Ch. 31..35: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 31-35

Chapter 31

Jackson takes a long moment to size up Luca, I think feeling more comfortable with direct confrontation than small talk. “No secrets, Grant,” he says quietly. “Just genuinely f**king good at it.”

Luca’s smirk deepens. “At least you’re good for the grunt work,” he says quietly, and my spine straightens at the cruel edge to his words. “Even the military needs its brutes on the front line.”

The table goes quiet at the clear implication in Luca’s words. My eyes flick over Luca again, unsettled by this aggression.

“I seem to recall,” Jackson says slowly, carefully, “that I beat you out on the intelligence exam too, Grant.”

Jesse’s mouth forms into a scandalized, delighted little “o” as he looks eagerly between Jackson and Luca, and a scandalized little laugh stumbles from Ben’s mouth. Rafe and I are completely silent.

Luca just leans back in his chair and grins, flicking his eyes over Jackson like he knows he could take him.

Even though…honestly, he might be the only person at the table who believes that.

“Thanks for breakfast,” Jackson says, smoothly breaking the awkward silence and standing up from his chair.

“Stay,” I say, leaning forward, the word popping from my lips before I realize it.

“Nah, I’m finished, and I want to warm up,” Jackson says, pushing his chair in and looking towards the tray–bussing station. But before he goes, he flicks his blue gaze back to me and holds my eyes

seriously. “But thank you for the invitation. No one…no one has asked me to eat with them yet. It means a lot.”

I stay still for a moment, captivated by his gaze, but then he just nods to me.

And I nod back.

And then he’s walking away.

“Ari, why the hell did you ask him to eat with us?” Rafe growls, leaning across the table to yell at me once Jackson’s out of earshot.

“Because I felt bad for him, Rafe,” I say, gesturing in Jackson’s direction. “Didn’t

– no one, for two whole weeks you hear what he just said

“And did you ever imagine,” Luca says, his voice dry, “that maybe there’s a reason why no one asked him to eat with them? Because he’s a dangerous jerk?”

I snap my head to glare at Luca, suddenly angry. “Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot, Luca,” I say, my voice low. He blinks at me in surprise. “Don’t try to pretend I’m silly enough to not have bothered imagining why people might not like Jackson. But I also don’t imagine that most people have your particular reason for disliking him, okay? Just because you don’t like him doesn’t mean that everyone else needs to feel the same way.”

I hold Luca’s gaze while he just stares at me, I think a little shocked to see the funny little Shrimp he’s gotten to know push back like this.

“What on earth are you two talking about?” Jesse asks, leaning forward, fascinated.

“Nothing,” Rafe snaps, standing up with his own tray and nodding up towards the clock. “No one’s talking about anything anymore. It’s time to go.”

I take a deep breath, because I know Rafe is right, and push to my feet, my hands shaking a little as I grab my tray. Rafe waits patiently for Luca, Jesse, and Ben to move ahead, falling in next to me as we walk to bus our trays.

“You’re explaining this,” he says quietly, glaring down at me, “the moment we get into the Academy. All right?”

I sigh and look up at him, words on my lips ready to explain –

But then I grin instead, my eyes crinkling as I look up at my brother. “Does that mean you think I’m going to get in?”

Rafe nods, assured, and then stalks forward to deposit his empty tray, taking my full one from my hands and putting it on the rack below his. “It does,” he says, his voice sure. “I believe in you, Ari. Even if I’m going to kick your ass for that stunt the moment we get inside,” he sighs, slinging an arm around my shoulders as we head for the gym, “I do think you’re going to pull it out. You’re a Sinclair, after all. We don’t fail at shit like this.”

Happiness wells in me at my brother’s confidence, and honestly?

I think it’s precisely what I needed to hear as I head into the gym, ready to meet

my fate.

We enter the obstacles course in groups of ten according to our ranking, which means that Luca, Jesse and Rafe are invited in way before Ben and I. I give Jesse and Rafe both hugs and wish them good

luck, knowing that I won’t see them again until the ceremony in which the final rankings are announced. We’ll be allowed back in the barracks after the obstacle course, but just to grab our things. We’ve got to get outside as fast as possible.

Since I’m currently ranked in the middle of the pack a status which will surely change after this obstacle run – I don’t have too long to wait.

As they call my name as part of the next group of 10, I wave to Ben, who gives me a wink and a salute of good luck. I grin as I turn away from him, hoping to hell he makes it too – Ben, he’s become a good friend. It would be heartbreaking to have to say goodbye to him now.

little As I walk with the group of ten through the entrance to the course, I’m a chagrined to see that Graham Wright is part of my pack. But I sigh and just do my best to stand far away from him. As we pass through the door, I’m surprised to see a small group of Academy professors in black waiting there, making us all stand in a straight line. I’m studying them, my eyes catching again on the handsome brown–haired professor who I noticed at the intelligence examination. Today, he holds a shiny black orb in his hands.

