Ch. 321..325: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 321-325

Chapter 0321

She beams at me, genuinely pleased. "We always sit ringside for Luca's fights," she says, giving me a little squeeze. "But thank you. That's very kind."

"Offer stands," Rafe says, coming over with Jesse, Gran between them with one arm around each of their waists. "Any concert or sporting game - if you want to use the box just let us know."

She blushes and laughs like we can't be serious, but Jesse assures her that we are. Then we all say our goodbyes and head out the door, dashing as fast as we can for our black car so that the paparazzi can't get a good picture.

But as we run, I wonder if it even matters -

Because I'm going to be at Luca's fight tonight, front and center. And isn't that all the confirmation they're going to need?

I'm still wondering about it, a little worried, when I wander into my bedroom about half an hour later, barely concentrating on my surroundings because I'm so lost in my thoughts.

So, it's no surprise that I don't notice the tiny Queen sitting on my bed.

"Heyyy babyyy," she croons, and I shriek and basically jump out of my skin, making her laugh and fall back against my pillows. "Mom!" I growl, dashing forward to smack at her, even though she dodges my half-hearted blow. "Don't scare me like that!" "It's not my fault you were lost in Lala-Land," she says, grabbing me and hauling me over to her when I slump down onto the bed. "What would you have done if I was some kind of agent from another country sent to kidnap you? Aren't they training you for precisely this sort of thing in that school of yours?"

"I would poison you," I mutter, laughing a little, "because my education hasn't gotten me any further than that yet."

"Oh yes, very powerful," mom murmurs, stroking my hair and grinning at me. She pulls me back against her, my back to her chest, and starts to pet my hair. In the mirror across the room, I watch as her face falls into more serious lines. "How did it go with Luca?"

I sigh, nestling more comfortably against her as mom leans over and produces, of all things, a cup of hot coffee, pressing it into my hands. I grin and take a sip, pleased both to have it and because she knew I'd want it - she saw I didn't have any caffeine this morning at breakfast.

"It went okay," I say, nodding and relishing the taste of the coffee. "Luca and I are fine. He wasn't the one who told the press." Mom exhales a deep breath and nods to me with relief.

"But," I continue with a grimace, "his uncle did." She gasps satisfyingly mom is a great listener of gossip and then sits quietly while I tell the whole story. By the end she's shaking her head in a bit of awe.

"It's such a shame it had to go like that," she says quietly, staring into space a bit and idly playing with my hair, curling a strand of it around her finger. "If Luca needed funds - especially for his family, or for such a good cause - then they could have come to us instead of gambling your secret away. We'd have been happy to help."

"That's what I said!"

She nods to me. "But I agree with you - his uncle is underestimating Luca's abilities to support himself for the rest of his life. Luca - he's more than just a talented boxer. I just hope his uncle didn't get so far into his head that Luca can't see that himself."

"Well, we'll help him." I say, curling up closer to her and resting my head back against her shoulder, pleased to have my mom's support.

"Of course we will," she murmurs, slipping her arm around my shoulders. "Now, let's talk about your mate."

I blink for a second, and then turn my head to frown up at her. "Didn't we just do that?"

"No baby," she says, grinning at me. "Your other mate."

And I sit up straighter because....Jackson?

Did something go wrong?

Chapter 0322

"What's wrong with Jacks?" I ask, a little frantic, turning to look her in the face.

"See?" mom says, sitting up with a grin and pointing her finger at me, poking me in the chest. "The fact that you keep assuming something is wrong with him tells me that you know something is up too."

"That's not a ridiculous assumption to make when someone says they want to talk about someone, mom," I say, glaring at her a little and slumping back against the pillows, taking the last sip of my coffee and putting the cup on my bedstand.

"I know, but you did it at breakfast when he wasn't there, too. He's a big, powerful Alpha, Ariel - why do you assume he can't take care of himself?"

I sigh, pressing my hands together and screwing my mouth to the side as I consider my mom, who is so pretty, and considerate, and kind. But I know that she's asking for a reason, and I don't know how much Jackson told her, or how much he'd want me to reveal. "Well, Jackson's kind of..." I hesitate, not knowing what to say.

"He's precious, isn't he?" Mom says with a little smile, staring at me with a whole heap of love in her eyes.

"So, you see it too?" I ask, leaning forward a bit. She nods. "He's so...you're right, mom, he's so powerful, but he's so delicate too -like he totally doesn't understand this world, and he doesn't know how to move around in it, and he's so hungry for someone to love him - but I don't even think he knows that. I just feel...very protective of him."

