Ch. 106..110: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 106-110

Chapter 106

“Yup, dad’s somewhere I’m shocked he hasn’t come running yet,” mom says, dropping Jackson’s hand and fluttering her hand at him. “Rafe’s right shower for you, and then Ariel is next. Because if your dad meets your mate covered in your blood and your scent- he’s going to flip.”

Jackson, as freaked out as he should be, presses a quick kiss to my head and then stands up. I’ll be right back,” he says to me, looking down at me with worry. And I grin at him, touched a little – but what does he think, that I’m worried he’s going to run away or something?

“I know,” I murmur, reaching for his hand giving it a little squeeze. “Don’t worry. I’ll be okay.”

Jackson hesitates, I think fighting the instincts that tell him to stay absolutely by my side at all times, but then he sighs when Rafe wraps a hand around his arm and starts to pull him away.

Mom and I both watch as the two head for the second door in the chamber, which I guess leads somewhere else communal bathrooms? Who knows.

And then, when my mate and my brother disappear and the door swings shut behind them, my mom turns to me with a grin.

“Well,” she murmurs, her eyes flicking over me impishly, “you’ve been busy, haven’t you, daughter?”

And I just moan and put my head in my hands, sinking back against the pillows.

Mom just laughs, shoving me gently aside and coming to snuggle up against the pillows next to me. “Oh, don’t pretend that you’re all tired now –”

“I am tired!”

“Not too tired to gossipthe women in this family are never too tired to gossip. Come on, baby! I want to hear everything! I’m dying over here we haven’t had any news of you in

months-”

“Okay, okay,” I grumble, secretly pleased as my mom wraps an arm around me and pulls me close. Because she is right – I am dying to talk to her, and the ladies in this family we really can talk. And so I launch into my story, laying my heart out plain for her.

–

I start at the beginning, at the wedding, and I apologize profusely for bailing on it without even saying goodbye-

even saying goodbye – but my mom is all warm support, saying that she understands, and

considering the horrible things those men said when they found out I’d fled… “Well,” she says, tossing back her hair and lifting her chin, “they’re just lucky I let them walk away with their skins intact.”

“You are a lady, after all, mom,” I say, nodding sagely.

“And a queen,” she adds, mimicking my tone and making us both laugh. But then she squeezes me, urging me on.

So I tell her all about just wanting to be with Jesse and Rafe, my best friends, at first, but then as time passed how much I really, really wanted to be at the school. How much my heart, genuinely, sang when I was admitted as a cadet, how much I love my classes, the excitement I feel whenever I think about becoming a spy and helping our nation.

“I really want to do it, mom,” I murmur. “It’s…it’s more than just escaping from the wedding now. This feels like my life, like what I was…meant to do.”

“And it doesn’t hurt,” she says, her voice sarcastic, “that your super hot mate just happens. to live down the hall.”

I squawk in surprise, sitting up straight and staring at her. “Did you just call my mate hot!?”

Mom bursts out laughing, shaking her head. “I mean, he is, Ariel –”

“That’s so gross!” I gasp, swatting her arm. “You’re my mother –”

“Your mother who has eyes,” she continues, laughing hysterically, “besides, I mean, it’s not as if the two of us don’t have a similar type.”

“WHAT!?” I shout, appalled.

“Oh come, on, Ariel,” mom says, rolling her eyes as she tries to get the words out around her vivid laughter. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that you haven’t noticed the similarities between your mate and your dad? I mean, talk about daddy issues –”

Chapter 107

I yelp in protest then, grabbing my pillow and starting to thwap her with it, yelling disconnected words about how I didn’t even pick him, the Goddess did, and actually Jackson and dad are nothing alike, just because they’re both big.

But mom just laughs hysterically and eventually I join her, dropping my pillow and curling. up at her side, covering my blushing cheeks with my hands and shaking my head at the heat. against my palms.

“It’s okay, baby,” mom murmurs, dropping a kiss to my forehead as she shakes with giggles. “Your dad is hot too. Trust me, I get the appeal.”

“I don’t ever want to talk about this ever again,” I murmur, my words muffled in my humiliation.

“Too bad,” she sighs. “Cora’s going to come in here in a few minutes and say the exact same thing –”

“Cora’s here?” I gasp, sitting up eagerly and looking towards the door like she’s going to come through it at any minute.

“We’re all here, baby,” mom says, sitting up with me. “You think Cora and I are going to let your father and your uncle put on this ridiculously dangerous Examination without us at the end to patch everyone up? We come every year

“You do?” I ask, my eyes going wide.

“Yes! You didn’t notice that every year around this time we take a little vacation

–

“What a crap vacation,” I say, shaking my head.

But before my mom can agree, the door to the room flies open again and my mate comes stumbling into the room, gasping in fear and surprise.

