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 but feel a

I know who they

in

noooo idea who I am.

not yet.

walk into the gym, moving towards the group of candidates who stand before what looks like a gigantic

Rafe says, shaking his head down at me. “Training is about to kick your ass.

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

out to be correct: I have absolutely no urge to

thank them.

–

as far as I could see. And it certainly

my teeth as I pulled myself through the final obstacle – a sand pit that I had to crawl through under a set of low ropes. As I hauled myself forward

an experience that made me emit an embarrassing moan as my arms gave out so that I faceplanted in the

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

“McClintock is

Lieutenant said, raising a snide brow in my direction. “McClintock went

my head back, thinking longingly of the

next-

up with them the whole time. Honestly, I had thought I was a good runner – I’m usually pretty fast – but my exhaustion, combined with my lack of sleep, combined with my realization that Jesse and Rafe really have been going easy on me all these

me back to the barracks, each with a hand under my arm to help hold me up,

glaring at them. “I hate boy

well,” Jesse breathes, his words barely audible from his stupid smirking mouth, “you’re the

at me, drawing my eyes to

gave up. A lot. If you’re going to make it, Ari, you’re

from theirs and willing myself to walk on my own, pushing myself to keep up with their long strides. “I can do it. I just need more sleep.” And to not have my wolf howling after my mates constantly.

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 hurry into the bathroom, beating the majority of the

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

hoping desperately that there’s still hot water by the time we have a chance to get in – and that the shower stalls aren’t disgusting already. like they were yesterday