Ch. 111..115: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 111-115

Chapter 111

“I’m going to kill your brother,” dad says, shaking his head as he looks me over, frowning at the blood all over me and narrowing his eyes as he gives me a suspicious sniff. But if he smells Jackson or Luca, he doesn’t say anything.

“Go easy on Rafe, dad,” I murmur, raising a hand to run it fondly over his stubbled cheek. “ It was all Jesse’s idea anyway.”

Mom and Cora laugh at this but dad continues frowning, not ready to joke. “I could have lost you, Ariel,” he whispers, his voice tight. “Do you – do you know what that would have done to me?”

“Don’t, dad,” I say, shaking my head, my lip trembling as tears start to threaten my eyes again. My dad – he’s so strong, so steady – seeing him emotional like this? God, I can’t handle it – not at all. “I’m perfectly fine – nothing happened

–

–

“But it could have happened,” he whispers, devastated even by the thought of it. “It almost did – Ariel, from what Jesse said, you almost died

–

((

The tears start to slip down my cheeks and my lips turn down in a desperate frown, because I hate that I did this to him hate that he was this worried.

–

“Easy, Dominic,” mom murmurs, reaching out a hand and placing it softly on dad’s knee. Don’t make the girl feel guiltier than she already does. She’s had a rough day.”

Dad glances at mom for a moment and then heaves a deep sigh, forcing himself, I think, to move on from it.

“Well,” he says, giving me a steady nod as he takes a deep breath. “At least it’s all over, now.”

I nod, agreeing, likewise grateful that the Examination is done but then I go rigid in my dad’s arms, looking up at him with suspicion. “Dad,” I say slowly, “what do you mean by that?”

“I mean that we can bring you home now,” he says, giving me a steady nod. “Where you’ll be safe and sound –”

“What!?” I gasp, staring up at his face. Instantly I drop my arms from around his shoulders. “You’re you’re taking me home!?”

–

–

“Well of course we’re taking you home, Ariel – the fuss with your ex–fiancé is all cleared you don’t have to be in hiding anymore –”

up,

((

“No!” I protest, shaking my head vehemently and wiggling hard until dad lets me go, staring at me in shock. “Dad, I’m going back to the Academy! I mean, unless I didn’t the Examination? Were we too

late!?”

pass

Dad just stares at me in shock and confusion as I turn to the door, suddenly desperate to know. “Did I slow Jackson down too much?” I ask, my voice getting squeaky in my panic. Did they did they say I failed because he carried me across the finish line? I don’t know the rules –”

–

“Jackson?” my dad asks, and then he leans towards me, sniffing suspiciously again. “Who the hell is Jackson? What happened, Ariel –”

“Was. I. Late?” I ask, my voice sharp as I turn to stare at my dad, my lips a thin line.

“What?” my dad asks again, completely baffled.

“Um,” Cora says, interjecting awkwardly. “Ariel, if you’re asking if you made it across the line within the top 60% of candidates…you did…”

I huge rush of air leaves my lungs and relief sweeps through me, because at least Jackson is getting through –

–

But me? Are there rules about how healthy you have to be when you cross? Do you have to do it under your own power?

“Ariel,” my dad snaps, his voice harsh, “are you saying – my god, you can’t be serious you want to go back to the Academy!?”

“Of course I do!”

He stares at me for a long second before his face turns cold. “Absolutely not.

I gape at my father as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“Dominic,” my mother says, and I whip my head to see her frowning at him, clearly taking my side. “Ariel is at the Academy for more reasons than just to hide from that horrible fiancé – she’s been working really hard! She’s

–

“It’s out of the question,” dad snaps, slicing a hand through the hair like that’s the end of it. “My daughter is not going back to an Academy of Alpha males who clearly want her dead

“Dad!” I protest.

“No!” he shouts, his voice booming out, carrying with it his Alpha command. “You were shot with a crossbow, Ariel! No daughter of mine is going to be at that school – it’s too

dangerous for you! It is male–only for a reason!”

My hands curl into fists in my side as I glare at my father, my jaw set.

 

Chapter 112

My hands curl into fists in my side as I glare at my father, my jaw set.

I’m well, well aware that I’m supposed to quail under the look my father is leveling at me now – that it’s sent many big tough Alphas running for the hills.

But, well, I’m my father’s daughter, aren’t I?

And I am not giving in that easily. No way in hell.

“I’m going back, dad,” I growl, my voice matching his own even though it’s several octaves higher. “You can’t stop me.”