But before I can study him further, I do a bit of a double–take, because

Because Jackson is there, at the start line of the obstacle course, kneeling down and messing with the tie of his boot of all the things. What the hell…

“Clark!” Someone barks, and my attention is pulled away from my mate. I shake my head to clear it and step into place at the back of the line. Once I’m there, the professors begin to move slowly down the line, the handsome professor at the center handing the orb to each of us in turn and observing us carefully for a few seconds before taking it back.

Each of the candidates looks as confused as I do after the experience, but…I mean, nobody looks any worse for the wear. So I attempt to pat down my anxiety as my

turn comes.

“Candidate Ari Clark,” a Lieutenant says, making notes on a clip board as the professor comes to stand in front of me. When the Lieutenant nods that he’s

ready, the professor looks me seriously in the eye.

“Please take the sphere in your hands, Clark. Nothing else is required of you.”

“What is it?” I murmur, looking down at the glass ball. But no one answers me. As I stare at the orb, I realize that it’s not a solid ball of obsidian glass, but instead…clear glass, in which shadows swirl and pulse. I go still with surprise as I watch the black clouds, and as I stare I even see…little pulses of purple lightening flash through them, as thin as thread and so fast you’d swear your eyes were playing tricks on

you.

“Thank you,” the professor says, and I jump a little before handing the sphere back to him.

“You’re welcome,” I reply, and then I blush, because I feel a little ridiculous. I mean, I didn’t actually do him any favors. He smirks at me, looking me up and down before he moves with his colleagues to the back of the room.

I’m still staring after him when someone barks my name again.

I twist and then curse as I realize that all of the other candidates are lined up at the start of the course waiting for me.

L

I run over, falling in line, putting my hands on my left knee in a runners stance, ready to make a break for it when the whistle sounds.

To my shock, a tall form takes the spot next to me in line.

But, of course, I know immediately who it is even though I don’t look up. I can tell by sense of smell.

“Why are you still here?” I whisper, feeling like it is…not chance, that Jackson is running this route with me and not with my brother. But why would he do that? Does he…does he mean me harm again?

“Problems with my shoe,” Jackson says, his voice light as he too bends over, ready

to run.

I exhale, trying to put my anxiety out of my mind – because whatever Jackson’s going to do in the course, I have no control over it now. Better to concentrate on what I can handle.

“Did you read the handbook?” Jackson asks suddenly, and this time I look up at

Chapter al

him, completely baffled. Why why on earth is he asking me this seconds before we enter the course?

“What handbook?” I ask.

He turns a little to look down at me, frustrated. “The one your f**king uncles wrote, Clark.”

I scowl. realizing that I never even knew there was a handbook because Rafe and Jesse – they’ve probably had it memorized since they were kids. “No, I never read the handbook,” I murmur, turning my eyes back to the gauntlet ahead of us.

“Interesting phrasing,” Jackson murmurs, glancing over at the Lieutenant at the sidelines, who starts to raise his whistle to his lips. “When they describe the rules for going through the course, it’s very clear that candidates will be disqualified for actively helping each other. But, there isn’t any language that prevents you from using other candidates‘ bodies as leverage.”

“What?” I breathe, staring at him in utter confusion.

But Jackson he just turns his face away.

And suddenly the bell whistles, and I swear he’s gone in a flash-

And I’m just left standing here alone on the start line, wondering what the hell

“Go, Clark!” the Lieutenant barks. “The trial has begun!”

Cursing at my idiocy for letting him throw me off the game, I launch into a sprint, heading into the course already behind on my time.

 

Chapter 32

I’m gasping for breath by the time I get to the sand pit through which I have to army crawl under a heavy cargo net. This obstacle marks the final third of the course, which means that I’m almost done but it’s also the part that always slows me down the most.

I dive in without hesitation, trying to push myself as hard as I can, not giving myself any time to hesitate or take a break even though my heart is pounding with the exertion.

Rafe is right. I’m a Sinclair. We don’t fail at shit like this.

And the chain climb, which is next?

Well, I’m just going to have to handle that when I get there, aren’t I?

In the meantime, I use my legs to propel me forward, my thighs burning as I use my stomach muscles to hold my body in the air as much as I can, my forearms moving fast to take my weight as I move towards the edge.

By the time I get to the end of the sand pit I’m red and panting, my tongue sticky with sand kicked up into the air by the sixty–some cadets who are already ahead of

like me in line, including Jackson, who has already overlapped me. As usual, he Rafe, Jesse, and Luca – goes through the course twice in the time it takes the rest of us to do it once, earning a completion bonus.

But, considering that he didn’t even look my way when he passed me…I’m counting my blessings.

