The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 12

I gulp as we approach Luca’s lower bunk because I am completely out of my element never, ever been in a boy’s bed before except, obviously, a member of my family –

—

I’ve

But Luca, to my relief, gestures me towards the head of his bed before sitting down on the other end, lounging back against the metal footboard with one leg bent at the knee, his arm wrapped casually around it. I grimace a little inwardly to see that his left boot is sole–down on his blankets. Slowly I lower myself onto the bed, perching on the edge, my eyes unblinking as I watch him.

“Make yourself comfortable, Shrimp,” he says, raising his chin and indicating that I should relax. “I’m not going to bite.”

My wolf gasps. Do you think we could get him to do that? He could give us his mark!

Mentally I smack her on the nose and she gives a little yelp, but it does nothing to defer her excitement.

Slowly I do as Luca bids, leaning back against his pillow a little and curling my bare feet beneath me. I don’t say anything though, letting him start the conversation.

He grins at me, lifting his other leg and stretching it out along the length of the mattress, effectively pinning me in on my left side. I glance down at his gigantic foot, which is just inches from me now, before raising my eyes back at him. Without intending to, I wrinkle my nose.

Luca bursts into laughter.

“Are you like, a clean freak or a germaphobe, Shrimp?” he asks, turning his foot so that he taps me with the dirty toe of his boot.

“No!” I protest, even as I flinch away from his boot – mostly because I don’t want any more tingles but, also, yes! Because it’s a dirty boot!

away.

“You totally are,” he says, grinning at me from the other end of the bed but turning his foot

“First you go

take a secret bath in the middle of the night, then the only time I can get you alone is when you’re brushing your teeth, and now you’re scared of a dirty boot?” He raises an eyebrow at me, clearly entertained.

“Did you ever consider that you’re just dirty, Luca?” I ask, leaning forward and flicking my eyes deliberately to where his shoe is pressed into his clean blankets. “Because I think that

S

wanting a hot bath and brushing my teeth just makes me normal.”

“So,” he says, leaning forward to peer at me, his smile deepening. “You know my

I sit back, fast, blushing a little to have been caught out.

name.”

“Don’t worry,” he says, laughing again as he, too, leans back. “I know yours too, Shrimp.”

“It’s not Shrimp,” I say, renewing my glare.

Ari Clark,” he says, tilting his head at me. “I just think Shrimp suits you better.”

show, because of course he doesn’t

ridiculously prompts. Maybe he’ll say

she dodges my blow and continues to run in excited circles. I sigh inwardly because she’s making it hard to concentrate.

so is he.

powerful body so relaxed – and how his scent is coming off of him in waves

shower – I’m suddenly hit with the memory

just staring at him, thinking about what he looks like n*ked. No wonder he thinks I’m so weird. “What

reply, my voice cold. “Like I said. Now

bunk?”

chances,” Luca says, ignoring my question, “that you and my mate would be outside at the same

I think to myself wryly, my eyelids lowering a little at the irony of

not bothering to answer, even as my body settles back against his pillow a little. Because as much

interrogated by my

wolf yips

like?” he asks, ignoring my comment and speaking swiftly,

gone.

really ugly,” I snap in reply, something

she’s not,” he says, shaking

know,” I lie. “I didn’t get

I pointed south, you confirmed that that was her

breathe, confused.

–

one direction and

spit out, frustrated with myself for not catching that. I remember, suddenly, the moment he’s talking about – after Jackson ran and Luca stayed crouched by the pool. I didn’t look where he pointed, I just said yes to whatever direction he was indicating. I just wanted him

are you holding out? Is she…is she in trouble or something? What bad thing would happen if you just told me why you

–” I

are lying,” he says to me, stating a simple fact that’s frustrating because it’s true. It’s bizarre – like he can already read me or

you,” I say quietly. “Maybe she doesn’t want

their mate?” Luca asks,

moment, torn. Because on one hand I am the

அ

bond a secret. And on the other hand… I’m sitting here in

right here, and we’re staring at each other in silence, and I know that there’s absolutely no place I’d rather be

maybe a little

think, shaking my head a little. I am…I am in

as he studies me and his eyes narrow, like he can’t…can’t quite see me or

–

impulse comes over me – I don’t know

lips together, wetting them. And then I leave my mouth slightly parted so that my breath rushes

then, fastening on

passes through him, traveling all

sit up straight, suddenly realizing –

I realize because a new hand wraps

doing here,” Rafe growls, glaring down at