Ch. 301..305: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 301-305

Chapter 0301

At Luca’s house, the company is really the thing that shines. His cousins and family are just so funny – they’re also a little bit mean to each other, in a teasing, familial way, but every insult is lined with love and is so damn funny that I’m laughing until my sides ache.

And of course, my sides aching makes it difficult to get down all of the food that’s pressed in my hands. But considering how delicious it is, I definitely prevail in my quest to eat absolutely everything. God, I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten so much or so well. There’s plate after plate of pasta, and meat, and seafood – and then the sweets! Cookies, and little slices of coffee-soaked pastries, and gran’s coffee cake, served with coffee – which is a good addition, considering how many tiny glasses of clear liquor I’ve been passed and drank. I’ve never had it before, but it’s delicious, and tastes like licorice.

“Ugh, how are you not fat,” I groan, leaning against Luca on the couch as one of his cousins takes what is probably my ninth plate away. Luca grins and slips an arm around my shoulders.

“I know, it’s the greatest disappointment of Gran’s life that she can’t fatten me up,” he murmurs, smiling around the room at the family he so clearly loves, who shout and joke and play with each other. “If it were up to her I’d be like…a little beachball, unable to get up off this couch, just hers to keep and pet and love and feed, as she likes to do.”

My eyes drift to the little fat dog that sits on the back of the couch behind Luca in what is clearly his habitual spot, his tongue lolling happily out of his mouth and his legs sticking out comfortably from his belly. “You mean like Valentino, over there?” I point at the adorable old pup and Luca bursts into laugher.

“Yes,” he says, nodding and tightening his arm around me, “just like Valentino, her favorite son.”

I smile up at Luca, buzzing with happiness, completely charmed by all of this. “I like your family,” I whisper. “They’re really great.”

“Your family now too,” he murmurs, dropping his head a bit to press a kiss to my mouth. “The girls are all really excited. They want me to leave you alone with them so they can have a good gossip with you – but I told them not tonight.”

“I can do that tonight!” I say, sitting up, eager, and looking around. “I miss girlfriends. Where are they all? I’ll go now.”

Luca just laughs and lifts his chin towards the clock on the wall. “Little late for that, Princess,” he says with a sigh. “It’s midnight.”

“It is?” I gasp, my eyes going wide as I follow his gaze. I shake my head, awed, because I can’t believe it’s that late. And then I gasp again, spinning back to Luca. “Oh no, you should go to bed! Luca!” I put my hands on his chest, desperately sorry to have kept him up – he has a huge day tomorrow! He should already be asleep!

“Don’t,” Luca whispers, smiling and shaking his head, bringing his face close enough that our noses nearly brush. “This was way better than sleep. I loved having you here, Ariel, it was so important to me.” He lifts a hand to brush his knuckles down the length of my cheek and I can’t help leaning forward to kiss him. I do my best to keep it chaste – I’m in his family’s house after all – but…well, it’s difficult, isn’t it?

Luca – he’s just so amazing, and confident and handsome and sweet. I can’t get enough.

He kisses me back for a long moment and then sighs as he breaks it, slipping his hand into mine.

“I should go,” I whisper.

“Want me to come back to the palace with you?” he asks quietly, a little hesitant – and as he asks I realize that part of Luca very much wants me to ask him to come back, even if it’s not what would be best for his fight tomorrow.

“No, sweetheart,” I say, shaking my head with a smile as I push back a little of the hair that’s fallen into his face. “You let your Gran tuck you in tonight. Tomorrow we’ll have more fun, after you win.”

Luca bursts into a grin at my confidence, and then he nods, because he knows that I’m right. But as he stands, offering a hand to pull me up with him, I know in my heart that if I did ask him to come to the palace with me tonight…he would have done it. And I’m not really sure what to do with that level of power over the nation’s champion.

Chapter 0302

We walk slowly to the front porch, murmuring our plans for tomorrow. His family lets me go with a few calls of goodbye, but without much fuss. I’m warmed by this – by the casual goodbye of family members who know they’ll see you soon, and so don’t need to make a big deal out of it. As we step onto the front porch though, Luca’s grandmother calls him back, saying something in swift Itablio.

Luca sighs, hesitating but stepping away from me. “She wants you to take a slice of cake to Rafe - is that all right? I know it’s ridiculous, but –“

“Of course I will,” I say, laughing and pushing him towards her. “I’ll call Captain Conner – you get the cake.” Luca nods, smiling his dazzling smile at me, and then he steps back into the house with his Gran. I make a quick call to Conner, who let’s me know he’s just around the corner and will bring the car up.

