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.

perch on the side of my bed. “Time

a mess of noise, all the candidates getting

whispers, hopping silently down from the side of the bed. “We’re

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…

we’re going to

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

again, in our big crazy family there wasn’t much choice but to be able to sleep through a great deal of

the dawn light, the

“Like, why are we able to just walk in

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% anyway, there’s no reason to stop candidates who want to take themselves out

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

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 before dropping his arm and starting to stretch.

open before I scowl

starting off on the track

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

air while he, infuriatingly, barely breaks a sweat. When we get to the top

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

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

a beautiful 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

out the truth.

ask, my eyes

your moonlight baptism and that guy was 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 had

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

hand through his hair. “I

216

a little bit.”

reaching out to smack him but laughing as I do. Jesse

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

“It feels like…grandma

at our inside joke of calling an all–powerful

my full name in such serious tones. I raise my

now, and 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.

I ask, a little confused.

hasn’t figured out

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