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.

at me from his perch on

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

he whispers, hopping silently down from the side of the

hop down softly, taking note of the single finger pressed to Jesse’s lips as he glances towards the still–sleeping Rafe. I grimace, realizing that if we’re going without my brother…

one thing we’re going

lacing them before Jesse and I sneak quietly to the bathroom for our morning ablutions and then out the

crazy family there wasn’t much choice but to be able to sleep through a great

out into the dawn light, the fresh morning air bracing as the door

are we able to just walk in and out of this

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%

can just come and go

looks down at me and shrugs. “Some cadets like 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

open before I scowl at

says, grinning at me and starting off on the track at a gentle jog. “Come on!

my cousin, who I know is only doing this for my benefit anyway. I really do need to

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 put my hands on my

are you so much fitter than me,” I gasp,

since we were kids.” He takes a deep breath, looking out over the gorgeous, hazy countryside with a smile. I follow his

landscape. “I hate that you and Rafe got to become bastions of athletic prowess and I got to train to be a perfect wife

Jesse says gently, letting me have my bitterness while still pointing out the truth. “That was all you. Mom was pissed as hell when Aunt Ella let you move forward with it.”

I ask, my eyes

not your mate – so why the hell would we let you go into a marriage

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

hand through his hair. “I may have been

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a little bit.”

to smack him but laughing as I do. Jesse – he’s always been good at being

Jesse says after he dodges my hand, still smiling at me. “You trained your whole life to be a Queen, and it didn’t work out in that way, but the fact 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 feels like…grandma has a

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

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

got an overprotective big brother to play this role. But…” he hesitates and I step closer, wanting to hear what

ask, a little confused.

figured out who you are