Ch. 201..205: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 201-205

Chapter 0201

It takes me a long time to fall asleep, overwhelmed as I am by my new bond, the closeness of my mate, the secrets that we’ve passed between us that still ring through my mind. But as the minutes pass I feel my eyelids getting heavier and heavier, encouraged by the steady movement of Jackson’s hand over my hair.

When I do finally fall asleep, my head pillowed against Jackson’s chest, it’s the deep, true sleep of one who feels both weary and completely safe.

I sleep so deeply that when my eyelids flutter open in the morning, I have…no idea where I am. Even though I am…completely comfortable.

I frown, not understanding, and curl into the warmth of what I assume is my mattress, though it’s a little…firmer than I remember? I’m not sure.

There’s a light chuckle, though, that makes me look up, and my frown deepens as I stare into Jackson’s face before I realize that…

“Oh!” I murmur, sitting up a little. He smiles at me, his hand pressing into my back, encouraging me to lean my head back down against his chest.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs, “take a second to wake up. There’s time.”

I lay my head back down against him, blushing a little as I realize that what I assumed was my mattress is just his body – that I’m curled up in his lap, kind of sprawled over his torso, my face tucked against his pectoral –

God, is he really that big, that I can basically use his body as a bed?

Or am I just that small?

I peer up at him again, more awake now, taking a deep breath and raising a hand to rub at my eye.

Slowly, a smile overtakes his mouth.

“What?” I mutter, shaking my head a little to clear it, a smile pulling at my lips as well because… well, because he’s just staring at me. And it’s…kind of nice.

“You’re just so pretty,” he whispers, his voice a little awed as he traces his knuckles down the soft skin of my cheek.

I can’t help it then – I burst into a brilliant smile.

Because my mate thinks I’m pretty.

His own smile widens, matching mine, and I squeak with happiness, reaching up and winding my arms around Jackson’s neck, pulling him close and pressing probably a dozen kisses to his cheek and neck. “Morning,” I murmur, after the fourth or fifth.

He doesn’t respond, just puts a hand beneath my chin after a moment and tilts my face up to his, bringing his mouth to mine and kissing me like he’s been waiting for hours to do it, like he can’t wait for it anymore.

And, obviously, I kiss him right back.

But we’re both more contained, now, in the light of the morning than we were last night. There was something freeing about the darkness – about knowing that as long as it persisted, there was nothing we could do except explore each other.

Now that there’s light by which we can see?

We’re both aware that it’s time to move.

“Um, so,” I say after Jackson breaks our kiss. I stay close, speaking softly as I run a hand through his messy hair, tucking it back behind his ear, “I lied to you yesterday. I can shift.”

“Really,” he says, his eyebrows going up, and I can tell that he’s pleased. “Little rose-colored wolf, by any chance?”

“How did you know that?” I ask, my eyes going wide.

“I think I met her,” he murmurs, his finger curling in a tendril of my hair, “a couple times. Dreaming.”

I tilt my head for a second and then burst into a smile as the truth hits me. All those nights, running along the cliffs with another wolf at my side -

Wasn’t just a dream, was it?

But there’s no time to tend to that right now. “The only problem is,” I say, looking around the forest, “that my wolf is very obviously a girl wolf, and anyone who sees and smells me will figure it out.”

“We’ll keep the plan the same, then,” Jackson says, starting to stand up and ridiculously bringing me with him, setting me on my feet only when he’s fully standing. “We’ll only shift if we run out of time, yeah?”

“Do you think…” I bite my lip, looking up at him. “I mean, are we going to be too late?”

“Nah,” Jackson says, turning to look north. “The only people who would have made it to the mountain and been able to climb it in the night would have been…well, the best of Warrior Track. So, maybe Jesse and Rafe. But still, I think there’s plenty of reason to assume that there’s time left for us to make it.”

“So,” I say, smiling up at him and crossing my arms, “what you’re saying is…if I hadn’t been weighting you down, you’d already be across the finish line?”

