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.

his perch on the side of my bed. “Time to get

mess of noise, all the candidates getting ready

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

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…

only one thing we’re going

to the bathroom for our morning ablutions and then out

choice but to be able to sleep through a great

around my shoulders as we walk out into the dawn light, the fresh morning air bracing as the door shuts behind us. But as we start to

there any guards?” I ask, confused. “Like, why are we able to just walk in and out of this

says, looking 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% anyway,

just come and go at will?”

what we’re doing.” He gives me a wink and a little squeeze around the shoulders before dropping his arm and

jaw drops open before I scowl at him.

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

up with my cousin, who I know is only doing

by his side until I’m panting for air while he, infuriatingly, barely breaks a sweat. When we get to the top

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

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

my head, aware that my angry thoughts are in contrast to such 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 cross my arms, bitter as I stare out at the beautiful view. “A whole

Ari,” 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.”

ask, my eyes

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

at him, baffled by this. “So, you knew the whole time

laughs a little and runs his hand through

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a little bit.”

out to smack him but laughing as I do.

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

“It feels like…grandma has a hand in

head a little at our inside joke of calling an

name in such serious tones. I raise my eyebrows, inviting

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

I ask, a little

– he hasn’t figured