Ch. 146..150: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 146-150

Chapter 146

I lift my eyebrows in surprise as Luca turns to stares at Jesse, appalled at the accusation. Jesse continues, either pretending not to notice or not caring.

“I mean,” Jesse says, turning his palm up as he talks it through, “unless I’m mistaken, you’ve never told her that you loved her before, right? At least not before last night. And now you’re throwing that word around a lot in a situation where you’re actively asking her for something. It might not be bullying, but it is a little manipulative.” Jesse grimaces and gives a shrug, and I can tell that he’s genuinely not happy to have to deliver the message.

But my jaw drops a little when I realize that….that Jesse’s kind of right on that one. Luca is pulling out the 1–word at the same moment when he’s asking me for something really big.

“I can’t believe you’re accusing me of not loving her, of saying that just because I want something –”

“We’re not accusing you of that,” Rafe says, his voice gentler now. “We’re just asking you to play fair, Luca. And to let her make her own decisions about what’s right for her. Even if that’s not what’s right for you.”

“So, you’re all going to take his side,” Luca snaps, drawing away from me now and standing up, clearly wanting a little space. “When obviously I am the better match for Ariel – I can handle her life as a Princess, I’m already your guys‘ best friend, I’m completely dedicated to supporting her through this Academy thing and have been for months. How can you not be on my side, after all of this!? We’re – we’re fucking friends!”

“They’re not taking Jackson’s side,” I say quietly folding my hands in my lap and looking up at my mate, my heart sinking because I know he feels so betrayed. “This isn’t about sides,

Luca.”

“Screw that, it is about sides,” Jesse snaps, standing up to glare at Luca. But I watch as his face softens, as he forces himself to be kinder. “We’re not on Jackson’s side, but we’re not on yours either, Luca. We’re on Ariel’s side.”

“Always,” Rafe says, his voice likewise gentle and a little sad. “Always Ariel’s side, Luc. I’m… I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but she’s my sister.”

“My best cousin,” Jesse adds, and my heart swells with love at their support.

“And quite frankly,” Rafe continues, his face a little grim. “As her mate? I’d prefer it if you

were on her side as well.”

Luca just stares, slack–jawed, at his two best friends before looking down at me. I bite my lip, heartbroken and awkward, my fingers twisted together in my lap. We stare at each other for a long time, and down our bond I feel him questioning, apparently unable to put it into words right now, wanting and needing to know what it is that I’m asking for in this moment.

“The Goddess gave me both of you, Luca,” I say quietly, hoping to hell he hears me on this. ” Rafe and Jesse and I – we talked about it last night. And I think it’s right – I’m supposed to have two mates, she gave me both of these bonds for a reason.

33

I shake my head, hating that I’m disappointing Luca, but so incredibly grateful that I have my big Alpha brother and cousin here to support me because if it was just me and Luca? I’m not sure I could find the courage to do this to deliver the words that I know are goi

going to break his heart.

“What are you saying?” Luca whispers, slow, taking a step closer to look down into my eyes.

“That I’m not going to reject my bond with Jackson,” I whisper, staring up at him, needing him to hear and understand it. “Not just because you want me to.”

Luca groans, tucking his face against his hands like it’s the worst thing he’s ever heard. I’m immediately on my feet, putting a hand on his arm, unable to just sit and watch him grieve like this. Rafe takes a step forward like he’s worried Luca will snap, and shove me or something, but he doesn’t.

Instead, Luca just takes a moment to understand, his body trembling slightly beneath my hand. I stand steadily next to him, letting him process it, bearing witness to his pain. And when he’s ready, Luca drags his hands down from his face and looks at me again. “I don’t know if I can do this, Ariel,” he whispers, shaking his head at me. “I don’t know how to do this.”

Chapter 147

“Neither do I,” I whisper back, taking a step closer. To my surprise, Luca lifts his arm and wraps it around me, tucking me in against his side, where he likes me. “But we can figure it out together.”

Luca murmurs something I don’t quite hear, raising a hand and cupping my cheek in his palm, staring down at me as he shakes his head in awe and frustration.

“I’m still your mate, Luca,” I whisper, sending all the warmth and assurance that I have down the bond. “That hasn’t changed. You still mean the world to me.”

“It has changed, a little,” he murmurs, studying me. “You know that I really do love you, right? That I wasn’t just saying it to…to manipulate you. I just…I love you so damn much, Ariel, I’d do anything to keep you.”

“I know,” I murmur, nodding and pressing my cheek closer into his palm. “I know, Luca. I know.”

He lowers his face then, pressing a kiss to my mouth like he can’t help it, just as a knock comes at the door.