Chapter 0202

Jackson grins at me, not denying it, but scooping me up in his arms instead and turning me in a slow circle as he presses one last kiss to my mouth. “You can slow me down anytime you want, tiny.”

I bite my lip, grinning at him, and I nudge my nose with his before I kick and wriggle, begging to be put down. Jackson laughs, but he puts me back on his feet and we begin to assess our plan and our few possessions. We quickly share the water, though I insist Jackson drink the majority of it – I got some liquids out of the fruit, after all – and then I lift my crossbow, twisting my lips at it.

“Do you think I need this?” I ask quietly. “If we’re going to rush, and climb…”

“Leave it,” he says, shrugging and making a snap decision as he likewise tosses his backpack into the brush. “We need to move fast now – any extra weight is a detriment. Besides,” he bends over, scooping my discarded hat out of the dust where we left it last night and holding it out to me, “I’m your weapon now.”

I snatch my hat from him, unable to keep the smile from my lips as I wind the majority of my hair onto my head and plop the hat over top of it. Because I quite like the idea of Jackson as my weapon.

Jackson smirks, helping me tuck the last strands of my hair beneath the brim. “Where on earth did my mate go? Now there’s only her boyish twin, Ari Clark, marksman and chemical mastermind…”

“Don’t forget powerful sorcerer,” I say, lofty, as we both turn away from the plateau, and start out in the blue light of the morning.

“Oh, how could I forget,” he murmurs behind me, “melter of very tiny pieces of glass…such raw power…”

I laugh, shooting a little glare over my shoulder, but I focus on my steps on the narrow path ahead of me, which is barely a path and more of a lucky outcropping of rock. I marvel again at Jackson’s sense of balance, as well as the fact that he found this in the dark.

When we get to the bottom of the cliff face, a little forest stretches out in front of us, beyond which I know is the bridge surrounded by cadets. I wonder, passively, whether those guarding it have crossed already? Or they’re still biding their time, hoping to take out more of their “enemies” before they shift and make their run for the mountain?

“I’m going to go check,” Jackson says, looking forward through the woods. “You…wait here.”

“Okay,” I say, turning towards the forest.

“Here,” Jackson says, frowning and grabbing my arm. “Wait here, Ari.”

“Um, I don’t know if not going to the bathroom is part of your supernatural prowess, McClintock?” I say, looking a little awkwardly up at my mate. “But it is…not part of mine.”

He stares at me for a second before laughing, shaking his head. Then he stills, looking around into the forest around us, clearly casting out his hearing to see if anyone is close by. “Yeah, okay. Whatever. Just…don’t go far, and return right here, yeah?”

I nod, ready to obey, trusting his senses more than my own.

He stoops closer, pressing a kiss to my mouth, and then as silently as a forest animal himself Jackson moves through the trees, heading for the edge of the forest so he can better see the bridge.

I wait until I can’t see him anymore before I move a few trees away, ducking behind a particularly big one and relieving myself in a hurry, silently cursing men – or maybe just men’s fashion – for making this so much easier for men to do than women. But I finish up pretty quickly, quietly

mourning the lack of toilet paper, before refastening my pants and heading back to the little spot where Jackson left me.

I grin as I see a black-clad form coming through the trees.

“That was fast,” I say quietly, smiling, my head dipping so that I don’t trip over any roots.

“Oh, did you miss me?”

I freeze and my head flies up as I recognize that voice.

A dark, sour voice – and certainly not my mate’s.

My eyes focus instantly on Alan Wrights, on the ugly sneer on his face. “Because I certainly didn’t miss you.”

I stumble backwards, frantic, seeking a way out –

But as he raises his hand, and I see my crossbow held steady there.

And I know that…this is the end.

I open my mouth and scream even before Wright’s finger tightens on the trigger -

Even before the bolt flies from the crossbow, lodging itself deep in my thigh.

