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.

as we pass head towards the gym… I can’t help

know who

in

noooo idea who I am.

least, not yet.

gigantic obstacle course. “Thanks, guys,” I whisper, suddenly overwhelmed by a rush of gratitude.

head down at me. “Training is about to kick your ass.

Jesse grins at me to let me know I’m

the end of the day, Rafe’s prediction turns out

thank them.

–

to do with fighting anyone, as far as I

pathetically bad at all of it. I gritted my teeth as I pulled myself through the final obstacle – a sand pit that I had to crawl through under a set of

I got a good whiff of his scent as he pulled ahead, an experience that made me emit an embarrassing moan as my arms gave out so that I faceplanted in the sand, completely overwhelmed by exhaustion and lust. God damn it, having mates while running an obstacle course makes me

I crawled out of the pit.“Dead last, Clark,” a Lieutenant said as I got to my feet, raising an eyebrow at

be last!?” I panted, gesturing towards Jackson. “McClintock is ranked second, and

snide brow in my direction. “McClintock

thinking longingly of the hot shower that I’d get to

next-

day: a five–mile run that left me gasping for air because Jesse and Rafe refused to let me finish last again and made me keep up with them the whole time. Honestly, I had

that when they drag me back to the barracks, each with a hand under my arm to help hold

hate this,” I grumble, glaring at them. “I hate

barely audible from his stupid smirking mouth, “you’re the one

drawing my eyes to him.

If you’re going to make it, Ari, you’re going to have to give it your all. You’re going to have to –”

keep up with their long strides. “I can do it. I just need more

pick up our pace as we

at the tiled rows of open showers which are already spurting hot water. But then they glance at me, sigh, and join the short line for the three curtained showers with me again standing between

scowl, hating that they’re again giving up what they really want to stand with me, and T glance at the long row of open showers, hoping desperately that there’s still hot water