“Oh, what the hell,” Rafe sighs, turning towards it. Luca tightens his arm around me as Jesse steps to my side, taking the hat off his head and shoving it towards me.

Rafe moves to the door and I pull the cap on, taking a small step away from Luca even though he clearly doesn’t want to let me go. When I nod to him, Rafe pulls open the door. And my eyebrows arch nearly to my hairline as I see who is standing there.

“Good morning, Cadets,” Dr. Neumann murmurs, his hands folded neatly behind his back as he nods around to each of us. His eyes settle on me, though, and he gives a firm nod. “Cadet Clark? If I may have a word?”

My hands start to shake a little with the anxiety of it because…because why is he here? Ben… Ben got his pass results on a little piece of paper…

Oh

my god.

If you fail, do they have to deliver the results in person? Do they have to

“Clark?” Neumann says, raising an eyebrow, and I realize that I haven’t moved at all – that I’ve just been staring at him. He turns slightly, tilting his head towards the hall, an invitation.

“Um, that’s okay,” I say, taking a few steps forward so that I’m standing in front of him, but not going out into the hall. “They can listen, I don’t mind.” Because if he tells me that I failed, I am definitely, definitely going to need my family to catch me when I fall to pieces. Neumann sighs, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at me. “You and your social life, Cadet Clark. It’s what’s holding you back, after all.”

My stomach drops and I hang my head, because that can only mean…

“I came to tell you that you came out with the top marks in the Espionage class, Cadet Clark,” he says, his voice brisk, words clipped.

I freeze, because….

I mean, I have to have misheard him, right?

My head snaps up and I stare at my professor, completely shocked.

“Top marks on the Chemistry examination, top marks in your marksmanship class.” He raises an eyebrow at me. “Far and away, our highest–ranking Cadet this year in our program.”

“But I…” I sputter.

“You’re a very promising student, Clark,” Neumann says, and my face bursts into a smile when I see the corners of his mouth beginning to turn up, realizing that he’s rather enjoying his little prank. “We will be expecting great things from you in the spring, and if you could just concentrate instead of having so many dinner parties you could truly make a difference in this world and in this war

But Neumann doesn’t get any further in his scolding, because I let out a little shriek and throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist and giving him an impulsive hug. Thank you!” I gasp, desperately happy and thrilled and excited all at once. “Thank you so much, Dr. Neumann!”

He freezes for a second but then he lets out a slow chuckle and, to my surprise, gently places his arms around me and gives me a little squeeze. “All right, Cadet, that’s enough affection,” he murmurs. “I’m your teacher, after all, not one of your many friends.”

I laugh, loosening my arms and smiling up at him as I take a step back. “Why were you so mean to me all semester!?” I ask, impulsive.

 

Chapter 148

Neumann laughs at my inappropriate remark, shaking his head. “I was hard on you to push you,

Clark. You work harder when you’re terrified. Someone has to herd you along towards your potential, after all,” he looks around the room now, glaring a bit at my friends and my family, who all beam at me. “These ones, I suspect, pet you a little too much.”

“Thank you, sir,” Rafe says formally, coming forward, but Neumann just waves a hand at him, turning his attention back to me. I grin, a little pleased to have a professor pay more attention to me than Rafe, who is usually the golden boy.

“Don’t listen to what those other Cadets said at the final test, either,” Neumann says, stern.

“Do you

hear me on that? Half of them failed anyway, so they don’t know what they’re talking about. You’re very promising, and we’re incredibly excited about your future in the department. Not every successful cadet needs to be a bastion of physical force in order to be useful to the nation’s military. Understood?”

I nod eagerly, tucking my hands behind my back and straightening my shoulders, bolstered by the fact that he believes in me. And, quite frankly, the fact that half my classmates failed

out.

Jerks.

“And,” Neumann says, leaning forward to speak softly to me now, conspiratorial, “if any King has any particular objections on the matter, you can tell him that I said that. And that if he has any

questions about your aptitude and potential, that he can ask me directly. I want you here in the Spring, Cadet…Clark.”

My mouth drops open a little as I realize that Neumann… knows. He has perhaps always known.

“Don’t disappoint me,” my professor finishes, giving a sharp nod and then turning away and striding down the hall. “I wish you all a happy winter break!” he calls to us, “get it out of your systems, children! When you return in the spring, I will expect you to work!”

I stare after him, shock and thrill pulsing through me.

And then, slowly, I turn to stare around at the group of Alphas standing in the quietly beaming at me, waiting for me to process my surprise.

room, all

“I passed!” I shout, punching my fists up into the air, my eyes squeezing shut in my joy.

