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.

head towards the gym… I can’t help but feel a little thrill of

know

in

have noooo idea

least, not yet.

gym, moving towards the group of candidates who stand before what looks like a gigantic obstacle course. “Thanks, guys,” I whisper, suddenly overwhelmed by a rush of gratitude. Because honestly, if anyone can get me raised up from number 120? It’s them. “Thank you for believing in

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

at me to let me know I’m right. But I square my shoulders and nod

prediction turns out to

thank them.

–

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 today counts towards rankings –

that I had to crawl through under a set of low ropes. As

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 look even more pathetic than I really

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

gesturing towards Jackson. “McClintock is ranked second,

brow in my direction. “McClintock went through twice, while you

head back, thinking longingly of

next-

Rafe grabbed my arm and hauled me towards the last task of the 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 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

a hand under my arm to help hold me up, they’re not doing

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

well,” Jesse breathes, his words barely audible from his stupid smirking mouth, “you’re the one that wanted to be a boy.”

glares down at me, drawing my 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 to give it your all.

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 it. I

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 candidates there.

at the tiled rows of open showers which are already spurting hot water. But then they glance at me, sigh, and join

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 by the time we have a chance to get in – and that the shower stalls