I roll out from under the cargo rope, giving myself ten seconds to lay on the ground and catch my breath, as Rafe advised I do, before I try to magically levitate myself up this chain or something –

But as I lay stay still, carefully counting my breaths, suddenly a heap of sand hits me in the face –

And I gasp, sputtering and roiling over onto my stomach as I frantically wipe at my face, hacking sand from my throat. I finally shake the majority of the sand away and get a glimpse of f**king Graham Wright smirking over his shoulder at me as he starts to pull himself up the chain

God, what an asshole-

He puts a further thirty second dent in my time as I work to spit the sand our of my mouth and ensure that it doesn’t get in my lungs. Then I pull myself to my feer and start to jog towards the chains, cursing the Wright family and passively plotting their deaths when suddenly 1 stumble in surprise, because

Because f**king Jackson is right there, kneeling at the corner of the chain obstacle, again tying his damn shor

I slow my pace but keep moving, trying to figure out what the hell is going on with him –

I mean, honestly, if his boots are messing with him that much, why doesn’t he just take them off and go? This is going to put a severe dent in his time he’ll still get the completion bonus, but this will be the worst time he’s ever recorded, and he’ll certainly have given the title for this course to Rafe, who…

But as I jog towards the chains, my mind working fast, Jackson raises his head.

And looks directly into my eyes.

I slow further and he scowls at me, glancing down at my feet, clearly telling me to

get a move on.

I hesitate for a second but then start to run, faster now. He lifts his eyes again to mine and nods, one, solidly. And then, shocking me, he returns his gaze to his shoe, his body curled over, his shoulders flat

above him almost like…

Like…a table.

Or a platform.

I gasp as I suddenly realize what the hell is happening.

And that…that I have one shot to take advantage of this gift Jackson has laid at my feet –

And I don’t know why he did it – maybe as an apology for trying to choke me? Maybe as a thanks for the simple act of inviting him to breakfast?

But for whatever reason he did it – Jackson has opened a door for me to f**king make it into the academy.

His words at the start of the obstacle come back to me as I pick up speed

“There isn’t any language that prevents you from using other candidates‘ bodies as leverage.”

And as my focus lands on the flat expanse of his wide shoulders?

see exactly how he’s positioned them for me.

As leverage.

With a final burst of speed, I launch myself into the air over Jackson’s head, my

right foot landing on flat of his back between his shoulders, and I shout as I straighten my knee and push

Jackson lets out a yell and stands, acting for anyone who is watching like I did this without his consent – shouting after me and cursing like a damn sailor at the little Shrimp who used him like a damn step stool.

But the leverage, and the fact that Jackson shouted and stood just as my foot hit his back – it only pushed me up higher.

And the boost is everything I need.

I grab the chain about eight feet off the ground, and I grit my teeth, putting every ounce of effort and will into my biceps as I haul myself the final two feet onto the platform at the top.

But two feet? Two feet I can do.

I ignore Graham’s shouts behind me as he calls me a cheater, and Jackson’s pretend curses, grinning like an idiot as I sprint forward on to the next obstacle.

But the rest is cake -And as I cross the finish line ten minutes later, my coming in short pants, and glance up at the time?

I grin, because it’s absolutely the best time I’ve ever made minutes faster than I’ve ever made it before.

Which means…

breath

a whole fifteen

it’s not a good time, the

I start to laugh a little hysterically now. Because I mean obstacle course is still by far my weakest test, and it counts for so much in the final

ranking

But I think…I think it just might be good enough

And as Jackson crosses the finish line a second after me, I swear there’s a little smile on his lips as he glances my way.

I fall in at Jackson’s side as the Lieutenants nod to us, letting us know they’ve got our times, my breath coming pathetically short in comparison to Jackson’s even. controlled breathing.

But neither of us acknowledge it or even say a word as we pass through to the

barracks.

Because whatever is done is done.

And only the rankings truly matter now.

Inside the barracks, Jackson still doesn’t speak to me as he moves to his bunk and I go to mine. I glance around, looking for Jesse and Luca and Rafe – Ben won’t have come out yet – but none of them are here. Lieutenants move around the room, barking at us to hurry, and as much as I’d like a second to run to the bathroom and clean up, there’s just no time.

So, I gather my pack, which really just has my spare blanket and my toothbrush kit in it I didn’t come with any personal belongings, like everyone else did – and head anxiously for the front door and out into the sunlight.

Like everyone else, I head immediately for the line of candidates who already stand in formation, organized according to our ranking yesterday. Everyone stands looking forward, their hands clasped behind their backs like the soldiers they hope to become, their feet shoulder–width apart.A Lieutenant

directs me to my spot, a little black dot with a small number 70 painted on it. I exhale, tucking my hands behind my back and lacing my fingers together, assuming the position. As soon as I do, though, I start to peer around, looking for my family and my friends, hoping to hell that everything went okay for them.

We’re all pretty spread out on the wide lawn at the base of the cliff on which the Academy castle is built, the entrance just a black door built into the wall of rock directly ahead of us. I curse my short stature again as I try to see between shoulders and torsos, but luckily we’re far enough apart that I get a glimpse of Rafe’s dark head rising high above pretty much everyone else’s. Near him at the

front is Jesse, and down the line to their right is Jackson

spare a glance for 1 ucx, and consider looking behind me to see if Ben has emerged yet, but then my eyes return to Jackson and I consider, again, why he helped me today

But then my stomach sinks as I wonder god, did he help me today?