A roar goes up in the room and suddenly I’m swept off my feet. I laugh, hugging my brother

back as he spins me around, and then I’m passed from arms to arms as everyone hugs me, and kisses my cheeks, and tells me how wonderful I am and how they’re not at all surprised. I laugh the whole time, barely able to process it, almost knocked out in my wonder and surprise and joy.

I’m still laughing, dazed by the joy of it, when someone clears their throat at the door.

us.” I turn, a huge smile on my face, to see Jackson standing there, frowning around at us. What’s going on here?”

“Just got the news,” Jesse calls over to him, and I can hear in his voice that he’s pleased and proud. “Ariel passed! Top marks in Chemistry – top student in the Espionage unit.”

A wide smile spreads over Jackson’s face. “What,” he says, slowly, looking around at everyone. “And you guys are like, surprised?”

I burst into a smile, pleased as hell that Jackson’s completely unperturbed by the news that he never, ever thought for a single second that I wouldn’t pass.

Finally, his eyes land back on me. “Get your ass over her, Clark,” he growls, beckoning me with a wave of his hand. I laugh and suddenly my feet are flying across the room. I throw myself into Jackson’s arms, where he wraps me up and lifts me off the floor, turning me once in a circle as he holds me tight.

“So proud of you,” he murmurs into my ear, which makes me squeal a very tiny happy noise. “My clever little spy.”

I laugh, grinning down at him, running my fingers through his hair and losing myself a little in his blue eyes.

My smile fades, though, when I hear Luca’s rough snarl across the room.

“For the second time in as many days,” Luca snaps, “get your fucking hands off my

girlfriend.” I turn my head, knocked out of my mental bubble where only Jackson exists, to see Luca taking a menacing step towards us.

Chapter 149

To my surprise, Jackson makes absolutely no move to put me down. Instead, he just looks at Luca evenly for a second. “Your girlfriend?” he asks, the words low and light with disbelief. He hums consideringly and then turns his face back up to mine. “What do you think, Clark?” he murmurs, nodding over to where Luca stands, not bothering to look his way. “That your boyfriend over there?”

I can’t help it then, loving the assurance in his voice, the calm way he dismisses Luca’s jealousy. A slow, happy smile spreads over my lips as I stare down at him, not saying a single word regarding whether Luca’s my boyfriend or not.

Because honestly, I don’t know.

But Jackson’s right – Luca doesn’t get to boss him around on this, does he?

“Didn’t think so,” Jackson murmurs, low enough that maybe only I hear him. But then he grins at me and lowers me to the floor as Luca strides to my side, grabbing my hand.

“Okay, okay,” Rafe says, stepping forward with a sigh. “Clearly, clearly we need some ground rules here.”

And I sigh, glancing up at both of my mates, before crossing the room to Rafe’s side.

Because my brother is right it’s time we got some things straight and I might need some physical distance from them to do that.

“What are you even doing here?” Luca growls at Jackson, his arms crossed as they stand about a foot apart.

“Came for breakfast,” Jackson says, giving a calm shrug. “I was invited.” He glances at Jesse now, who grins at him.

“Coffee?” Ben asks, starting to pour Jackson a cup.

“Sure,”

“Jacks says, crossing the room to take it from him.

“Look, can we cut this bullshit,” Luca snaps, clearly worked up. “What is all this happy family nonsense!? Are we all just going to pretend that McClintock and I didn’t try to kill each other last night? That we’re not going to do it again if we don’t get this two–mate nonsense figured out!?”

“I’m not going to kill you,” Jackson says evenly, taking a calm sip of his coffee. I blink at him, a little surprised, wondering where all this confidence came from. This is, in some

ways, a very different Jackson than the grief–stricken wolf who stormed out of here last night. “Are you going to kill me? Or…try?”

Luca sputters, not wanting to seem like the aggressor now that Jackson has proclaimed himself neutral. Then Luca grits his teeth, storming over to Jackson. Rafe grabs the back of my shirt, not letting me go to them, knowing that my first instinct is to stand between them, to negotiate.

“Let them figure it out,” Rafe murmurs when I look back at him. “This, weirdly, is not actually your problem.”

“Yes it is,” I mutter, crossing my arms. “I’m going to go from two mates to none if they tear each other to pieces.”

Rafe laughs lightly, but we both just watch as the argument unfolds.

–

“You think I can’t see what you’re doing?” Luca snaps, glaring into Jackson’s face. “You get to come in here all calm, pretending you’re fine with this, looking like the good guy – making me look like the bad guy. But I’m the only one being honest here – you don’t want her with me just as much as I don’t want her with you.”

“True,” Jacks murmurs, shrugging and looking down at his coffee before taking a sip. “But, getting into a fist fight isn’t going to fix it.”

