appears in my mind, soft and apologetic.

Do you want me to come and talk to you? Please - I'm having trouble understanding what's best right now.

I sigh, holding Goldie closer, and send Jackson a little pulse of love down our bond. Because I'm angry and frustrated and feel betrayed, but he's still my mate, and he's just expressing his opinion on what he thinks will be best for our tiny family. His first instinct, after all, is to protect us.

No, I respond back to Jackson, mind-to-mind, doing my best to sound cheerful and not be curt. You go...have your meeting. It's important. I'll just...take care of Marigold.

I can almost feel Jackson sigh as I open the door to the room and step inside, because he's well aware that we've just fallen into some gendered roles that we've never, ever subscribed to before. And he knows I'm not happy about it.

But I grin at Goldie and wrinkle my nose at her, not wanting her to see or feel any of it. Because the opportunity for an afternoon alone with my daughter - that's never a bad thing, is it?

"Should we order up a big breakfast, Golds?" I whisper, conspiratorial. "All the good stuff, nothing healthy?"

I laugh, hoisting my daughter higher on my hip and heading over to the intercom to

have more bath time, which she loves, and for the first time I get to pick out an outfit with my little girl and dress her up for her day, an experience that...really demonstrates why my mom loves shopping

guards can stand further back, and my baby brother keeps me laughing all day with his high spirits and silly sense of humor. He shows Marigold all of the

time is run through with a dreadful feeling in my soul that...everything has changed and is beyond my control now. That in falling pregnant I've lost authority over my life, just when I'd honestly felt like I'd finally gained it. My

we get back to the palace in the evening the family apartments are quiet,

looks at me anxiously, but also

and giving him a shove on the shoulder with my free hand, the other supporting Marigold as she drowses against my shoulder. "You

can though,” Marks says, shrugging sympathetically. "I love

you alone

right?" I say, smiling at my little girl who yawns and snuggles closer to

sis," Mark says, stepping close and pressing a kiss to

that love

give him another. shove away, sending

whatever it

into my room, settling her down in

opens