“The hell I can’t – ”

“I have worked too hard!” I shout, getting up on my knees and leaning towards him now. “I have been busting my ass at that school, proving myself! I –”

“And it almost killed you, Ariel!” my dad shouts back, leaning in so that our faces are only inches apart.

“I survived, didn’t I!?” I whip my finger up between us, a move I’ve seen my mom make a thousand times, but my dad just swats it away. “I’m proving myself, dad. I already beat

twenty percent of the candidate class getting into the school, and now I’ve beat forty percent of the men who have been training just as hard as me! You cannot discount me and say that I haven’t earned my spot!”

“You were carried over the finish line bleeding and barely breathing, Ariel,” dad says, and his anger snaps a little as he speaks the words. He groans again as he pictures it, straightening up and closing his eyes against the mental image. “I cannot, in good faith, send you to your death – you are not built, physically, for this world

–

((

“So, the only people who are worthy of the education,” I say, sitting back on my butt and crossing my arms as I glare at him, “are big guys, like you?”

His

eyes fly open to stare at me, and then they narrow. “You know that’s not what I mean.” “In this school I am not your daughter – I’m Ari Clark, who is a boy,” I argue, knowing perhaps that it won’t make as much sense but needing to make the point anyway. “He’s small, but he’s smart. And he’s earned his place there. You can’t take this away from me not when I…” I hesitate now, biting my lip. “Not when it’s the only life I think I’ve ever really wanted, dad!”

He groans again, pressing his eyes shut as he whips his head to the side. And despite his actions, I know he’s hearing me – I know he’s listening. He just really, really doesn’t like it.

“She’s not wrong, Dominic,” my mom says softly, and a rush of joy runs through me when I hear her support, though I don’t turn to look at her, keeping my eyes on him. “You’re being if she was a boy; or, hell, if she was more of a dad than a military commander right now anyone else’s girl…you’d let her go back.”

—

“Quite frankly, Dom, if you keep her out you’re just being sexist.” My eyes go wide as I turn to stare at Aunt Cora, and my dad and mom do the same. She just shrugs, her chin high as she stares him down. “I’ve said from the start that this school was on the wrong side of it to only let in boys. It’s been running for more than twenty years now, and you finally have a girl Cadet who has genuinely proven that she’s better than half the boys who showed up and tried.”

Cora gestures to me here, and another rush of joy pulses through me.

“Again,” my dad says, his teeth gritted. “She nearly died.”

says

“But I didn’t,” I say, seeing my opportunity. “Dad, check the rulebooks. If there’s a rule that

that you have to cross the finish line of your own power, then…” I bite my lip, not wanting to say it, but taking the gamble anyway, “then…I’ll go back to the Palace with you. But if other cadets have passed the Examination when they were carried across the line…you have to let me stay.”

Dad sighs, closing his eyes, and I clench my hands in hope because I know he sees the logic in that. I know that he’s a fairer man than he’s being right now that he is, as mom says, acting on his dad instincts more than anything else.

Chapter 113

“Let me talk to your brother,” dad growls, each word slow and distinct. “I need…more information about how the rest of the time at the Academy has been. Although, I’m going to put him through a meat grinder the moment I see him, so he’s not going to be able to get any words out.”

“You can ask Jesse, then,” I offer, more cheerful than I have a right to be, because I can see dad’s determination starting to crumble.

Dad just glares at me. “Don’t think he’s not dead too.”

“Please,” Cora says, her voice dry, “murder your own children. Leave mine to me. I’ve got special plans for that sneaky little rat a long, slow death, I think…”

—

Dad glances towards Cora, opening his mouth to retort, but we all go silent and turn towards the second door in the room the moment it opens and Rafe reappears with a certain tall, freshly– showered Alpha by his side.

Rafe’s eyes go wide when he sees the collection of his loved–ones gathered on the poor over - burdened bed and he puts out a hand, smacking Jackson in the chest and stopping him in his tracks.

I can’t help it, though – Jackson, in a fresh cadet uniform, his hair all wet and slicked back? God, but he looks so good.

He grins, feeling my emotions down the bond, passing his own relief and joy back to me. But then his eyes flick to my dad, and he stills, realizing…

Well, realizing precisely who is sitting before him.

My dad slowly gets to his feet, scenting the air, a vicious growl building in the back of his throat as he recognizes the scent of this cadet as the scent that is all over me.

“Dad,” I say, my voice worried as I shoot a glance between him and Jackson, grabbing for his sleeve. But my dad just brushes me off, moving slowly as he stands, his eyes moving between Rafe and Jackson. “Dad, don’t –”

“Who the hell are you?” dad asks, his voice very, very dangerous. “And why is your scent all over my injured daughter?”