Chapter 0203

My scream only intensifies, combining with my moan of pain as I grab my leg and fall to the forest floor. I’m panting with agony as I lay in the dirt and the leaves, my eyes pressed shut for a moment before I glance down at my leg, my hands quickly coating in my own blood as they go directly to the wound –

Trying to do something, to end the pain, to apply pressure, something –

But there’s nothing – god, I think the bolt hit bone, I think it cracked it –

I’m still moaning horribly when a shadow falls over me, and I look frantically up to see Wright standing above me, drawing back the crossbow’s string, that ugly sneer still on his face, though mixed with victory now.

“You deserve this,” he snarls, glaring down at me. “Every inch of pain – laying in the dirt, finally recognizing your failure – you’re nothing but a dirty cheat –“

“Please,” I beg, gasping for breath as he loads another bolt and raises the crossbow towards me. “Please, don’t –“

“Save it,” he snaps, pointing the crossbow directly at me, and then without another word he pulls the trigger again, sending a bolt directly into my gut.

The pain is…blinding this time.

I scream again, but I must pass out from it –

Honestly, did I die? I might have died, a little bit –

But when I open my eyes again, the forest is fuzzy above me, and there’s a dark form looming over me, shouting my name.

I flinch away, screaming again, and a hand goes fast over my mouth before a hand slips under my head, cradling it.

“Who did this to you!?”

I blink, trying to clear my head as I recognize Jackson’s voice, but then I moan and let my head fall back – because the clearer my mind gets, the more I feel the pain.

“Ari!” Jackson shouts, and suddenly he’s on the ground next to me, pulling me into his lap. “Ari, who did this!?”

I almost scream again as the movement jostles my stomach, and my hand moves to the bolt of wood that’s protruding from my gut, that aches with every movement.

“I’m sorry,” Jackson murmurs, and I blink again, trying to focus, trying to look up into his face. His voice – it’s so tight, so full of pain. Did he – did he get shot too? But as my eyes focus on his face I see that his pain is all desperate agony for me. “Ari,” he murmurs, his hand shaking as he cups my cheek. “Who did it?”

“Wright,” I murmur, shaking my head.

Jackson growls, his head snapping up, sniffing the air – like he’d go after him right now, like he’ll tear him to shreds.

“Jacks!” I gasp, shaking my head, my hands fisted in his shirt. Because – I mean, if Wright’s not here anymore, then what’s the point?

I don’t need –

God, my head spins, the pain making everything dizzy –

But I do know that I don’t need revenge right now. If by some miracle I’m going to survive, I need a healer.

“Please,” I beg, shaking my head up at him. “Please, we have to get…out…”

Jackson nods, his whole body trembling as he quickly assesses the situation, as he looks at the blood pouring from my leg and my stomach, as he glances over his left shoulder towards where the bridge likely is.

“I’m going to get you out of this, Ari,” he whispers, his voice thick with his vow. “Okay? Just…you just hold on, yeah?”

I nod, fervent, either believing him or…or not wanting him to believe that I’m going to die –

Even as I feel my consciousness fading –

“Ari!” Jackson snaps, and I blink, looking back up into his face as I realize that I almost passed out again. “Hey!”

“Hey,” I reply, frowning a little, not understanding.

Then, to my surprise, Jackson rips open the top button of my shirt and presses his hand flat to my chest. Then, he pushes.

Not – not with his body, not with his hand. But with his…his magic.

I feel it, quite suddenly, filling me – a great deal of energy, and strength, and a glowing, rich sort of power. I gasp, my eyes flying open, and then I bat his hand away – suddenly feeling replete – like I can’t take anymore.

It doesn’t do anything for the pain, but it sure as hell wakes me up. I stare up at him, confused, not getting it.

“How’s your healing?” he asks, his voice sharper than it was before. “Your…your wolf healing. It’s good, yeah?”

“Um,” I say, glancing down at myself, knowing that even though wolf healing is fast it’s not fast enough for this. “It’s…it’s good.”