I go over the events again in my mind.

Jackson waiting for me at the starting line.

Jackson telling me about a vague rule in the handbook – a handbook I’ve never heard of before.

Jackson kneeling at the base of the chains, which he must know is my worst obstacle –

And then the way he looked at me before setting his shoulders flat, basically inviting me to use him as leverage.

But…was it even real?

If it was – Jackson just gave me the boost I needed to get into the academy. But if it wasn’t… go white as I realize that Jackson – who basically tried to kill me twice – he may have just gotten me disqualified

from candidacy. If it is actually illegal to use another candidate’s body as leverage, which seems like it should be…

Then Jackson just fooled me into breaking the rules during the last test.

My face goes white as I realize the risk I just took, and I curse myself heartily as a fool as I realize that I trusted him because he’s my mate-

But Jackson – he has no idea that I’m his mate. As far as he knows, I’m just the shrimp who is somehow keeping his mate from him- precisely the person he’d want to eliminate, precisely the person who he’d want to lure into complacency with an awkward apology and by accepting an invitation to eat at breakfast.

I press my eyes shut, stifling a moan, realizing just how stupid I’ve been today.

God, I shouldn’t have trusted him I should have just tried to do it on my own, taken the penalty for being so slow…

Unless…

I mean, isn’t it just as possible that Jackson, like Luca, does sense a connection between us? That he might want to help?

“Candidates,” the Captain’s voice booms out, artificially amplified this time so that we’re all sure to hear him. “Congratulations on your completion of these two rigorous weeks. It is now time to announce the names of the 96 newest cadets at Alpha Academy. In order, those who have been accepted are as follows…”

And as the Captain pauses, reaching behind him for the official list of final rankings, I gulp dry air down around the lump in my throat.

Because in just a few minutes I’ll learn the truth: whether my mate truly saved me, or if he intentionally ruined my dream of becoming a cadet at the Alpha Academy,

Chapter 33

I’m shaking as the Captain places the list on the podium in front of him, all thoughts leaving my mind as he studies the names. Because as much as I’m desperate to figure out what happened, all I can do is listen and wait.

“The cadet in the number 1 position,” the Captain says, his voice completely without emotion, “is Rafe Sinclair.”

A shout goes up from the gathered candidates as their champion walks forward to shake the Captain’s hand and pass through the doors into the Academy. And even as anxiety still rolls within me, I can’t help the smile that bursts onto my face.

No one is surprised at his taking first – Rafe has stayed at the top of the list this entire time, and as Dominic Sinclair’s son and near–identical replica, he was sort of a shoe–in for the spot. But I’m prouder than all of them, because he’s my big brother and as much as Rafe made it look easy, he worked his ass off for this his

whole life.

Rafe deserves it, and I couldn’t be happier or prouder of him. My eyes well with tears even as I cheer for my brother, because I wish mom and dad were here to see it. That’s not allowed, of course, but still.

I know they’d be so proud they could burst.

Jesse is called third, and I cheer just as hard for my cousin alongside everyone else as I catch sight of his cheerful face as he shakes the Captain’s hand. Jesse lets out a good–spirited whoop that makes me laugh as he dashes for the doors, clearly so eager to get inside he can’t help but run.

My eyes return to the Captain then, and I lose track of time as I listen to the names go by, watch hands shake as cadet after cadet is admitted. Jackson’s name is announced next, coming in at S – I expected him to be higher, but he must have lost time on the obstacle course either helping me or screwing me over.

I scowl as Alan Wright is called, but the distaste is wiped away when Luca’s name is announced soon after, a big cheer going out for our resident celebrity. Luca showboat that he is riffs a little bit, waving out to the crowd of candidates as he walks to the Captain’s podium to shake his hand.

–

The Captain rolls his eyes a little at Luca’s vanity as he shakes his hand, but he can’t help but smile either. Luca – he’s a little bit irresistible, isn’t it? I bite my lip a little

as I watch him pass through the doors, because I am well aware that I’m the one who is the least able to resist his charms.

The numbers pass in a haze now through the twenties, the thirties, the forties and fifties – I don’t even pay attention, because I know I didn’t get that high. Pretty much everyone ahead of me on the field has been cleared out by now, which makes sense.

As the numbers hit the late sixties, though, my stomach starts to turn. Because some of the young men behind me have been called, having risen in the final ranking, which means that some of us who were safe before the final ranking are going to be cut.

The Captain reaches the seventieth name. And it’s not me.

A boy behind me moves forward, rushing across the lawn to shake the Captain’s hand.

My heart sinks. Because, I mean, I knew I was going to take a hit in the ranking, but seventy was my spot.

I hold my breath as the guys to my right are called, as the numbers make their way through the seventies.

As number eighty is announced, and it’s not me, my heart sinks.

The numbers continue to crawl upwards.

As each passes, I become increasingly convinced that Jackson tricked me. I mean – he’s clever, I always knew he was smart. But how could I have been so stupid?

