The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I sigh and drop my head back on my pillow as I finish my sandwich, curling up tight and pressing my eyes shut, going over every moment of my conversation with Luca in my

head.

Thinking about his handsome face, the way his eyes fell to my mouth, the ran down his spine —

The fact that I did that to him…

This is…

I sigh, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.

Because this is getting into some dangerous grounds, isn’t it?

way

the shiver

Some wonderful grounds, my wolf corrects, curling into a little crescent and tucking her nose warmly beneath the edge of her tail. Sneak back over – let’s see if we can make him go all shivery again!

No, I growl inwardly, shaking my head. Because as much as I’m completely distracted and fascinated by my new connections, I have to resist the urge to explore them right now. There’s far too much at stake –

If I let Luca or Jackson in too much, I could get caught and then I risk losing my shot at trying myself in the Academy and I’ll risk having to go home and fulfill my promise to marry Prince Edward. As much as I’m intrigued…

I have to keep my distance. Which means doing my best to avoid my mates during the two weeks of candidacy.

I can do that, right? Mates are forever – I will have time to explore my connections with them later, and right now I need to turn my mind to other things.

I can do this, I tell myself with a steady nod, my eyes still pressed shut.

No you can’t, my wolf sighs sleepily, closing her eyes.

But I just ignore her, determined, and steady my breathing, willing myself to fall asleep.

When a hand shakes my arm the next morning, I gasp awake out of a much–needed deep.

in

Chapter 13

dreamless sleep.

Shrimp,” Jesse says quietly, grinning down at me from his perch on the side of my bed.

of noise, all the candidates getting ready at once. I sit up and look around, realizing that everyone’s still

hopping silently down from the side of the bed. “We’re going for

single finger pressed to Jesse’s lips as

we’re going to

pulling on my boots and quickly lacing them before Jesse and I sneak quietly to the bathroom for our morning ablutions and then out the door of the barracks. As we pass my bunk I smile at my brother’s sleeping form, grateful again that he’s a good sleeper.

in our big crazy family there wasn’t much choice but to be able

friendly arm around my shoulders as we walk out into the dawn light, the

I ask, confused. “Like, why are we able to just walk in and out

towards the hills. “Candidates are all here voluntarily and they’re all determined to hold themselves

come and go at will?”

and shrugs. “Some cadets like to go for an early morning run. Which is what we’re doing.” He

I scowl at

lied,” he says, grinning at me and starting off on the track at

I hurry to catch up with my cousin,

through my paces, making me stay by his side until I’m panting for air while he, infuriatingly, barely breaks a sweat. When we get to the top of

I gasp,

at me and laughs a little. “You have hobbies, Ari. Dad and Uncle Dom have been prepping Rafe and I for this since we were kids.” He takes a deep breath, looking out over the gorgeous, hazy countryside with a smile. I follow his gaze as my breathing comes easier, likewise admiring the

landscape. “I hate that you and Rafe got to become bastions of athletic prowess and I got to train to be a perfect wife and Queen.” I cross my arms, bitter as I stare out at the beautiful view. “A whole lot of good it did me, in the

Jesse says gently, letting me have my bitterness while still pointing out the truth.

ask, my eyes wide.

not your mate – so why the hell would we let you go into a marriage that we knew would fail? But Aunt Ella said you

turn my head to stare at him, baffled by this. “So, you knew the whole time too?

runs his hand through his hair. “I may have been eavesdropping.

216

a little bit.”

but laughing as I do. Jesse – he’s always been good at

didn’t work out in that way, but the fact that your mate is here? Training for the

whisper, nodding with him. “It

his head a little at our inside joke of calling an all–powerful moon

use my full name in such serious tones. I raise my eyebrows, inviting him to

no right to tell you what to do, and that you’ve already got an

ask, a

– he hasn’t figured out who

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