Chapter 0204

“I’ll keep you going,” Jackson says, nodding sharply to me. “I’ll give you my magic, Ari – as much of it as you can hold. I think – I think with the connection between our magic, it will help speed your own magic, the healing included. And hopefully it will be enough to…”

He hesitates, not wanting to say it.

But I know precisely what he means. Enough to keep me alive.

And then, again to my shock, Jackson stands, pulling me up with him in his arms. I moan again, almost a scream, as he does. But he continues, staring down at me as I pant through the pain, eventually opening my eyes to look up into him. “I’m getting you out, okay?” he whispers, his whole heart in his eyes.

And I can feel everything down the bond – all his worry, all his grief that he just found me, that he could lose me so soon. But, above all, his sheer determination to make me live – even if it means killing himself in the process.

“Yeah,” I reply, pathetically simple, nodding to him, letting him feel my faith.

Because, despite the odds, I believe him.

Jackson nods once, sharply, and then turns in the forest, striding off through the trees. He doesn’t bother, anymore, to be quiet, instead stomping and moving swiftly, letting everyone hear him come.

And even as my mind passes from state to state, concentrating on the pain and then concentrating on the world, I see that this, actually, was precisely his plan.

By the time we get to the bridge, every single one of the cadets who was waiting there has turned to us, their eyes wide. I look around at all of them through half-lidded eyes, my arms curled around Jackson’s neck – when did I do that? – as he holds me high against his chest.

By their shock and their awe, I can tell that the two of us make rather an impressive sight – or, at least, a terrible one.

The gigantic Alpha, the strongest Cadet in the Academy, especially enraged like this, covered in blood, his tiny charge curled in his arms.

“We’re crossing this bridge,” Jackson growls, his voice loud enough that he’s shouting even though his words hum with anger. As I glance up I can see Jackson’s canines sharpening to points, can feel his fingers lengthening to claws as he looks around at every single man standing there. “Does anyone want to stop me!?”

Jackson roars his final words, glaring around at every single cadet, a challenge in every line of him.

And, wisely, every single one of the cadets slowly backs away from the bridge. Because though in any normal moment an Alpha carried a wounded wolf would be a tempting target…

Jackson McClintock in a killing rage, the lifeblood of his mate dripping on the forest floor?

I mean, even if they don’t know I’m his mate…

Nobody’s fucking with us right now.

Jackson releases a final growl, glaring around. “Any of you who give any aid to Alan Wright,” he snarls, “even a kind word or a glance…you will answer to me, on the other side.”

Nobody says anything, but they’d be fools not to take him seriously.

And with that, Jackson strides across the bridge, not even looking back to see if anyone takes a shot from behind.

Because none of them – none are that stupid.

I whimper, slightly, when I feel Jackson’s footsteps transition from wood to dirt and grass. Because now that that is finished…the hard part, it’s coming now, isn’t it?

And the pain –

God, fuck, I’d do anything to end it, the way it radiates through me…

“Hold on,” Jackson murmurs, his voice breaking as he slips a hand beneath my still-loose shirt, apparently needing the skin-to-skin contact to pass his magic to me. It comes in a flood and my head tilts back – because while it does nothing to stop the pain I…I do feel stronger, after the infusion.

My eyes flutter open again as I look up into his face, and from the fear I see there I know I must be ghostly pale, looking as on the edge of death as I currently feel.

“You hold on, okay?” he whispers, lifting me higher as he strides away from the bridge and towards the foot of the mountain before us. He presses a series of quick kisses to my face. “You’ll hold on?”

“I will,” I whisper, nodding to him, trying to steel myself for what’s to come, even though I know it’s impossible.

“Okay,” he whispers, and then as my eyes shut I feel Jackson take a deep, deep breath.

And then, he starts to run.

 

Chapter 0205

Time moves strangely after that, at once standing completely still in my agony and, somehow, passing so fast that I barely understand it when the sun reaches its zenith, and then passes beyond it, and then starts to sink towards the horizon.

How…how have hours past?

God, how have I survived them?