The Captain announces the 86(th) candidate. Still not me, and still not Ben. I turn now, risking it, knowing that there can’t be any consequences worse than being cut from the Academy. My eyes immediately meet Ben’s, and I know that his expression matches mine.

Dread fills every inch of me and Ben feels precisely the same. Thirty–four people are still left standing on this field, and only ten of us will become cadets.

What are the chances that both of us will make it?

Hell, what’s the chance that even one will?

Chapen a

About 30 percent chance for one, my wolf unhelpfully supplies, and inwardly I scowl at our propensity for fast math. But just about 6 percent for both of your

Shit. Shit. I mean, I know it’s more than just a random selection – that our previous rankings come into play…

But as the Captain continues to announce names? Our odds continue to

go

down.

The Captain announces number 90 and I hang my head, wondering what the hell I’ll do next. I mean, I guess I’ll go home, but how the hell will I get there? Rafe and I we never even discussed the possibility –

I mean, there’s a train, right?

“Number 91,” the Captain says, his voice bland and a little bored.

And someone will let me use a phone I guess I’ll just…call my mom

“Ari Clark.”

My head whips up and I gasp.

Because-

That’s-

That’s my name –

I mean, it’s not my name, but –

–

A hysterical little laugh bursts from me as I stumble forward. I can feel eyes on me as a small, half– hearted cheer goes up – nothing like the cheering at the beginning, but most of the cadets are inside

now, and most of the people behind me are feeling just as horribly as I was a moment ago –

The Captain locks eyes with me and I hurry my pace, eager to get across the lawn and shake his hand before he does something ridiculous, like realizes he made a mistake –

Or figures out that I’m a girl –

My feet move almost without me realizing it, and suddenly I’m right in front of him, reaching out my hand.

“Well done, Clark,” the Captain says, a little smirk playing at his lips. I stare at him in surprise even as he clasps my hand because he didn’t say anything to most of the other new cadets. “Bit of a surprise, weren’t you? I’ll be seeing more of you

inside.”

I stumble away, still shocked, as the Captain releases my hand and continues on

with the names.

He’ll be seeing more of me inside? What – what does that mean?

But I don’t have time to think about it, because suddenly the black doors of the Academy are in front of me, and my heart is absolutely pounding as I walk up to them.

Because…I mean…

I did it.

I feel tears slipping down my cheeks as I walk slowly towards the doors, staring up at them, really realizing for the first time that…that I’m a cadet at the Alpha Academy. That I earned my spot, proved myself alongside everyone else.

That I belong here.

A huge rush of pride blooms in me as I cross the threshold and accept my spot as number 91, Ari Clark. Cadet of Alpha Academy.

A huge shout goes up as soon as I step through the door, and I gasp as someone grabs me off my feet, spinning me in the air.

But I know instantly, by touch and feel, by scent, that it’s my brother –

And I give a little shriek of happiness and wrap my arms around his neck, tucking

face against his neck as I cry and shout for the joy of it.

my

“You did it, Ari!” Rafe shouts, his voice breaking in his excitement and his pride. “I f**king knew you could do it! God damn it, I’m so proud of you!”

He spins me twice more before putting me back on my feet, and I stumble back a step, dizzy, but grinning up at him –

It doesn’t last long, because Jesse grabs me next. “Shrimp!” he shouts, “I always

thrilled believed in you, my Shrimpy little cousin!” And I burst out laughing now,

and loving him loving all of them

–

Jesse puts me down, pressing a big kiss to my cheek, and then I’m in a third set of

arms.

And let’s just say that I’m glad that the entrance hall is filled with joyful shouts, because when Luca presses me close and that summer–sun, citrus–and–apricots scent hits me…

Well, the little moan that escapes my mouth is…deeply embarrassing, to say the least.

“Good job, Shrimp.” Luca says, his voice soft, and I tilt my head up to smile at him. His eyes sparkle as he looks down at me, running a hand over my head like he’d be stroking it over my hair if he could see it. The intimacy of the gesture, it sends a shiver right down my spine. “I knew you could do it.”

“No, you didn’t,” I say on impulse, wrinkling my nose up at him. “I bet you had all sorts of bets against me –

“I did not!” he protests, laughing.

“Admit it,” I say, pointing a finger up at him. “You had at least five bucks on me getting my ass kicked out of here –”

Luca laughs harder at this, shaking his head, but his arms slacken when another roar goes up at the door. And I spin, moving away from him, my mouth spreading into a wide smile because the next candidate who comes through the door?

I know that face, that wide smile.

“Number 95!” Ben shouts, throwing his hands above his head as he leaps through the door.

o too as

And suddenly I’m we all move forward to hug our friend, welcoming him to the crew.

Ben – he’s the last of us to make it through, but he’s one of us now. We all are – cadets, equals. I wrap Ben in a warm hug, telling him how glad I am that he made it, him whispering the same to me. And then we both pull away, laughing and shaking our heads at each other, wondering how the hell we made it through.