I sigh happily, looking down the dark street, but I jump slightly when a shadow detaches itself from the corner of the porch and steps forward towards me. “Did you enjoy yourself tonight, miss Ariel?”

I press a hand to my heart, laughing a little at how skittish I am when I see that it’s just Luca’s uncle, who was out here enjoying a quiet cigarette. “Yes,” I say, nodding when I get some of my equanimity back. “Your family is lovely – thank you so much for making me feel so warm and welcome.”

“You are very welcome here,” Bruce says, nodding evenly to me, and I can tell that he means it by the serious way he says it. “You’re family now, and I’m glad we’ve let you know that. Even if I didn’t think the party was a good idea.”

My face falls a little. “You didn’t?”

Bruce glances at me for a moment, perhaps takes in my crestfallen expression. “It’s nothing about you, miss – you’ve been nothing but a lady tonight, and I’m grateful for it. Some of the girls that boy

brought home,” he shakes his head contemplatively here, “…they were a mess. But you did very well. Still – I told him to hold off introducing you until after the fight – to just concentrate on what needed to be done. But he insisted.” Bruce shrugs, like Luca’s a problem he can’t quite solve and has resigned himself to that fate. “And his mother and his gran indulged him, like they always do.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head and feeling guilty – because as lovely as tonight was, perhaps Bruce is right. Luca should already be in bed, he should be thinking about the fight tomorrow, not me. It is a big deal to be boxing against the Atalaxian champion and…well. This party could have waited, couldn’t it?

“I should have thought of that,” I murmur, dropping my head to look at the wood of the porch.

“Well, perhaps you should have,” Bruce murmurs, and I raise my head to look at him, my eyebrows raised. Because I meant it – I should have thought of Luca’s responsibilities, should have encouraged him to delay the party. But…I didn’t really expect Bruce to agree with me.

He looks at me evenly now, assessing me, his mouth pressed to a thin line.

“Do you mind, miss?” he says quietly, seriously. “If I say something true to you, that you might not want to hear?”

Anxious, but wanting to know, I nod.

Bruce nods quickly and then looks away into the dark. “Luca is a talented boy – ambitious, hardworking, and he’s got a left hook like I’ve never seen. But his emotions run high – and he lets them. He’s got a temper, which I’m sure you’ve seen –“

He glances at me and I eagerly nod my confirmation, which makes him smirk fondly and shake his head.

“The temper’s just the start of it, though. He lets his emotions run him, sometimes, gets his damn heart into something and can’t quit it even when it’s not good for him. Or he quits something good because he got his feelings hurt. That’s why I say he’s been a damned fool with women – dates them all, loves some who treat him like crap, breaks up with others over the pettiest nonsense. But he lets it run him, lets it wreck him. He likes the intensity of it, I think – and that love for thrill and passion makes him a good boxer but…” he sighs, shaking his head, lost a bit in his thoughts. “It’s not always wonderful for his career.”

I turn my head to the side, suddenly confused because…

Is Luca’s uncle suggesting, right now, that him being mated to me is bad for Luca’s career!?

Chapter 0303

I’m quiet for a moment, thinking of the ways that Bruce’s assessment of his nephew – who is so much more of a son to him – line up with my own experiences with my mate. It’s true that Luca is emotional, though I’m not sure I’d have thought of him that way before now.

Luca’s willful, and bossy, and controlling – and he can be a little petty when things go his way, like when he didn’t talk to me after he found out, in the dream state, that I’m a girl. But I guess I never attributed all of that to Luca being hot-blooded, as it were. Of being someone who feels things so strongly that he has trouble controlling his intense reactions to them.

I turn my head for a moment, a little lost in my thoughts, because…well, because I think I’ve been thinking lately that Jackson is the more emotional of my two mates, deep down.

But secretly, is it Luca? Does he have an entire well of emotion that he likes to keep veiled under a thousand confident smiles and jokes?

God, how did I miss that?

“I hope we can rely on you,” Bruce says quietly, again drawing my attention back to him. “To…help Luca.”

“Of course you can,” I say instantly, meaning it utterly as I link my hands earnestly behind my back.