"Oh, baby," mom sighs, beaming at me and reaching out to pat my cheek. "I'm so glad you see it too."

"How could I miss it?" I say, a little awed.

"Well," she says, with a shrug. "I think...pretty much everyone else in his life has missed it. He's so... rugged. I think people just assume that what's inside matches the outside." She pauses a minute, considering. "He told me a little bit about where he comes from. It...it doesn't sound good."

"What did he tell you?" I ask, fascinated and curious, glad she knows so that we can talk about it.

"A little about the Community, about not having parents. Most of it came out when I was getting him new clothes

I laugh, and she does too, and I can just imagine how funny, awkward, and sweet my mate was when mom was putting him through his fashion paces.

"But," she says, "did you know he's like...never chosen his clothing before?"

"No," I say quietly, resting my head back against the pillow, a little awed by it.

"Yeah," she says, nodding, her eyes a bit far-off. "His entire life Jackson's just worn whatever was provided to him - a tradition we continued at the Academy. When I gave him his new wardrobe, he asked which piece he should wear next, and I said whatever you want, and he looked at me like I was crazy."

"Did you pick out his outfit today?" I whisper, kind of dying to know.

"Nah," she says, grinning at me. "I gave him some hints about how to put together colors, and I left him with some fashion magazines. But he successfully put together a button-down and some jeans today. Clever boy."

We both laugh then, but there's no malice in it. Just a great deal of love between two people who care about someone who is trying very hard.

"He's so sweet," I murmur, dropping my head a little to hide my ridiculous smile.

"He is," mom says, and the slight hardness to her voice makes me look up at her again. She looks at me seriously now and my smile falls away. "I won't have you breaking his heart, Ariel."

My mouth pops open a little, because - well, one, because I have no intention of doing that. And two - "Wait," I say, voicing my protestation aloud, "aren't I your daughter!? Shouldn't you be saying that to him!?"

Mom laughs now, unable to help it. "Jackson doesn't need to be told not to break your heart, Ariel." I open my mouth again to protest, but she holds up a hand, asking me to let her finish. I scowl, and snap my jaw shut. "But baby, you've got a team behind you - a whole world of support. Luca does too. If either of you get your heart broken, you've got people to fall back on. Jackson..." she lets her words fade off here, because I know how they end.

Chapter 0323

And my heart sinks, thinking of the reality of that. Thinking that my sweet Jacks - he's really got no one in his life to hold him and coddle him and be his safety net. Well, almost no one.

"He's got us," I whisper, looking into my mom's eyes, which I know are precisely the same shade as mine. "Which...I mean, it isn't nothing, mom. We're formidable."

"It's true," she says, a slow grin coming over her face. "Pint sided, but formidable."

We both laugh again, and she strokes my cheek. "I love you so much baby," she whispers, "I just...I care a great deal about that boy already."

"Why?" I ask, a little curious.

She just grins at me. "An orphan boy, looking for a mom? Who wants a family, but doesn't even know how to ask for it? Come on, baby trouble," she murmurs, and I immediately put the pieces together - and I can't believe I didn't see it before. "Jackson's basically my catnip - I can't resist wanting to give him everything I didn't have."

"Mommm," I groan, scooting closer to her over the bed and wrapping my arms around her, putting my head down on her chest as she tugs me close. "You're so nice. Thank you for taking care of him. And I promise, I'll be careful. He's very important to me."

"I know he is sweetie, and I know that it's not easy for you. I know it's complicated, with Luca too. Just...try to remember that Jackson's kind of an island. And that he's putting a great deal on the line, loving you."

"Do you think I've done a bad job so far?" I ask, kind of terrified to hear her answer.

"Not at all, baby," she says, "this is all...for the future. Because I don't think it gets simpler for the three of you. I think...well, I think there are going to be hard times."

I nod, agreeing, kind of dreading it. And inwardly, I solidify my promise to be on Jackson's side, even when things get hard. Because mom's right - in some cases, I'm the only one there.

Mom presses a kiss to my forehead and then reaches for my bedside table again, where she slides the drawer open and pulls something out. "Speaking of the future," she murmurs, putting a little green bottle into my hand. "This should set you up well to... make whatever plans you want to."

"Huh?" I ask, staring at it. And then my eyes go wide when I realize what it is. "Oh," I say, a little...at a loss for words.