But we don’t do that for long, both of us turning towards the long hall through the

cliff, to where our future waits.

“Come on, baby sister,” Rafe whispers just so I can hear, slinging an arm around my shoulder, Jesse coming to my other side. “Welcome to Alpha Academy. Let’s get the adventure started.”

And the three of us march forward together, eager to see what the future holds.

Chapter 34

I gape a little as we walk down the long, dark tunnel towards…

I mean, I don’t even know what we’re walking towards.

“Where are we going?” I ask Rafe, a little breathless with intrigue and excitement.

“Into the Academy,” he hisses back, like it’s a secret, but I know he’s kidding even before I glare up at him.

“Uniforms,” Jesse says smoothly, running a hand through his hair like he’s very suave. “We’ve got to get fitted, because Academy cadets always look good.”

“What?” I say, a little confused. “Honestly, that can’t be first –”

“His dad,” Rafe says, “the vainest man in the world –”

“Um, justifiably,” Jesse counters, grinning.

“Yeah, whatever,” Rafe says, grinning, “anyway, Uncle Roger really did decide that all of the cadets enrolled here need to look their best at all times. So, yeah,” he shrugs, “first thing is fittings for uniforms.”

“Whoa,” I say, and my awe is not simply for Uncle Roger’s semi–predictable flare for looking good, but also for the cavernous room we walk into next. Because, I mean, the tunnel was literally just that a tunnel, with rough walls and low lighting.

But this?

“Damn,” Luca says, a smirk on his face as he comes up next to Jesse. “Looks like this city boy has finally made it, haven’t I?‘

I nod as I stare around the room, with its three–story arching stone ceilings and polished floors. And I mean, this is the bottom of the castle, where I assumed the dungeons were. If this is here, what the hell is upstairs?

“This way,” Rafe says, tugging me along towards a line of professors waiting at a set of tables ahead of us, a set of boxes in front of them.

“Ah, Cadet Sinclair,” one of the professors says, smiling at Rafe as he steps forward. “Naturally we thought you’d be one of the first to appear, but now I see that you

were waiting for…” he peers beyond Rafe and blinks a little at Ben and 1, clearly having no idea who we are.

“Some friends.” Rafe says blandly, smiling at the professor and putting on his best Prince and Heir persona. “Is there something here we need to collect?”

“Your temporary uniform,” the professor says, smiling and lifting a box into Rafe’s arms, “sized according to your candidate apparel. Also within the box is your dorm information and key, the Cadet Handbook, and a map of the parts of the castle which you’ll need to find your classes. Class information will be along this evening shortly after your meal.”

I peer around Rafe, listening interestedly, and I jump a little when I hear my own

name.

“Cadet Clark,” the professor repeats, and as I turn I realize with surprise that it’s the dark–haired professor again – the one who made us hold that strange orb this afternoon. I move eagerly towards him, seeing he has what I assume is my box in his hands. “Congratulations, Cadet.” he says, his voice dry and amused in a way that makes me look up into his eyes as I take the box from his hands.

“Thank you,” I say, and then I hesitate because…I mean, he’s just staring at me in this knowing way.

“You’re welcome,” he says softly. “I’ll look forward to seeing much, much more of you, Cadet…Clark.”

My lips twist up into a practiced smile, a knee–jerk reaction after years of Princess training that taught me to be sweet to anyone who says they look forward to seeing me again, but my reaction just makes his own smile deepen. And suddenly, as he holds my gaze, I get the sneaking suspicion that he knows….absolutely everything about me.

As I back away from him I realize that I am on much shakier ground here, and under a great deal more scrutiny, as a cadet in the Academy than as a candidate in the barracks.

I clear my throat, straightening my shoulders, doing my best to be, I don’t know, masculine. “Thank you, sir,” I say seriously. “I’ll look forward to you seeing you, 100.”

But he just chuckles a little, clearly pleased and entertained, and nods to me.

And I scowl, turning away as Luca, Ben, and Jesse accept their own boxes, my mind racing as I follow Rafe to the next step in our process.

Rafe’s already rifling through his box as we step into the next room, which is smaller and has walls covered in mirrors. I look around passively, my mind still reeling from my interaction to the professor, who was the second person to tell me today that they’re going to see more of me…

What the hell do the Captain and this brown–haired professor teach? They’re so different – I can’t imagine, at all, that they’d teach something together. So…..

But suddenly my eyes lock on a figure across the room and I go very still in shock before I suddenly burst out laughing, realizing that I’m looking at myself in the mirror on the far wall.

“What?” Jesse asks, coming to my side.

“Seriously?” I say, grinning at myself as I turn a little, observing my plain face with no makeup, my hair tucked expertly up below my cap, my baggy fatigues. “That’s what I look like?”

Jesse frowns at me for a second and then looks across the room like I’m doing, his face bursting into a grin as he sees my reflection there too. He laughs. “Yup! You look good, Shrimpy!”