“Dad,” Rafe says, stepping in front of Jackson, his

eyes wide.

“Enough!” dad snaps at my brother, glaring daggers at him. “Step aside, Rafe, let this man speak for himself.”

Rafe sets his jaw and stays still for a moment, clearly deciding what to do. But then, to my surprise, he steps to the side, letting Jackson handle this himself – some Alpha instinct letting him know that this is between my dad and Jacks.

To my surprise, unlike the vast majority of men who would fall back a few steps and beg forgiveness or start spouting an explanation in the face of my father like this, Jackson stands his ground. He sets his jaw and curls his hands into determined fists. His shoulders slump forward, just a little, in what I think is a sign of non–aggression, letting my dad know that he does not want to fight. But he doesn’t give up a single step of the space between

them.

Instead, Jackson just flicks his eyes to me, asking silently what I want him to do. Letting everyone in the room know that his next actions are at my command, not Dominic Sinclair’s.

“Oh,” Cora says, her voice a little breathless with awe and surprise next to me. “Oh, so this is …the one you were talking about, Ella…”

“Dominic,” my mom snaps, and from the corner of my eye I see her rise to her feet.

My dad stills just a second before turning towards her. Slowly, she shakes her head. “You’re making the wrong assumptions, Dominic,” she says, her words cold and filled with warning. “That boy did not hurt Ariel, he saved her. Jackson is the one who carried her across the finish line – he’s her mate.”

My dad goes absolutely rigid with shock as I turn to stare at my mom.

Because as my father’s growl fills the air and he turns his murderous gaze back to Jackson, I am desperately, deeply unsure that that was the right thing to reveal in this moment.

Chapter 114

Jackson’s eyes go wide for a second with worry as my dad focuses singularly on him and takes one single, dangerous step in his direction.

“Dominic!” my mother snaps, and then she’s moving quickly between my dad and my mate, turning and holding a hand up in front of my father’s face. “Think about what you’re doing right now, let alone the impression you’re making!”

The growl dies in my father’s throat as he blinks, hard and refocuses on my mom. “The…the impression? Ella, this man’s scent is all over our child, he’s claiming her as his mate, and you want me to worry about first impressions!?”

“Dominic,” mom murmurs, stepping closer and shocking me by laughing a little bit. Slowly she stands on her tiptoes and takes his face in her hands. “Don’t you get it? He didn’t claim her as his mate – the Goddess fated them. And if I know my daughter as well as I think I do, then I’d be willing to bet a lot of money that Ariel had more to do with this than poor Jackson did.”

Dad stares at mom for a long moment before turning to look at me.

I just shrug, feeling awkward and…well, old. Because my entire life I’ve been dad’s little girl, and now here I am…introducing him to my mate.

Suddenly overwhelmed, my eyes fill with tears. “Yeah,” I say, shrugging again, not knowing what to do. “I’ve…I’ve known since the first day as a candidate, dad. I told Jackson… yesterday.”

My lip trembles as my dad stares at me, shocked, and I can’t help the tears that start to slip down my cheeks. I also don’t miss the three steps forward that Jackson takes towards me before Rafe grabs his arm, hauling him back.

“Be nice to him, dad,” I squeak out. “He’s…he’s really nice, okay?”

Dad stares at me for a long, long moment before he lets out a long, long groan, covering his face with his hands and tilting his head back towards the ceiling. Aunt Cora scooches closer to me, giving me a quick hug and then wiping the tears from my cheeks, whispering that it’s all right.

I nod to her, understanding, but still feeling overwhelmed. I keep my eyes on the four people standing in the room.

Jackson and Rafe stand still, waiting for my dad to decide what he’s going to do next. Mom

steps close to dad, wrapping an arm around his waist and waiting patiently until he drops his hands from his face, folding his arms around her and sighing deeply before looking

down at her.

“I wasn’t ready for this today, Ella,” he murmurs, glancing back at me. “I wasn’t ready for our little girl to grow up.”

“Well, we’ve still got the meatball,” she murmurs, pointing at Rafe. I laugh, unable to help it, as Rafe scowls. He hates his nickname. “He hasn’t left us yet. And Markie and Juniper. Or Ariel – not really.” She smiles at him. “Kids grow. It’s what they do.” She stands on her toes. “It’s a good day, Dominic.”

Dad presses a kiss to her mouth and then nods once, sighing again. “A good day.” Then he turns to me and holds a hand out. Cora helps me stand and then I wheel my little IV over to my dad’s side, slipping my hand in his as the three of us turn to face Jackson, who suddenly looks completely freaked out.