“Sure would be fucking nice though,” Luca growls, his hands balling to fists, “to knock you into next week – ”

“Enough –“Rafe says, stepping forward now with a frown. I gape at him a little, pissed. What happened to letting them figure it out!?

He glances at me with a tiny shrug before turning back to Jackson and Luca.

“So,” Rafe says, his voice calm and considering, “despite your insistence on fighting, I want to point out that you two actually…agree.”

“What?” Luca asks, his face screwed up in a confused frown as he turns towards Rafe and me. I look up at Rafe, my face mimicking my mate’s.

Chapter 150

“You just said it,” Rafe says with a shrug. “Luca, you have admitted that you don’t want Ariel to be with Jackson. Jackson, you agreed, saying you felt the same way – you don’t want her to be with Luca.”

All three of us just stare at Rafe like that’s obvious. Actually, all five of us if you count Ben and Jesse too.

“Well, I mean, I think it’s kind of simple,” Rafe says with a sigh, heading to the couch and lifting his coffee off the table as he sits down like this is the most casual conversation anyone has ever had. “If that’s what you guys want, you just have to decide where your boundaries are.”

“What?” Ben asks, confused. We all turn to him and he puts his hands up. “Sorry, sorry,” he murmurs. “I’m just…I’m too involved. I’m sorry. I’ll shut up.”

Rafe laughs a little, but nods. “No, you’re right, I can be clearer. But honestly, I think it is really simple. Ariel?” he says, and I stand up straight, a little wary about what’s coming next. “You declared this morning that you’re not going to reject your mating bond with Jackson just because Luca wants you to, right?”

“Right,” I say instantly.

“Really?” Jackson asks, and I turn my head to see a wide smile on his face. I smile back at him, sending a sense of faith and happiness down our bond, as well as a very tiny scolding that he should be at all surprised. His smile deepens.

“And,” Rafe says slowly, drawing my attention back to him. “Are you willing to reject Luca, because Jackson wants you to?”

“No,” I say instantly, my hand going to my chest, my heart breaking at the very idea. My eyes move to Luca’s and I can feel his own horror, his incredible sense of impending fear and loss. I shake my head, fervent, letting him know that I would never. Slowly, he grits his teeth and nods, believing me.

“Okay,” Rafe says, nodding again and turning back to the boys. “Well, is either of you willing to break your bond with Ariel?”

“No!” they say in unison before turning to glare at each other, I think a little pissed to finally agree on a point – any point – in this complicated manner.

“Okay, cool,” Rafe says, giving a shrug and lifting his coffee to his mouth. “Then, obviously, we have to find a way to deal with this. Figure out where your boundaries are and…how to live with this situation as it is – because clearly, you’re all stuck in it.”

“Look at you, cousin,” Jesse says, pleased as he sinks into his armchair with a donut in his hand, taking a bite. “What are you, on Therapy track, instead of Warrior? That was good.”

My eyes narrow at Jesse. Donuts? Where the hell did he get one of those?

Rafe just grins at our cousin before Luca steps forward, pissed.

“No way,” Luca says, shaking his head and jutting out a hand. “I see what you’re doing here – this is…this is all what Ariel wants, but what I want is important too. I don’t – I don’t want to live like this.”

“Valid,” Rafe says, nodding to him. “So, tell us what you want, Luca.”

“What I do not want,” Luca says, glaring at Rafe and then at me. “Is a polyamorous relationship. I do not want a girlfriend who has another boyfriend. I can’t…I can’t live like that.”

“Well, then that sounds like your boundary,” Rafe says quietly. “What about you, Jacks?”

Some of Jackson’s confidence has left him now that he’s not dealing with a confrontation with another Alpha and is instead doing what is probably his least favorite thing in the world: talking about his emotions. “Um,” he says, lifting a hand to rub anxiously at the back of his neck. “I don’t know. I mean…whatever…”

My eyebrows go up because…well, did Jackson just admit that he’s okay with me having two boyfriends?

“No, Jacks,” Jesse says, his mouth full of donut as he points an accusatory finger in Jackson’s direction. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” Jackson growls, clearly displeased to be countered.

“You’re lying to be easy, to make Ariel happy,” Jesse says, perfectly casual like Rafe is. I blink, my eyebrows going up as I look at Jackson again, surprised to see him scowling and looking away. “I saw you last night – you were devastated at the idea of her being with someone else. Tell the truth, Jacks – that’s what we’re trying to do here. Get it all out on the table so we can figure out what to do.”

Ben sits down on the couch next to Rafe, watching everything unfold like a television drama. I sigh, scowling and crossing my arms, feeling oddly out of place and like a pawn. I mean, don’t I get a say in this?