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.”

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

the less thought on that,

the hot water do its

– but emotionally, am I ready for that? And even if I were…the Academy is notoriously rigorous, and there are more cuts once you’re admitted as a cadet. Half the reason that the academy is male–only is so that those

distraction, if I even get inside the castle walls? Am I really

Or more?

I feel or what I

the way Jackson smells, and the

memory of both sends shivers down

emerge from the shower fully dressed in my dirty clothes – 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

my shoulders as

OP

towel wrapped around their waists like most of the other candidates.

I twist

and Jackson’s beds are, subtly considering that maybe it’s in my favor to be dirty, at

pulling on a t–shirt and a pair of soft pants that he’ll sleep in before heading off to the mess hall. Evening meal is simple for the first couple of months – they give us hot breakfast in the morning and a big lunch, but it’s

the next to him in invitation. Knowing I can’t avoid it, I sigh and

friendly but stern. “Spill. I know

spot

but desperately tempted to tell him. Jesse – he’s always been a friend and a great listener, and I’m dying to talk to someone about this. I’m having trouble processing how I’m feeling

knows? Will he

–

me about it, or I tell Rafe and let him

me?” I ask, looking up at him with big pleading

when tackle me in bed and make me

sigh, realizing that there’s no way

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

his face with his hands and falling back on his mattress. “Who caught you?” Jesse’s words

say, shaking my head even though he can’t see me. “Secret’s

down a little so he can

a second, deciding whether or not to tell him, but I’m bursting to talk to him about it. When my wolf gives me an encouraging little prod with her nose, telling me to trust him, I lean forward. “Jesse,” I whisper, “it was my mate

at me in shock, his mouth hanging open for way too long – until I start to worry that he’s like…frozen like

giving him a sudden shove on

out of it and sitting up fast. He grabs me by my shoulders. “Are

eyes wide and scared like I’ve told him the worst thing he’s

heard.

Well, my

of me. At