But…not that mate.

The other one.

I’m caught between a gasp of relief and a moan of mortification – because my mom is going to be so confused by this. But I immediately open my arms for Luca, who comes crashing across the room to my side. I throw my arms around his neck as his slide immediately around my back, holding me close, shaking a little.

“Are you all right?” he gasps, horrified, worried.

“Are you!?”

“Ariel,” he snaps, leaning back to glare at me a little, “you are not checking in on me when I just heard that you showed up at the finish line unconscious, bleeding everywhere, thrown. over Jackson McClintock’s shoulder of all people –”

“I’m fine,” I murmur, my eyes wide and sorry as I see the real fear in him. “Seriously, Luc, I’m fine – I’m all patched up – I’m…”

And then my voice fades out as my mom clears her throat.

“Um,” I say, awkwardly turning to her and glancing between her confused but entertained face and my mate’s still–terrified expression. “Mom? I’d like you to meet…Luca Grant. Luca, this is my mom she…she healed me up. Magically.”

I finish the sentence lamely, not knowing how to explain that. But Luca, to his credit, takes it in stride. He sits up straight in surprise but the immediately falls back on his manners, which are impeccable when he wants them to be.

“Your highness,” he says, immediately offering his hand, which my mother takes with a smile. “I am so sorry – you’ll have to forgive me, I was…I was very distracted. I care a great deal about your daughter and I didn’t honestly, I didn’t even notice you sitting there.”

“You’re forgiven,” my mom says, turning her head at him curiously as she squeezes his hand. “But, if you don’t mind me asking, my daughter told me that she kept her identity and her gender a secret during her time at the Academy. How is it that you know?”

“Because,” Luca says, his eyes wide with his innocence. “She’s my mate.”

My mom’s eyes go wide with surprise and then scandalized delight.

“Well,” she says, turning her cat–like grin on me as I cover my face with my hands. “You really have been busy, Ariel. Very busy indeed.”

 

Chapter 108

Mom and Luca exchange pleasantries while I work very hard to pull myself together, wondering how the hell I’m supposed to manage all of this chaos, when Jesse – of all wonderful people comes to my rescue.

He, too, skids through the door and is across the room in half a second, shoving Luca roughly aside and knocking him to the floor so he can wrap his arms around me, murmuring about how scared he was and how glad he is that I’m okay.

I hug my cousin back, assuring him that I’m all right, and it’s only when Jesse offers a hand and an apology to Luca that I’m able to look at my mom again. She quickly raises a questioning eyebrow at me, asking silently if everything is out in the open, and I hurriedly shake my head, begging her with my expression to please, please not say anything.

Slowly, she nods, a smile still playing at her lips as she turns her attention back to the boys, who are now standing at my bedside.

“As much as it is a pleasure to meet you, Luca,” she says, her voice official now, “and I do very much want to talk to you more – Ariel still isn’t well.”

Luca’s face pales at the news and he anxiously looks between me and my mom.

“She’s fine,” Jesse explains, putting a hand on Luca’s shoulder. “Aunt Ella healed her up, Luc, don’t worry –

“I healed her,” mom says, nodding to Jesse, “but she’s still exhausted and dehydrated. Jesse? Will you please go get your mom, and tell her to bring an IV? Ariel needs fluids.”

Jesse nods and immediately moves to the door, but Luca hesitates, clearly wanting to stay. My mom simply quirks one queenly eyebrow at him, though clearly requesting time alone with her daughter – and I see Luca give in.

“I’ll see you soon,” he says, kneeling down by the side of my bed and running a fond hand over my hair, my shoulder, and then down my arm. I can see him bodily fighting his instincts to stay by his mate’s side – but he also knows that I am clearly all right in my mother’s hands.

“It will be okay, Luca,” I murmur, leaning impulsively forward. Luca puts a soft hand on my cheek and presses a brief, chaste kiss to my mouth – not really able to resist, but also not wanting to put on a display in front of my mom.

I grin at him as he stands with a sigh and heads for the door. I’m still grinning, watching his

form, as my mom clears her throat.

“Don’t say anything,” I whisper, reaching out a hand for hers and squeezing it before the door snicks shut behind Luca’s retreating form. Then, once we’re alone, I turn to her, grimacing a little.

“Soooo, Ariellll,” she says, leaning forward and grinning at me, her voice light and gossipy. “Why do both of those boys think that they’re your mate!?”

“Because,” I say, my voice and my face completely serious. “They both are, mom.”

Slowly the smile falls from her face. “Wait, what?”

I nod slowly and then burst into an explanation – telling her about that first day, when both of their scents hit me, and then of figuring it all out as time passed. Mom’s eyes are wide and shocked by the time I’m halfway through the story and I can tell that she’s mesmerized and worried, all at once.