I smirk, a little tickled by the idea that he was ready to take on my dad when dad was about to slash him to pieces. But meeting my father in a calm, pleasant way? He looks ready to bolt.

“All right, Ariel,” dad murmurs, his voice grumbling as he squeezes my hand in his. ” Introduce me to your young man.”

And so I do.

Introductions are quick, largely formal, and a little awkward, with dad shaking Jackson’s hand and asking him some questions about who he is, what he’s studying, how we met. Jackson’s face gets redder and redder as he stumbles through the interrogation, and I’m basically melting with second– hand embarrassment, but Rafe saves me.

One look at Rafe’s wide grin, at the way he watches Jackson with a little bit of good- humored delight at how horribly awkward he’s being, and I burst into laughter.

Mom and Rafe start laughing too, and dad looks down at me with surprise as I shake my head at him and move to Jackson’s side, slipping my hand into my mate’s and giving it a squeeze. “Dad, please, you’re killing him, all right?”

Chapter 115

Chapter 115

Dad stares at me and then up at Jackson again. “What?” he asks. “I was just being polite

((

“Jacks is…not great with polite,” I say, pressing myself warmly to his side. “Actually, I think he’d probably rather fight you than do the small talk thing.”

Jackson scowls, already coming back to himself a little. “Ari, I don’t want to fight him –”

–

“I know,” I say, nodding and smiling up into his face. “Just can we all maybe take a bit of space? Try this again over midwinter, maybe over dinner?”

“Or an activity,” Rafe suggests, knowing that even a dinner might be a bit much for Jacks. ” Or a great, great deal of whiskey – barrels of it.”

“Enough,” dad snaps good–heartedly at Rafe, waving a dismissive hand at all of us as he turns away. “Fine, fine! We’ll do it all later! I need much more information anyway.”

ແ

I grin after him as he walks to the bed with mom at his side, and then I grin between Jacks and Rafe.

“You did great, Jacks,” I whisper, supportive.

“I didn’t…say anything,” he murmurs, glancing after my parents. “Besides, like, my name –

“But you did that so well,” Rafe says with humorous condescension, patting him on his shoulder with a laugh. I laugh too and Jackson gives a tentative smile, I think giving into it.

Jacks opens his mouth, I think to ask a question, but the door opens again – suddenly, I long for a lock on it – and a professor I don’t recognize comes into the room.

“Um,” he says, looking around, a clipboard in his hand. “I’m looking for Cadets Sinclair, McClintock, and Clark?”

Rafe steps hastily in front of me, asking whether the professor is looking for Jesse or Rafe Sinclair, and in the intervening moment Jackson hands me his cap, which was apparently tucked into his back pocket. Hastily, I loop my hair up onto my head and whip the cap on top. It’s too big, but, in a pinch, it works.

When the professor reveals that he’s looking for Rafe Sinclair, Rafe glances back at me and then nods to him, letting him know that we’re all here.

“Oh, good,” the professor says, looking anxiously over at the King, Queen, and Duchess

standing quietly together by the bed, perhaps wondering what the hell is going on. But he doesn’t say anything about that, instead clearing his throat and consulting his paper.

“Well,” he says with a sigh, “the three of you have been marked as passing the Examination

I squeal suddenly with delight, throwing myself into Jackon’s arms. He laughs with me, turning me in a circle, giving me a big hug. When we go all the way around before we see the professor at the door giving us a strange look. Jackson just clears his throat and awkwardly lowers me to the floor.

“So,” my mother says, interrupting as the professor starts speaking again. “It’s not an issue that Cadet…Clark…” here she glances at me, and inwardly I cringe at how obvious she’s being, “was carried wounded over the finish line?”

“No, highness,” the professor says, giving her a deferential bow. “The rules are to cross the finish line, full stop. I think,” he glances at my dad here, “they were written that way with this express situation in mind.”

My mouth falls open a bit as I realize that my dad knew this all along because he wrote the rule book – that it’s not a surprise to him, at all, that I’ve passed.

Dad catches my glare and just gives me a little shrug, telling me to deal with it. I roll my eyes

at him but let it pass – he’s had a stressful day too.

The professor continues. “Sinclair and McClintock have been given orders to return to the Academy tonight,” he says, lowering the clipboard to his side. “Though Clark has been given special permission to stay overnight to ensure that there are no complications to his injuries. Though…”

He hesitates, not finishing and looking at me strangely because obviously I’m standing before him perfectly hale. I just shrug, not explaining anything.

“Absolutely not,” Jackson growls, stepping forward towards the professor. “I am not leaving Clark here alone.”

The professor steps back, shocked by the defiance and the aggression in Jackson’s eyes.