“No wonder no one takes me seriously,” I murmur. Because honestly, I do look like a boy, but I’m sure that I’m the smallest, wimpiest, most pink–cheeked little guy that’s ever walked through these doors.

“Don’t worry,” a girl’s voice says, and I go still when I hear it, turning towards it in shock as she laughs a little too and waves me forward. I mean, it’s not like I recognize the voice or anything – it’s just….a girl. “A lot of guys have that reaction when they see themselves for the first time in candidate grey after two weeks,” she says, smiling at me.

She nods to the round platform in front of which she kneels on a little ottoman. “Come forward,” she says. “I’ll take your measurements, and we’ll have you looking dashing in a custom uniform before you know it.”

I hesitate, realizing suddenly that this young woman

she wants to touch my

body, to figure out the precise dimensions of my form. And while my baggy candidate uniform conceals everything about my slight figure…

SUN, LU Mar

She is going to have access to some details I don’t want anyone to have.

The girl shrugs. “No worries, if you’re shy, I can take someone else first

I glance quickly where Rafe and Jesse are already standing on platforms, but when I see that their tailors are older men…

“Til go,” Luca says, starting to.walk past me and flashing his charming smile at the girl tailor, who is probably just about my age. “Hi, my name is Luca, it’s lovely to meet you –”

“Hey, no cutting.” Ben says as I squeak a little, realizing I’m losing my chance to be measured by the only girl here. Luca falls back a step as Ben grabs him by the sleeve. “Let Ari go first, cheater.”

“I was called before Ari,” Luca protests, but I scurry forward and Luca just laughs, letting me.

Almost shaking with anxiety, because this could go very wrong, I step onto the platform.

“Congratulations,” the girl says, smiling up at me. “Can you tell me your name for the list?

I do so, and she makes a note on the pad next to her before reaching for her measuring tape.

“Um,” I say, looking anxiously at my brother and cousin for help, but they’re talking to each other and have apparently forgotten all about me. “Listen, you don’t really have to take measurements for me, you can just…give me a uniform the same size as this one that I’m laughing.

Unfortunately, the girl just laughs as she reaches forward, starting to measure the length of my leg from my hip to the floor. “Cadet Clark, you are swimming in this uniform. Don’t worry – we’ll get you suited up very nicely – sharp and trim!”

“No, really,” I protest, taking a step forward as she stands and moves behind me, tugging the pack from my back even as I try to cling to it. “Honestly, I prefer to be…unfitted…” She scolds me good naturedly for being so shy before measuring the width of my shoulders and then the length from the name of my neck to my lower back.

I jump a little as her hand grazes the top of my butt, but she just laughs at me

12:45 Sun, 10 MT

again, going on with her work, and suddenly her hands appear in front of me as she passes the tape from one hand to the other, starting to loop it around my

chest.

“No, please.” I whisper, begging and doing my best to spin around.

But the girl, she just keeps going. “What, are you ticklish?” she laughs, her words. kind and teasing as her hands move lightning–fast in a practiced manner, tightening the tape first around my chest, and then my waist, and then my hips.

I hold my breath as her hands go still and she raises her head, her eyes slowly meeting mine as she considers the particular ratio of my dimensions.

Chapter 35

My breathe freezes in my lungs as the young tailor and I stare at each other, neither of us blinking.

I mean, I am not someone who can claim anything close to the dangerous curves of a temptress, but I am decidedly a girl. Like my mom, I have smaller breasts, but my waist is small and my hips are far from narrow.

The seamstress stares at me for another second before she blinks rapidly, clarity suddenly coming to her face, studying me as she puts the pieces together. “Please,” I say, lifting my hands up and shaking my head vehemently, “please, I am begging you…”

And then a grin bursts onto her mouth.

My stomach absolutely sinks to the floor in relief.

The girl’s smile widens and she nods once, glancing over at the other tailors, who have not looked our way. “I’ll fudge the measurements,” she whispers, nodding to me again, more eagerly this time. “Give you a little extra room for…..mystery. And I’ll send along some stretchy fabric for…”

She quickly gestures towards her own breasts, just subtly, and relief floods through

1. me.

“Thank you,” I whisper as she beams and finishes up measuring my arms, around my neck, and finally my inseam. “Thank you, I owe you everything.”

“You’re welcome,” she says, looking up at me as if she genuinely means it. “I’m…I’m really excited for you, Cadet Clark. I think it’s great.”

And as we grin at each other, I quite suddenly wish we had more time-

Because she seems like the kind of girl that I could really talk to. And, all in a rush, I suddenly miss girl time with a vehemence that surprises me. I mean, I love my brother and my cousin and all my new friends here

But if I could just have ten minutes to sit and talk to a girl who is my friend and confidant, who I can laugh with and spill my heart to…

“Go ahead,” she says, nodding her head to the side and giving me a wink. “You’re all finished. Uniforms will be delivered tomorrow. Good luck!”

I grin my thanks to her again and, while I probably should be worried that she’s lying and is going to tell her superiors the moment I get out of the room, somehow as I watch her finish up her notes, I am not nervous at all.

