The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0996

"What do you mean you've never been in a house before!?" I cry, smacking my mate on the arm.

He grins down at me and Marigold does too. "I mean, when would I have been in a house, Ariel? I grew up in a barracks cabin with a bunch of other boys, and then moved to the city where I lived in an apartment building. From there I lived in the candidate barracks and then the castle..." he raises his chin towards the castle on the cliff as I just stare at him, slack-jawed, realizing that he's right.

"That's so weird, Jackson," I whisper, shaking my head at him.

"It's nice having a feral friend," Jesse says, stepping close and clapping a hand on Jackson's shoulder. "Come on, my guy. We'll domesticate you and, in doing so, introduce you to the wonders of the single-family home."

Jackson laughs and takes my hand as we all walk up the short steps to the adorable little porch and then through the front door into our little blue house. Unsurprisingly, my eyes mist immediately at the thought that this is our first little home together as a family. That this is where Marigold will get to know her new sisters, and where we'll have so many new experiences.

"You happy?" Jackson asks, stroking a hand over my hair as I look around at the sweet little living room, still bare of any furnishings or decorations but completely full of possibility.

I press myself to his side, tucking my face against his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist, completely overwhelmed. "Yeah, I'm happy," I squeak, meaning it utterly as my wolf pounces around in my soul, rubbing herself warmly against Jackson's wolf and then darting over to the two new little bonds, just...completely thrilled.

room with interest as he wraps an arm around me, holding

while they chat and talk about the possibilities and all of the furniture mom ordered

Just...completely happy, totally blessed.

mood, gives me a happy smile and a

he could have

is, in fact, the best dad on the planet - always supporting our dreams and doing everything in the world that he can to make them come

Dad spends a great deal of time meeting with the Captain and the rest of the staff, going over documents and reconsidering both the rules of the Academy as well as my individual learning plan. And as much as I sigh to see that my lessons with Blaze will be less violently focused for the time being - more stretching, less punching -

There are some things

much, my wolf says, trotting around smugly in my soul,

nodding internally. Not much at

houses' worth of goods as

and Jesse (who grumbles

her hips, directing the boys to carry a particularly