The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 10

“Ari’s just curious, Rafe,” Jesse says, still laughing and grinning, looking around to see if anyone noticed, but there’s no one behind us in line for the shower stalls yet and everyone else is too busy to care. “He’s led a sheltered life.”

“And he’s going to continue to lead a sheltered life,” Rafe growls, glaring first at Jesse and then at me. “I’m serious, Ari – this is not…” he stumbles now, searching for words.

“A meat market?” Jesse whispers wickedly, making me blush again.

“Fine,” Rafe snaps, taking another step forward as another shower clears. “For a lack of a better term, yes.” He grabs my arm, leaning down to hiss in my ear. “We took you from home a virgin, Ariel, and whenever it is that you go home? You’ll be returning the same way. So, if you had any ideas otherwise, get them out of your head now.”

I gasp, appalled, and shove my brother away. “Ew, Rafe! How did that!?” I look between Rafe and Jesse, shocked.

– how do

how do you even know

“Oh, come on, Ari,” Jesse says, giving me a sad little smile. “When would you have had the chance? Uncle Dominic keeps you locked down –“

My jaw drops again as I stare between them, realizing that…that…

“Oh my god,” I gasp, looking between them. “Are you two…are you not virgins!?”

Jesse laughs and gives a little shrug, playing it off like it’s not a big deal, but Rafe just clenches his jaw and stares forward at the shower stalls. Only a faint touch of pink on his cheekbones gives away the fact that he’s hiding something from me.

“Rafe!” I shriek, swatting at him. “Who was it!?”

“Stop. Shrieking,” he snaps, glaring at me and knocking my hand away. I purse my lips, tucking my hands behind my back and admitting, at least internally, that – okay – maybe that was a little more girlish than I’d like. But still!

–

“Seriously, Rafe,” I say, lifting my chin at him and demanding an answer. “Who did – who did you

-“I blush again and curse my stupid cheeks.

“We’re not talking about this,” Rafe snaps, ending the conversation as he strides into a newly vacated shower stall, whipping the curtain closed behind him.

I spin on Jesse now, the same question in my eyes.

“I don’t kiss and tell,” Jesse says, shaking his head with a smirk. I glare at him and he laughs, but then he gestures forward to an empty stall. “Go on, Ari. I’ll see you on the other side.”

a glare and hurry into the stall, yanking the curtain closed and stripping down before letting the hot water run all over me, fuming over the hypocrisy of my brother and my cousin

I guess the less thought on that, the better.

and let the hot water do its work unwinding

wolf basically salivates after them all day – but emotionally, am I ready for that? And even if I were…the Academy is notoriously rigorous, and there are more

castle walls? Am I really willing to sacrifice everything the Academy offers just to…I don’t know,

Or more?

turn the water off, shaking my head, not knowing at all how I feel or what I want. But…maybe I don’t

though the way Jackson smells, and the

of both sends shivers

– a little chagrined that I didn’t realize that I should probably have brought a set of fresh fatigues or something else to change into – I still haven’t decided what I think or feel about any of it. Jesse steps immediately forward and subtly scent marks me

shoulders as the three of us head towards our bunks, my brother and

OP

their waists like most of the other candidates. “Nobody’s going to be able to smell your girl scent in those.”

I twist

to where Luca and Jackson’s beds are, subtly considering that maybe it’s in my

before heading off to the mess hall. Evening meal is simple for the first couple of months – they give us hot breakfast

Jesse finishes dressing and sits down on his bunk, patting the next to him in invitation. Knowing I can’t avoid it, I

but stern.

spot

been a friend and a great listener, and I’m dying to talk to someone about this.

if he knows? Will he make me leave?

–

talk to me about it, or I tell Rafe and

up at him with big pleading eyes that usually

tackle me in bed and make me scent

realizing that there’s no way out of

it – about how I wanted to get clean, and how the showers were

that, covering his face with his hands and falling back on his mattress. “Who caught you?”

even though

hands down a little so he can see my

to talk to him about it. When my wolf gives me an encouraging little prod with her nose, telling me to trust him, I

too long – until I

a sudden shove on

fast. He grabs me by my shoulders. “Are you…are you serious? Your

and scared like I’ve told him the

heard.

Well, my

circle inside of me. At least you