The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 21

1 stare wide–eyed at my brother, waiting for him to react.

But Rafe just…stares at me, his face ghostly–white, until I start to get seriously worried.

“Rafe,” I murmur, leaning forward a little, starting to reach out a hand to touch him.

“What the f**k Ariel,” Rafe whispers, so fast that the words all bleed together into one, so low that I can barely hear him. But the sentiment…is perfectly clear.

“Well it’s not like I asked for it,” I say, spreading my hands out, my eyebrows going up. “I didn’t do anything. Rafe!”

“We’re getting you out of here,” he says, his head snapping back towards the barracks, coming back to himself now and just like dad – immediately springing into action. “We’re calling mom – this

is over

“What!?” I gasp, and then I dart forward, smacking him as hard as I can on the arm,

“Rafe! No!”

He turns his head to me and growls, ready to retort, but I hit him again, which makes him pause.

“Rafe! You are not taking this from me just because that idiot doesn’t know how to handle himself! I want to be here I want to train as part of the Academy! This isn’t up to you anymore, you asshole!”

Rafe blinks at me in surprise – probably because I don’t think I’ve ever in my life sincerely called him an asshole. But I bare my teeth at him now, meaning it, because he kind of is being one. Rafe is not in charge of my future even if he thinks he is.

“He is going to kill you, Ariel,” Rafe growls, leaning forward and staring at me, making me see what’s at risk here.

“He’s known something was up since the first night, Rafe,” I counter, stubbornly crossing my arms. and glaring at him. “We’ve gotten through almost two weeks of him having no opportunity to hurt me – we can get through a few more days!”

“And then once you’re in the Academy?” he says, raising his eyebrows. “Because he’s f**king good, Ari he’s definitely getting in too.”

“When we’re in the Academy we’re allowed to carry weapons,” I say, speaking my ideas aloud as I think them because honestly I haven’t planned this far ahead

– – “I’ll learn how to protect myself!”

Rafe groans and buries his face in his hands, realizing that he’s not talking me out of here without a big fight – and also realizing, I think, that as much as I’m his little sister I’m grown now it’s

actually not his job to decide whether I stay or I go.

And damn it? I’m staying until they make me leave.

–

Chapter 21

Mar

away against his palms, clearly putting the pieces of his reality back together. I

Rafe starts to look up at me. “Seriously,” he whispers,

I nod seriously.

“You’re sure?”

I nod again.

you know?”

wolf

and dropping his hands from

scent marking is enough to confuse my scent, I think. Jackson figured out his mate is here, and that

me.”

you

with keeping his mate away. But you know it’s him…so…” My brother studies me carefully, narrowing

cheeks. “What!? No! I don’t even know him! And!” I fling a hand out in the direction

he’s your mate!” Rafe’s face screws

hands in the air. “But do not mistake my being mated to him for any like affection! I have no idea what’s going on! I am brand new to this as

off into the distance. “Maybe we should call mom,” he murmurs. “She has a mate. She knows

my hand to my brother. “Let’s just…get through the week, all right? And then we’ll figure out this stupid mate stuff when we’re enrolled in the Academy and have

but certainly as a sign of solidarity. When he’s on his

close.

growls, and I smirk a little to hear him use my barrack nickname. “But we’re doing this on my terms now, okay? Which means you don’t go anywhere alone, and you stick to my god damn side like glue. Do you hear

earnestly up into his

“And,” he

forbid it.”

his eyes at me again. “You don’t say another damn word to your mate.

he pulls his big brother card and bosses me around. “Can we get to breakfast? Jesse’s going

my jacket and tugging me

1

me go,” I groan, pulling away, but he doesn’t let me

glue. Ariel,” he snaps, glaring down at me. “Glue.”

up at him. But when he lets my jacket go, I stay close, hardly a hand’s breadth between us as

breakfast.

his hands up in the air like we can’t believe what we’ve cut it this close, but Rafe just waves a hand

whatever’s left, a random assortment of cereal and breakfast meats and granola. When another candidate leans

jumps almost out of his boots before muttering his

looking up at him

heave a sigh and ignore

other half of

at us. “I wake up

decided to go for a run on his own,” Rafe growls, glaring

Luca lifts a spoonful of cereal to

Jesse breathes, staring at me. “You know

already schooled me, all right?” I growl, flicking my eyes in Luca’s direction