The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

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.

from his perch on the side of

because it’s so quiet. Usually the mornings here are a mess of noise, all the candidates getting ready at once. I sit up and look around,

on,” he whispers, hopping silently down from the side of

I sigh, but I pull my blankets off and hop down softly, taking note of the single finger pressed to

going to be talking

morning ablutions and then out the

choice but to be able to sleep through a

dawn light,

are we

around happily at the pretty morning as we start out on a dirt track that leads towards the hills. “Candidates are all here voluntarily and they’re all determined to hold themselves to the rules. Because the school is going to cut the bottom 20%

we can just come and go at will?” I ask.

to go for an early morning run. Which is what we’re doing.” He gives me a wink and a little squeeze around the shoulders before dropping his arm and starting to stretch. “Ready?”

open before I scowl at

off on the track at a gentle jog. “Come on! You

this, and then I hurry to catch up with my cousin, who I know is only

air while he, infuriatingly, barely breaks a sweat. When we get to the top of a hill he signals to me to take a break and I

so much fitter than me,” I gasp, glaring at him. “I do…ballet. I do

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 way that the hills

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,

still pointing out the truth. “That was all you. Mom was pissed as hell when Aunt Ella let you move forward with it.”

my eyes wide.

“Yeah, she said that she had seen your future at your moonlight baptism and that guy was not your mate – so why the hell would

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

his hand through his hair. “I

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a little bit.”

as I do. Jesse – he’s

that your mate is here? Training for the Academy at the same time you are?” he shrugs and grins at me, a little baffled. “Honestly, I think it sounds a little bit like fate – like

know,” I whisper, nodding with him. “It

his head a little at our inside joke of calling an

I turn to him, a little surprised to hear him use my full name in such serious tones. I raise my eyebrows, inviting

that I have no right to tell you what to do, and that you’ve already got an overprotective big brother to play this role. But…” he hesitates and I step closer, wanting to hear what he has to say. “Just…maybe give this whole mate

a

mate – he hasn’t figured out who