“Yes,” Bruce murmurs thoughtfully, studying me. “I can see that you’re a good girl, Ariel – and I mean that. You’re a nice young lady, you clearly care about my boy – you want to do right by him. And I appreciate and admire that for you. But…Luca has his own career, and his life, that I’m not sure lines up completely with yours.”

My eyes go wide, because…what?

“Again, I don’t think it’s anything you’ve done,” he says, drifting his hand through the air between us in an ameliorating way. “I just…well, you’re a Princess, aren’t you? And you’ve got mixed up in this Academy, just as he has. I told him not to do that – not to go joining the military, but he liked the idea of being a hero, of serving his nation.” Bruce rolls his eyes a little here. “But he didn’t really care about Moon Valley - what he liked was the fact that the magazines called him a hero. He didn’t really –“

“I’m sorry,” I say, interrupting a little and starting to get frustrated because – well, because I’m kind of getting the impression that I’m being a little insulted, frankly. “What does this have to do with me being good for him?”

“I’m sorry, you’re right - I’m tired,” Bruce says, sighing and dropping his head, collecting his thoughts. “What I mean to say is that…Luca has responsibilities.” He lifts his head now, meeting my eyes. “He bought this house for his grandmother and his mother, which was a good thing to do. He bought that gym, too, and he pays for all of those boys to train there – got them all off the street. He gives them a monthly stipend, too, so they can afford to not work – to just train.”

I go quite still because…I did not know that Luca did that.

Bruce nods, seeing my understanding now. “Luca’s made money, and he’s been successful, but his career has an end-date. He’s young and he’s strong now, but he’s not going to be forever. There’s always someone younger and stronger coming up the ranks. So Luca needs to win the prize fights while he can, and invest the money wisely so that he can continue to support the women who raised him, and continue to give back to his community. Which is why I don’t like him throwing a party for you the night before the biggest fight of his life.”

I step back a little, feeling like I’ve been slapped. Because I didn’t ask for this party but…

Chapter 0304

Well. I didn't think about it either, did 1? I set my jaw, offended and guilty all at once.

“I'm sorry,” Bruce says, shaking his head as he sees my expression. “It's just...I think it would be good for Luca, and helpful, if you really understood his situation, and his world. You need to help him make the right choices. He's a good boy — and I can see he loves you. But he's someone who lets his emotions run away with him. He needs a bit of guidance to make the right choices — and you can help with that.

“l will help him,” I say, steady, meaning it. “In whatever way I can.” ‘I hope we can count on you for that,” Bruce says, holding my gaze, giving me a steady nod.

Luca comes out of the house before I can respond, a plate of coffee cake wrapped in tinfoil in his hands, a big smile on his face. At the same moment, a car pulls around the corner, headlights flashing.

Luca smiles at his uncle, who nods and walks back to his comer of the porch, before coming to slip an arm around me, frowning at the car. "I was hoping for a moment for a quiet goodbye,” he says, sighing.

“That's okay,” I say, smiling up at my mate and standing on my toes as I take the plate from his hand, begging silently for a kiss. Luca grins and then obliges me, kissing me softly and pulling me close for a moment as Conner's car pulls to the front of the house.

“Thank you for coming,” he says. "This was amazing. Everything I wanted it to be.” “It really was,” I say, honestly meaning it and unable to help my smile. "But you will get some sleep, yes? And tomorrow I'll see you at the fight.”

“You'll be there?” he asks, a little desperate, almost as if he’s worried that I won't.

‘I promise say, laughingand ~~. grinning up at him. “I can't wait. It's going to be amazing. I'll be right in the Royal box — right up front: You won't be able to miss me’ “Content ~~

"Good," he says, tugging me close ane more time and planting a kiss on my forehead before starting to walk me to the car.

uce calls a goodnight after me,

nd I give hia little wave, but as ca gives me a final kiss goodnight d tucké me away in the car, I can't op my mind from wandering over ergtning Bruce said about Luca, ndhis life, and his responsibilities, id my role in it all.

228252 oC

=

Because it really does make me wonder...am I the best thing for Luca right now? Can I really support his career? Or...is dating a Princess going to be a huge distraction for him?

I sigh, sinking back into the seat,

) ~ disturbed by {.all. I want, more than anything, for Luca to have the best. life he can = to have a wonderful career to support his family, to conte doing this work he never even ntold me about to help. Boys that ranst be so like he was when he was an angry teenager.

But how do I do that?

"Did you have fun?” Conner asks, glancing over at me.