I've seen a bottle like this before - mom keeps it in her bedside table too. The day I figured out that it's a contraceptive tonic - a mild and specific variety of wolfsbane, combined with ginger and wild carrot - I had blushed for days at the idea that mom still needed it. But when mom had finally confronted me on why I was being so weird around her, we'd had a really good chat about sex, and pregnancy, and reproductive health.

"I think you should start taking it,” mom says, thoughtful. "I mean, obviously, the choice is up to you. But there's nothing wrong or bad or shameful about sex, Ariel, even if...well, if your mate situation makes it a little more complicated. But considering your choice of career, I don't think you want a baby right now

"No, I don't," I confirm, my eyebrows raised. God, it sure would be hard to pretend I'm a boy at Alpha Academy with a big pregnant belly to give me away.

"Not that I would protest that!" mom says, putting her hands up.

I gape a little, staring up at her.

"Listen, baby," mom says, grinning at me, "the sooner you want to give me a grandchild - or eight - the better, as far as I'm concerned -"

"Mommm!" I groan, tilting my head back so far that I fall back on the bed. I use the new position to kick at her lightly,

embarrassed and kind of appalled at the idea. A baby! A grandchild for my parents! God, I haven't even thought of something like that.

Chapter 0324

"I know, I know," mom says with a sigh, flopping down next to me on her stomach. "I am willing to wait. And if you decide you don't want kids, Ariel, that's fine too - I'll badger Rafe and Junie and Mark, because one of you will have to give in. I just..." she shrugs, and I look over at her seriously as I clutch the contraceptive tonic to my chest, "I want you to be in charge of your choices. I want you to decide when and if you have kids. And that," she says, pointing to the tonic, "helps with that."

I consider my mom seriously for a moment, and then the tonic in my hands, and then I sit up with a new curiosity burning in me. Well, does it like, change anything?" I ask curiously. "Will my period be different? What does it taste like?"

Mom laughs, and begins to tell me everything, and it's the start of a very long, very detailed, and very important chat.

CC

In fact, our chat is so long that it only ends with a big thump on my door that makes both of us jump, but which we know can only be one thing.

"Arielll," Mark groans, slumped against the outside of my door. I laugh, because he's been doing this since he was a kid. Markie doesn't knock - he just throws his body against the door and starts talking. "Stop hogging mom! Some of us need help with our bow ties!"

"Bow ties?" I call, "what are you talking about?"

My handle twists and Markie comes in then, and I gasp to see him all dressed up in a tuxedo, looking down at the two ends of the bow tie in his hands. "Mark!" I squeak, thrilled. "You look so handsome!"

"Really?" he says, grinning and striking a pose for me. "I'm not cute anymore? I'm handsome?"

"You're both," I say, nodding, decided, and my baby laughs and jumps on the bed with us, pleased to be so complimented. I laugh too, watching him with a bit of fascination, because it's not like I've never seen Mark in a tux before mom dresses us up formally for all sorts of occasions. It's just that he really did grow up in the few months that we were away. He looks...god, he looks like an adult now.

Soon the girls are going to be all over him, and I won't know what to do.

"Come here, Markito," mom murmurs, holding out her hands for him. "Let me tie that tie."

"I'm not going," Juniper sighs at the doorway, and I turn my head to look over at her, a grin immediately taking my face. She's slumped against my doorframe, her arms crossed, her eyes rolled up to the ceiling. "I don't have anything to wear. So, I'm not going. Plus, it's a primeval form of entertainment, watching two men beat each other to bits."

"Oh Juuuune," mom sighs, waving her to come in as Mark scootches closer to her. "Come in, you can raid Ariel's closet, I'm sure she has something that will look amazing on you."

"She so can not raid my closet!" I gasp, even as I subtly tuck the contraceptive potion away beneath my pillow, not really ready for Mark and Juniper to know about this burgeoning aspect of my life.

"Ariel, you don't even know what's in your closet," mom murmurs, rolling her eyes, "how would you even know if Junie wore I bought for you or for her?"

"You have to pay rental fees by the hour!" I say, pointing a finger at June as she wanders over to my wardrobe. "And don't spill anything on it!" I don't mean it, not really - I never care if my sister borrows my clothes. I just like to torture her about it.

Juniper, knowing this, completely ignores me.

A little gasp comes at the door and I turn to see Daphne standing there, staring at me. "Ariel!" she says, a little freaked out. "Why aren't you ready!? we have to like...go!"

"What," I say with a frown, looking at the clock. "We have like, an hour, Daphne -"

"And you have to get ready!" she says, scurrying into the room, looking amazing in a red dress.

