The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 9

“Oh god,” I groan, sinking my face into my hands, my dreams of becoming an Academy cadet suddenly slipping through my fingers.

“Don’t worry about it, Ari,” Jesse murmurs, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and giving me a manly squeeze. “We’ll train you up good. You just had one bad day, and they didn’t measure any of the things you’re actually good at.”

“He’s right,” Rafe says, and I raise my head to see my brother looking at me seriously. I blink a little, emotion swelling in me because Rafe looks so much like dad when he looks at me like that, with a mix of stern expectation and love in his eyes. “We’ll get your number up fast, Ari, you just need…a little more training.”

“Not like you two have to worry,” I sigh, leaning into Jesse for just a second before glancing up at the board again. “You two are…” and then I scoff a little in jealousy because their numbers are one and four. “Seriously, guys!?” I say, pouting at them. “You had to show me up that bad?”

“Someone had to uphold the Sinclair name,” Rafe murmurs, smirking a little as he finishes off his plate, shoveling the food into his mouth. “Seriously, Ari, eat up,” he says, gesturing towards my plate with his fork. “You need the energy today!”

I sigh and eat the sausage in two bites, finishing up the orange as we bus our trays and head for the door. But as I swallow the last little bit of orange, I realize that I didn’t even look –

I spin at the last minute, my eyes roving over the rankings for their names –

Luca Grant – that one’s easy. Number five, right at the top, right under Jesse. Does that mean…did Jesse beat him in the bracket yesterday? Surely he would have mentioned

But Rafe – if he beat my other mate in the final match that means…

Number two.

My eyes dart up the chart, fastening on his name.

Jackson McClintock.

That’s him, I think, even as Rafe grabs my arm and hauls me out of the room.

Jackson. Luca and Jackson.

–

–

My mates.

can’t help but feel a little thrill

know who

in

noooo idea who I am.

least, not

a gigantic obstacle course. “Thanks, guys,” I whisper, suddenly overwhelmed by a rush of gratitude. Because honestly, if anyone can

me. “Training is about to kick

me to let me know I’m right. But I square my shoulders and nod to them, ready to

turns out to

thank them.

–

don’t even know why they call it training – it was just a lot of running through obstacle courses, throwing ourselves over barriers, and climbing chains an activity at which I completely failed. None of it had anything to do with fighting anyone, as far as I could see. And it certainly was not an activity that played to my skill set. Thankfully, nothing

pit that I had to crawl through under

arms gave out so that I

a mouthful of sand as I crawled out of the pit.“Dead last, Clark,” a Lieutenant said as I got to

I panted, gesturing towards Jackson. “McClintock is ranked second, and he barely made it out

raising a snide brow in my direction. “McClintock went through twice, while

back, thinking longingly of the hot shower that I’d get

next-

whole time. Honestly, I had thought I was a good runner – I’m usually pretty fast – but my exhaustion, combined with my

they drag me back to the barracks, each with a hand under my arm to help hold me up, they’re not doing it for show.

this,” I grumble, glaring at them. “I

smirking

eyes to him.

he says, frowning at me in turn. “You gave up. A lot. If you’re going to make it, Ari, you’re going to have

up,” I grumble, yanking my arms from theirs and willing myself to walk on my own, pushing myself to keep up with their long strides. “I can do

snaps, his eyes again focused forward. “Hurry up, we want to get good showers – the hot water will be gone if we’re last.” Jesse nods eagerly and we all pick up our pace as we enter the barracks. When we get to our bunks we all yank off our boots as fast as we can and then

– just towels and soap again – I see Jesse and Rafe look longingly at the tiled rows of open showers which are already spurting hot

hoping desperately that there’s still