Though it all, Jackson and my pain have kept a steady pace. I do my best to curl myself against him, to make myself small and inconsequential, to not be a bother to this man who is running miles and miles across the countryside with me balanced in his arms.

The pain is…god, it drives me a little insane, I think, gnawing at my stomach and my leg. I can feel the blood dripping from me, at once agonizing and, somehow, a balm against the raw flesh of my wounds. I think I pass out…a lot, but regular infusions of Jackson’s magic keeps bringing me back, filling me with energy, making my eyes flutter open.

Always, always he’s glancing down into my face, checking to make sure that I’m okay –

But, I mean, we’re both aware that I’m not okay.

But, somehow, I am alive.

And, somehow, he…keeps running.

I’m vaguely aware, as the hours pass, that this part of the Examination was meant to be done in wolf form – that he should have shifted by now and crossed this field at his top speed as his gigantic wolf. But even in his human body, carrying me? Frankly, Jackson’s faster than most cadet’s wolves. Only a few of them pass us, sending us side-long glances and not bothering to interrupt, knowing that Jackson would end them if they did.

Jackson’s breath only starts to flag when I feel his pace change. I lift my head, curious despite my haze of pain, wondering desperately if we’re at the end –

If there will be a healer, here –

Surely there has to be – surely the Academy has medical staff waiting, knowing as they do that this is a violent Examination in which they’ve encouraged us to maim each other, to get to the end.

I scowl a little, my mind wandering strangely as I make a mental note to have a deep conversation with my father and my uncle about this particular aspect of Academy life.

Because, quite frankly, I’m not sure I agree with these methods.

But…will I ever live to see them again, to have that conversation?

Suddenly terrified, I sob, my hand clenching in Jackson’s shirt as I turn my face into him. I don’t have any tears, though – all my liquids are probably depleted, after all, from all the blood dropping from me…

“It’s all right,” Jackson murmurs, pulling me closer against his chest. “We’re almost there.”

I pause, looking up at him, a little baffled. “Really?” I whisper, and I’m startled by the cracked sound of my own voice, the way my eyes struggle to focus on his beautiful face.

“Well,” he grimaces, glancing upwards. “Well, no.”

I groan, putting my head back against his chest. Not that it’s his fault – I just…god, I want it to end. All of it, the pain, the movement –

I just want to sleep, curl up somewhere soft and comfortable.

“Come on,” he says, shaking me a little, making me look back up at him, his voice cracking in a way that breaks my heart. “Don’t give up on me now, Ari!”

I lift my head, forcing my eyes to focus, forcing my head to nod. But it’s all – it’s all really hard, maybe too much. “Jacks,” I moan, shaking my head.

“Don’t you do it,” he growls, his arms tightening around me. “I did not drag you for miles across that field for you to give up now, Ari –“

I laugh – a sad, croaked sound, half baffled and half tickled that he’s mad at me. But something about it brings me back to myself, a little bit more. “Okay,” I whisper, nodding my head seriously now. “I won’t give up.”

“Good,” he mutters, a little mad, again pressing his hand to my back and giving me more of his power, his energy, his magic. I feel the difference instantly, the boost, but all it does is allow me to focus more on his grimace. “I need to…to change positions, Ari,” he murmurs. “I’m going to need both of my hands.”

“What?” I ask, confused.

“Just…don’t hate me, okay?” He stares into my face and I nod, promising it.

But I instantly regret that promise when he lifts me, bodily, and slings me over his shoulder. The moan that rips from me instantly turns into a yell, if not a guttural scream. Jackson murmurs over and over again that he’s sorry, but then he moves forward, even as I cry ceaselessly into his back.

My body is twisted over his shoulder, somehow, so that the weight of me isn’t on the wound. Instead, that faces inward, bumping awkwardly against Jackson’s head and sometimes his cheek as he begins to climb. Most of the time he keeps one arm wrapped tightly around the back of my thighs, and my legs go blissfully numb, meaning I can’t feel the arrow in my thigh anymore.