I don’t our have time to get to the end

–

about how I just told Jackson last night, during

the Examination – when the door opens and Aunt Cora comes in, wheeling an IV stand with

her.

I

I give a little cry of joy when I see her – Cora, she’s my only aunt, but she’s my favorite anyway. She makes the same little noise as she slams the door shut and rushes to me, pushing the IV with her and abandoning it a bit when she sits on the bed next to me and wraps me up in a tight, tight hug.

“You idiot,” she mutters into my hair, rocking me back and forth. “You followed your brother and your cousin, of all people!? To the Academy!?”

“I like it there!” I protest, laughing a little and pushing her away a bit so that I can look into her face, smiling despite all the drama. “Besides,” I say, cocking my head to the side, “where did you guys think I was?”

“In a convent,” Cora sighs, slumping back against the pillows with me and glancing at my mom. “At least, that’s what we hoped. Safe and sound, all walled up, practicing the art of making tapestries or something equally dull and harmless.”

“Oh, well, it sounds like Ariel was doing the exact opposite, Cors,” my mom says, leaning forward with her chin on her palm and grinning at me. I scowl at her, thinking she’s enjoying this just a little too much. “Considering that she just told me that she met two mates at this little Academy.”

Chapter 109

Cora gasps, staring first at my mom and then at me. I blink, shocked at the…the delight in her eyes. “They’re both here!?”

“What!?” my mom squeals, sitting up rigid and straight, just as I do.

“Did you…did you know!?” I’m equally shocked.

“Oh my god!” Cora shouts, laughing and covering her face with her hands for a second. ” I’ve known since you were a baby! I saw it at your baptism – I’m so glad you both finally know so that I don’t have to keep it to myself anymore!”

“Cora!”

my mother shouts, half laughing half enraged as she leans forward to smack Coral on the arm, “how could you not tell me this!?”

“You opted out of it!” Cora replies, laughing and pointing a finger at mom’s face. “I told you I would tell you, but we agreed that there are some things a mom shouldn’t know! Besides, you wouldn’t have been able to not tell Dominic and he would have locked Ariel up in a box the moment she hit puberty.”

“I just thought you saw Ariel getting into a lot of romantic drama with her mate, I didn’t think –”

“Wait, you knew I had a mate!?” I gasp, turning to my mom now. “How could you not tell me!?”

“Well, why would you want to know?” mom replies, spreading her hands innocently. “It’s important to go through life and take it as it comes, with no expectations

“Dad told Rafe he had one!”

11

“He did?” mom gasps, turning to look at the door. “Oh, I’m going to kill him

“Okay okay,” Cora says, raising her voice above ours and spreading her hands out, silencing us. “Let’s…get organized here. Ella, I maintain that you did not want to know this, because it would have driven you absolutely insane.”

“Probably true,” my mom concedes with a nod.

“But Ariel,” she says, turning to me, her face breaking into a smile. “Come on,

they!?”

dish. Who ar

“Mom just met them –”

“Oh, which one do you like better?” Cora asks, eager, leaning forward.

“That is so unfair!” I protest, gasping but…I look immediately to my mom, also kind of wanting to know.

“One of them is Luca Grant,” my mom says, leaning forward eagerly, almost as if I’m not

there.

“Luca GRANT!?” Cora squeals, her hands going to her cheeks. “The boxer!? Oh my god, he’s so cute – I’ve had a crush on him for like, a year

“Ew EW!” I shout, hitting Cora now. “That is so gross you’re both so gross-”

–

“I am not gross, Ariel,” Cora laughs, dodging my blows, “I am just a woman, and he is good looking. God, you’re so lucky-”

“I’m telling Uncle Roger you said that,” I reply, narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms.

Luca’s a hottie. But your dad,”

“Go ahead!” she says, waving a hand. “He’ll probably agree she grimaces, “he’s not going to be happy about that one.”

“Why not?” I ask, my eyes going wide.

“Because,” she says, grimacing a little and glancing at my mom, “he’s kind of a ladies‘ man, right? Dates around? He’s dated like everyone – every little starlet.”

I growl, hating the idea and crossing my arms. “Well, he’s not going to do that anymore.”

“Oh yes,” Cora replies, laughing again, “convince him to be faithful to you while you’re out there, dating your other mate.”

I groan, leaning against her, because I mean…she’s right, isn’t she?

“You should see the other one,” my mom says, raising her eyebrows with a grin. “He looks just like her dad

“He doesn’t,” I moan, throwing my head back, a little whine in my voice.

“You’re right, baby,” my mom says to me consolingly, but when I lift my head I catch her mouthing “He totally does” to Aunt Cora, who just laughs..