"Daph!" I say, gaping and putting out a hand with my palm out. She skitters to a stop, not knowing what I mean, and I just stare at her. "That dress looks insane on you!"

Daphne blushes, but I can tell that she's pleased as she gives a tiny ironic curtsey. "Daphne Designs, of course," she says, waving a hand down to gesture to the expanse of the sleeveless dress that hugs her every curve all the way down to the intricately pleated skirt, which flares out at her hips and spreads around her, all the way to the ground. It's just a few shades darker red than her hair, which I never realized would look so good until I see it now in person.

"You made this?" mom gasps, standing and moving to Daphne's side now that Mark's tie is tied. Daphne laughs and nods, again pleased, and mom admires the dress extensively. I grin, likewise pleased, especially because I can tell that not an ounce of mom's compliments are flattery.

Chapter 0325

"Seriously, Daph, good job," I say, giving her a thumbs up and wandering over to my wardrobe to sort through the dresses with Juniper. "Now come help me pick out something for me to wear - I have to look at least half as good as you tonight."

"You don't even know what you're going to wear!?" Daphne squeaks, horrified, as she scurries over to my side. "Oh my god, Ariel, I don't know how you live such a chaotic life"

"What are you talking about?" I burst out, laughing. "What's chaotic about -"

"Ariel, I have had this outfit picked out for a month," she says, staring at me like I'm completely insane. "And you're picking out what you're going to wear to the media event of the year - at which you will be center stage, miss mated to the boxer -" here she pokes me in the center of the chest with a finger, making me laugh again, "and you haven't even decided what to wear?"

"It's because she's spoiled," mom says, making me spin in protest as she comes to stand with the three of us at the wardrobe. Mark sprawls over the bed, watching, grinning, enjoying the drama. "I always pick out her clothes - all of my children's, honestly. They've never had to worry about it a day in their lives."

"I pick out my outfits all the time!" I protest.

"Because mom basically turns your room into a department store," Juniper mutters, smirking.

"Oh, look who's talking," I snap playfully, giving my sister a playful shove. But Juniper ignores me, her face going serious with awe as she gasps and reaches for something in the back of the wardrobe. When she pulls out a shimmering silver gown, my eyes go wide. "Ohhh....this is pretty," she murmurs, her hand running over it.

I gasp a little too, because it is a gorgeous dress, the fabric shimmering like liquid. But not in a metallic way - almost like...well, like it's actually water, reflecting starlight, or something equally mythical and fantastic.

"Wow," Daphne says, reaching out to touch it.

"Um," my mom says, and we all turn towards her, surprised by the hesitance in her voice. She reaches for the dress, and Juniper hands it over to her. To my surprise, mom holds it up to me. "Actually," she whispers, "I kind of did buy this with Ariel in mind. Since it's such a special night for her."

I look at my mom in surprise, and then gratitude, because it is an incredible dress - and it was so nice of her to realize that tonight was going to be important for me, with Luca boxing for our nation's pride.

But when I see the way June's eyes cast down to the floor, not at all protesting, but...disappointed...

I know that the choice is simple.

"No, let's let Junie wear it!" I say, beaming at my mom and taking the dress from her hands, holding it out to Juniper's body to see how it looks. Juniper snaps her head up, a little agape.

"But it won't fit me," Juniper murmurs, pushing it away, wanting me to take it since mom got it for me. "It's too long - mom will have had it tailored for you -"

"Well, I can help with that," Daphne says, taking my side and nodding eagerly to June. "I can fix a hem in a cinch. Why don't you try it? I think it's going to look great."

The smile on Juniper's face - it makes the sacrifice of such a stunning dress completely worth it. My taciturn little sister even laughs a little as she takes the dress from my hands and hurries away to the bathroom.

"You are so sweet," mom murmurs, stepping close to me and pressing a kiss to my temple after Juniper closes the door. "But.... you're also going to be naked at this fight. Because I didn't get a backup for you to wear."

I grimace a little, turning back to my wardrobe and sorting through the dresses, realizing that mom is right. Because even though there are dozens here, none of them at all match the one that Juniper just took.

I bite my lip, wondering what the hell I should do. I mean, it is an important night - I should look good. There are going to be lots of eyes on me as the returned Princess and the champion's declared mate- I want to show everyone that I'm proud of both.

"Hmm," Daphne says, tapping her lip with her finger and staring into the wardrobe. "I might have an...idea. Do you mind?" She raises her eyebrow at me and mom, and I know that we both give her the same grin.