The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 1013

Jesse sighs, glancing at his watch and then looking to the door, an undrunk glass of champagne in his hand. "Where the hell is your damn sister?"

"Your damn cousin," Rafe murmurs, draining his glass and then pouring himself another.

"You'd better stop that," Jesse says, turning his head to Rafe with a frown. "There won't be any for Ari at the rate you're going -"

Rafe laughs, shrugging. “Her fault! She was late! She knows the rules."

Jesse grins at Rafe and then turns his eyes to the chaos of the roof, which has kids running all over it. "Didn't we pick this place because it was quiet and secret? So that the three of us could have a moment alone every Midwinter?"

"Yes, we did," Rafe murmurs, frowning around at the shouting, laughing kids. "But that was before your ex-mate created the ultimate kid fort and gave the pups free reign." He raises his glass towards Midnight's converted yurt, in and out of which all the children run, laughing and playing even as the hour grows late.

As the pair watch, Seraphina growls and chasses Marigold back inside, where a waiting Mark snatches her up into his arms in a pretend attack. The little girl shrieks with delight as Seraphina jumps up and down, shouting that it's her turn.

"Don't blame Midnight," Jesse murmurs, smirking at the yurt. "First, because it was your mom that converted it into the kid paradise it is. And second because Midnight is getting... powerful. She'll probably kick your ass."

Both turn their eyes to where Midnight stands across the roof on a little wooden block, smiling down at Daphne, who kneels at her feet. Daphne laughs at something Midnight says, her eyes crinkling with joy, even as she plies her needle to hem the head-to-toe black outfit that she made Midnight as a gift for Midwinter.

Ben, Elias, and Pippa stand at Midnight's other side, curiously watching Daphne's process and chatting softly. Pippa presses a sleeping Bianca to her chest, the little girl nearly one year's old - slumped with exhaustion, her head on her mother's shoulder.

as

with pulling up the hood and lifting the fabric that covers her nose and mouth.

to Jesse. "How are

beams, bright

"Still no bond?"

attention. "Nah, but...same feeling like there should be, like we're waiting for it to snap into place any moment.

tilting his head back to

forget to

head back up, glaring at Jesse. "Of course I

of her not to

grinning so wide

eyes half shut.

shaking his head. "So seriously... it's

IMS

into it. "Just...she's a very challenging

best ones," Jesse

his voice dropping low as he glances at his cousin. "You have