“He doesn’t! They have totally different coloring! And their… face shapes…” I hesitate, trying to come up with other differences, but mom and Cora just grin at me.

“Fine,” I groan, putting my face in my hands. “But their personalities are totally different

–

Mom leans forward, beginning to assure me that she’s sure that’s completely true, when Cora interrupts, her voice considering

“Actually,” she says, her expression a little far–off. “Your dad would probably be the right one to ask about this, Ari ”

“What?” I ask, completely confused. “Cora, dad is the last person I want to talk to about this stuff – he’s gong to flip.”

“Well, that aside,” she responds with a shrug like it’s an easy thing to handle the most powerful Alpha in the world when he’s flipping out “he’s also the only person I’ve ever heard of who had two fated mates

My jaw drops almost completely to the floor.

 

Chapter 110

I

“Wait, what?” I gasp, shocked.

“Oh yeah,” my mom says, her own eyes going far–off as she apparently remembers this long -lost, incredibly important and interesting detail. “I forgot about that…”

“You knew!?” I’m scandalized – mom and dad, they’re so perfect for each other. The idea of dad being mated to someone else…

God, I can’t even imagine it.

“Of course I knew, baby,” mom says, leaning closer and tucking a strand of my bloody hair behind my ear as Cora stands up and begins to fuss with the IV, apparently remembering suddenly that I’m coming off the edge of death and need some fluids. “Dad and I don’t keep secrets. Plus, I knew her.”

“Real piece of work,” Cora murmurs, shaking her head as she reaches for my arm.

“What!?” It’s all I can say in my shock as Cora hooks me up to the IV, helping me get on the mend in her own non–magical way.

“It wasn’t at the same time, like you and your boys,” mom says, turning her head consideringly. “He rejected her and then was single for a long time before he met me. Which, I mean, thank god I don’t think I’d have been able to handle that. I’d have been so jealous, and she’d probably have tried to kill me. I mean, more than she eventually did.”

My face screws up in shock and confusion as I stare at my mother, but she just waves a hand, dismissing it.

“Speaking of the jealousy,” Cora says, sitting down next to me and taking my wrist so she can check my pulse. “How are your boys handling it?”

“Um,” I say, looking between them. “They…aren’t. Because they don’t…know about each other.”

Mom and Cora’s faces are twin pictures of shock and then delight before they burst into scandalized laughter.

“You little minx,” mom says, leaning forward to prod me with the tips of her fingers. “How the hell did you manage that!?”

“I didn’t manage it,” I murmur, not really liking the implication here that I’m doing it nefariously and for my own good. “It was…I didn’t want anyone to find out, at first, that I

was a girl. And then I…it took a while to get to know them, and to decide I could trust them.”

“Wise,” Cora says, nodding as she slips a stethoscope out of her pocket and slips it around her neck. “And Rafe and Jesse?”

“Um,” I say, because…well, this one is a little more nefarious, I guess. “Rafe knows about

“I Jackson. Jesse knows about Luca.” My mom and my aunt grin at me again, but I just shrug and sigh.

“Well, how are you feeling about it, baby?” my mom asks, leaning forward and taking my hand. “It must be a lot, in addition to your studies.”

“It is a lot,” I say, my shoulders slumping in relief to hear her voice it aloud, to have her understand. “It’s scary! And they’re both so great, but…” I bite my lip and shake my head, looking down at my lap, “it’s really confusing.”

Mom begins to murmur comforting things about how of course it’s confusing – it’s bound to be but suddenly the door flies open again.

This time, broad shoulders fill the frame and I blink because….

Well, for a second, as embarrassing as it is, I did think it was Jackson.

But my eyes fill with tears the moment that I realize that it’s my dad.

“Dad!” I croak, suddenly completely overwhelmed with emotion as I try to pull myself up, to move to him, to get immediately to his side.

Because I mean,

I love

my mom – endlessly, in every atom of me. But my dad….

“Baby,” he groans, striding across the room and scooping me up off the bed even as I

scramble for him. He groans again when he ducks his head and presses his cheek to mine, as I burst into tears and wrap my arms around his broad shoulders.

My dad holds me tight for a long, long few moments, and Cora and my mom stay quiet, letting us have this time, understanding the bond between us.

He takes a shuddering breath before raising his head, looking into my face. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

I nod, sniffing. “Just a little overwhelmed, pops,” I murmur, which earns me a smile. “Mom fixed me up good. I’m fine.”

Dad growls deep in his throat as he lowers himself to the bed with me still in his arms, clearly not ready to let me go but ready to join the conversation. Cora, smiling, goes and closes the door before untangling the IV chord and laying it out neatly. Then she sits down

on the edge of the bed opposite my mom. The poor overloaded bed gives a desperate little creak, but we all ignore it.