The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I can't help it. I just get incredibly jealous.

"Tell me," Jackson urges, feeling the shift in my emotions, tightening his arms

around me.

"I just want to do that," I say, laughing a little, shaking my head, feeling petulant. "It sounds so cool, and important, and... vivid. I want to do that work, Jacks. I want to help."

He nods, humming his understanding, letting me have the space to speak.

"I just...Jacks, I don't know if I'm going to be a very normal kind of mom," I say quietly, worried about it. "I don't think I can do it."

"What's a normal mom?" Jackson asks, genuinely curious.

"Like my mom," I say quietly. "Dedicated to raising the kids and keeping the family together. Letting the man in the house take charge."

"She does more than that."

"I know," I say on a sigh. "But...mom and dad fall into some really normal gender roles. It works for them. Family has always come first for mom - she loves it."

don't think you'll

our vast and beautiful country. "But I love other things too. I think I'm more like my dad.

a warm little nudge with his nose, letting me know that he means it. “If it helps, I don't think I'm going to be a

him, smiling up into his face. "You're going to

pressing a kiss to

girls," Jackson murmurs "And...I don't have any knowledge to back this up with, but I think that's all that really

they don't?" I ask, a little smile playing

his voice clearly belying the fact that he has no idea what he's talking about. Or what that punishment would even

he'd ever actually have the heart to

burst out

snatching me close, pressing me to him and letting me feel precisely how much I'm loved. Which is a great deal. Marigold looks over at us at the noise and smiles, two little pony toys clutched

be great at it," Jackson whispers,

on a sigh, resting against him. "We

have no idea what we're doing. But the confidence wins. We're going to figure it out and love the hell out

Jackson says. "What do we do

do you want to do?" I whisper, turning