But I admit, I am a little jealous when I notice that Luca is the next one to step on her pedestal as I sling on my pack and pick up my boxed temporary uniform. And as she greets him, he’s already smiling that too–charming smile.

When the nice tailer looks up at him, her eyes widen with surprise and pleasure, and I can see that his charm and his dimples are already doing their work.

“Come on, jealous,” Jesse whispers to me. He’s already out in the hall, and he laughs as he pulls me away from the doorway. “Time to go to the dorms. She’s not going to steal your man in the next two minutes.”

I scowl at the thought because I mean, she is pretty and clearly very nice.

But Jesse is right – I have other things to wonder about right now.

“The dorms?” I ask, sufficiently distracted by the thought of it. And suddenly I laugh at myself, because how can this not be the first thing I checked? I balance my box on one arm, lifting open the top and reaching my hand in, searching for the little piece of paper that I know has my dorm assignment written on it

I mean, where will I be living? Will it even be close to Rafe and Jesse? What will the bathrooms be like –

“Don’t worry about that,” Rafe says, grinning at me and putting a hand on my arm as I search. “We made sure you’re in with us.”

“With…with you?” I ask, looking between them. “I’m rooming with you?”

“It’s a big suite,” Jesse says, slipping an arm around my shoulders. “We had them add a little matchbox bed in the corner for our pet shrimp. Wasn’t a problem.”

“How do you – how did you already pull strings and make changes?” I breathe, shocked and suddenly very excited. “Did you already know your room before today?”

“Mom and dad….might have pulled some strings before we enrolled as candidates,” Rafe says, “just in case we got admitted as cadets.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, which just makes me burst out laughing.

“Nepotism!?” I chide, shaking my head at him. “You used nepotism to get the best suite in the place!?”

“Hey, we rarely use our royal privilege for anything.” Rafe says, slinging an arm around my

as he starts walking down the hall, taking me with him. “Just

this once-

“Just this once,” I scoff, laughing at him, “how about the fact that we grew up in a palace, and had world–class educations by the time we were sixteen –”

“Or these looks,” Jesse says, gesturing to his admittedly gorgeous face, “completely inherited. I did nothing to earn this.”

“And our titles,” I continue, making Rafe laugh even more at his understatement.

“Really, Rafe,” Jessie considers, nodding, “being a duke has gotten me a serious amount of tail, and your Prince status ”

I gasp, spinning to Jesse, fascinated and dying to know more.

“Enough!” Rafe booms, interrupting and dropping his arm from my shoulder so he can give Jesse a shove. “Fine, you both got me, we’re spoiled rotten, and mommy and daddy got us the nice room. I admit it! But…you’re not going to guilt me into giving it up!” He grins at me. “It’s a really nice room.”

“Who cares about that anymore,” I breathe, rapt, “tell me about the tail!”

But Rafe just groans, shaking his head and striding ahead. “Drop it, Ari!” he calls back. “We’re not having this conversation! Ever!”

I step closer to Jesse as we hurry along.

“Tell me tell me tell me,” I whisper, looking up at him, my face all eagerness.

“It all starts five years ago,” he says, his voice very wise voice as he slides his arm Rafe’s place around my shoulder, “when Rafe met this very nice foreign exchange student named Theresa

“Jesse!” Rafe barks out, spinning in the hall, his expression appalled. “If you say one more word I will tell her everything about you – and there’s way more of that

Jesse and I burst out laughing as we catch up with Rafe. “I love this,” I say as we

reach the doors of a gorgeous brass elevator that will take us…honestly, I have no idea where it will take me. “I love Alpha Academy – who knew there was so much gossip involved –”

“There is no gossip.” Rafe growls, glaring at me. But then he smirks and raises an eyebrow. “Unless…” he says, his voice slow, “you want there to be. Ari.”

And I gasp, remembering that he does know parts of my mate drama that Jesse doesn’t and vice versa – and I glare back at him.

“Wait what?” Jesse says, grinning and looking between us. “Rafe has gossip about you?”

“Why don’t we all just declare a stalemate!” I say all in a rush, grinning up at my family. “Full stop on all dramatic news for the time being. Yes?”

And as the elevator doors open with a pleasant little ding, we all step inside and agree to the terms, even though Jesse gives me a wink, letting me know that he’ll spill at the first opportunity. I grin and lean in to nudge him with my shoulder, letting him know I’m ready when he is.

if that’s

The elevator whooshes us up into the air, faster than I thought would be possible for an ancient castle like this. And as it does, I feel my spirits rise too even possible.

–

Because I’ve certainly got secrets to keep, but right now? For the time being, at least for the next twelve hours, through my first evening and night at Alpha Academy?

It seems like those secrets are going to hold.

And right now, that’s all I can ask for.

When the elevator dings and the doors open again, a little fascinated noise spills from my mouth. Because this – this really looks like a castle.

“Come on,” Rafe says, grinning at me and striding forward, pulling a little iron key from his box.