“ did,” I return, tucking my thoughts away and giving him a friendly smile. "It was an amazing night.”

"Did you bring me some cake?” he asks, raising an eyebrow and nodding to the plate in my lap.

"Oh no." I say quite seriously, "this cake is for Prince Rafe. Exclusively.”

Conner bursts into laughter, and I begin to tell the story of Luca's Gran and her Royal favorite, who is clearly not me.

And as we drive...I can't help but worry that the same might be true of Luca's uncle as well.

 

Chapter 0305

I got home a little too late to see anyone. I mean, Rafe was probably awake somewhere, but I didn't really feel like going to find him, so instead I simply cracked open the door to my parent's room and called softly inside to let them know that I was home — groggy affirmations greeted me from both, which made me smile. I left Rafe’s special cake on the coffee table with a little note of explanation, laughing a little, and then I went to bed.

I wake up late, and immediately looked for Daphne, but then I sigh when I remembered that mom moved her to her own bedroom last night. Scowling, I pull myself out of bed and dress casually for breakfast, wishing she was here so I could tell her what happened with Luca's uncle last night and get her perspective. Daphne’s really even-headed - she'd definitely give me good advice on how to handle this.

My stomach growls as I yawn and pull a hairbrush through my hair, so when I finally set out for breakfast I'm definitely eager to get there. But when I push open the door to the breakfast room

Instantly, I know that something's wrong. The room goes from hushed, angry whispers to absclute silence as heads turn and see me standing at the door.

"What," I say, freezing with my hand on the door, my eyes going wide. “What's wrong?”

Rafe, Ben, and Jesse sit at one end of the table, Daphne between them, all huddled over a copy of a magazine. Juniper lounges at the other end of the table, sighing like she’s so bored by all of it, and Markie freezes stock still at the sideboard, where he is loading up probably his third plate of bacon and eggs for breakfast, staring anxiously my way. Cora and Roger stand with him, but Cora just grimaces when I come in and Roger looks at me with a great deal of pity that makes me feel even worse — because if even Roger isn't teasing me!?

God, something really is wrong

Frantic, I move my gaze to my parents, who are sitting at the center of the table right in front of me. "Come in, Ariel,” my mom says on a heavy sigh, putting down her own copy of the same magazine that Rafe and my friends are looking at. When I glance around the table again, I see another copy at Markie’'s seat, and one more in front of Juniper.

“What?” I ask, worried. “What is it?”

“It's nothing, baby,” mom murmurs, standing up and starting to come around the table towards me as my dad stays stoically in his seat, his arms crossed, looking pissed as hell.

“It's obviouslyrot nothing,” I reply, my voice getting higher as I become more frantic. I look around the roof suddenly;realizing tha Jackson isn't here. (asp, and stumble backa step.starting to freak out. “Where is Jacks? Did he — he didn’t —Where —

“Ari” Mom says, finally reaching me and taking mé.by the shoulders and looking mei the eye. “Jackson is fine, he'sgjuist late for breakfast, like you. Probably figuring out how te put afya pair of jeans — it's all-a very news wor d for him. Okay? .~ Just. come in, darling, close the door. We'll talk about it as a family.”

A huge sigh of relief rushes from my lungs at my mom's assurance that Jackson is fine, just late and struggling with fashion. Because she wouldn't lie to me — she wouldn't say that he was okay if she knew he wasn’t.

Still, something is happening, and with the whole way the room is looking at me right now, it's obviously got something to do with me.

"Mom?" I ask, my voice tight with worry as she guides me around the table to the seat next to her, where Cora brings me a cup of tea with milk and sugar. "What's — what's going on?

“Sweetheart,” my mom says, sitting down next to me, and taking both of my hands in hers. "Now, I don't want you to freak out —"

"Oh, just tell her, Ella,” Cora sighs, putting her hands on her hips and rolling her eyes as she stands straight. “You're making it all worse with all this coddling.”

“[ am not!” mom protests, her jaw falling open as she gapes up at her sister.

“You totally are! You —

Jesse comes {0 my rescue, standing and 0ssing &-¢copy of the magazine halfway down the length of the table so that ifsmacks right in front of me. It's upside down so I don'tcatch all the details, but my eyes gorwide when I see my own face ontone half ofthe cover, beaming. Cantent

"Someone spilled the beans, Ari,” Jesse says, crossing his arms and glaring at me — not at me, of course, but angry and looking me steadily in the eyes. "About you being mated to Luca.”