Ch. 326..330: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 326-330

Chapter 0326

"Be our guest," mom says, gesturing towards the selection in front of us.

"Actually, what I'm thinking of is in my room," Daphne says, a huge smile on her face. And then she skitters away.

"I like this new friend,” mom says, nodding as she watches Daphne dart out the door. "She's got moxy. She's also...talented, and organized, and precise, and ambitious."

"I know, she's the best," I say, looking at the empty door that Daphne just skittered through.

"You and me, we need people like her," my mom says, looking over at me with a grin as she darts a finger rapidly between us. Because we're just big-hearted chaos on wheels."

I burst into laughter, tilting my head back for the joy of it. Mom laughs along with me. "What?!" she says, grinning. "It's true!"

"Not completely!" I protest, bringing my head back in and grinning at her. "I mean, we're ambitious! And I'm organized, when I want to be!"

<<

"Oh, sure, sure," mom says, flapping a hand like it doesn't matter. "But selective organization and ambition are easy execution is hard. We need Daphnes in our life to help us along. And Dominics and Rafes. Practical, organized, precise."

"Which team am I on?" Markie calls from his spot on the couch, flicking through his phone as he does, only half paying attention. "Team benevolent chaos, baby!" Mom calls over to him with a big grin. "The fun team!"

Markie gives a whoop, happy to be included, and I laugh again, losing myself to it. But then I pause, my eyes drifting over my mom as she laughs along with me. "Wait mom, what are you going to wear?" I ask, gesturing towards her very high-end but completely leisurely leggings and sweater.

"Oh my god!" mom gasps, and then she, too, runs off for the door. "See? Chaos! I'll be back, twenty minutes! I have a dress! I'll be back, don't do anything fun without me!"

I'm still laughing when she's gone from the room, swinging the door shut behind her. I head over to my bed to sit with Mark and wait for mom and Daphne to come back.

"Can you help me with this?" he asks, staring baffled at the two ends of his bow tie that has, somehow, come undone already. "Should have just gotten you a snap-on," I murmur, leaning close and fiddling with the ends, trying to remember how to do this. "Definitely," Markie agrees, lifting his chin so that I can see what I'm doing.

It takes us awhile and a couple of internet videos to get Markie all fixed up again, but we get there. Not long after we do I hear the click of two doors - my bedroom door as well as the bathroom door - as they open almost simultaneously.

My head first moves to Daphne, who comes in with a length of black fabric draped over her arm, but when I see her wide grin looking towards the other end of the room I snap my head around to Juniper, who shyly pecks around the bathroom door, only half stepping through.

Mark and I gasp in tandem when we see her in the dress and I get up to my knees, excited. "Junie!" I say, my voice soft and referent as I wave her into the room. "Let me see you! Oh my god!"

Juniper laughs a little, anxious, as she steps fully out of the bathroom, but I can tell by the smile she can't keep off her face that she knows she looks good - and that she's really enjoying it. But good - the word doesn't cut it.

I clasp my hands beneath my chin as I beam at my little sister, who looks...ethereal. Something about the shimmering silver of the dress against her newly-black hair makes her emerald eyes sparkle - and the way the dress hugs her petite form to pool on the floor at her feet...

"Junie, you look so pretty," Mark says, and I can hear the happiness in his voice.

"You really do!" I squeak, my throat tight as tears spring to my eyes. Because my little sister - I've never seen her so grown up! The dress is very innocent with its sweetheart neckline and slim straps - it's not sexy or provocative at all. But still, she doesn't look like our family's little girl - she's a beautiful young woman, and I feel so proud.

"Guys," she moans, half laughing, her shoulders slumping forward as she sees the way that we're all staring at her. "Stop! I mean ...is it... is it good?" She looks down, spreading her hands out over the dress.

"It's perfect," Daphne breathes, tossing what I assume is my dress onto the bed and moving swiftly over to Juniper. "What do you think about..." she hesitates but then reaches out to softly gather Junie's hair up behind her head in a delicate twist. I nod eagerly as Daphne and Juniper look to me, because sometimes Junie hides behind her hair, but this really allows her pretty face to come forward and take center stage.

Chapter 0327

"Do you think we can darken her eyebrows?" I ask Daphne, eager. "To match her hair more?"

"Oh, good idea!" Daphne says, and then gets started. Excited, I jump off the bed as Daphne ushers Juniper over to my vanity. Very quickly Daphne loosely pins Juniper's hair up and then uses a very light bit of cosmetics to highlight Juniper's features - her lovely dark lashes, her high cheekbones - and then, to my surprise, lines Juniper's lips in a very dark red - almost black.

"Really?" I ask, surprised.

"What?" Juniper says, her eyes going wide, trying to glance over to the mirror. "What are you doing to me?"

"Trust me," Daphne murmurs, grabbing some clear lip gloss and dabbing it onto juniper's lips and then smudging the color at the edges a bit so that it bleeds onto her lips like a watercolor, leaving her mouth dark at the edges and light at the center, making them look full and gorgeous.

"Ohhhh," I say, my eyes crinkling with delight - because it's just precisely the right detail, and the dark color makes her look very mysterious. "You look coooool, Junie!"

"What!?" June protests, but when she spins towards the mirror her eyes go wide, I think because she's probably never seen herself like this before - glamorous, enigmatic, alluring. She stares at herself, shocked, and then a little smile takes her lips as she leans forward. "Wow..."

"That's amazing," Mark says, coming to stand with us and also peering at June in the mirror. He turns to stare at Daphne. "Can you do my makeup? What can you do to make me more handsome?"

Daphne bursts into laughter and gives Mark a playful shove on the shoulder. "You're already handsome enough, with all of those Sinclair genes. You don't need anything else."

"Yes, I do," he says, striking a dramatic pose with the back of his hand against his forehead. "Make me stunning!"

I laugh at my little baby brother, adoring him as always, but then Daphne gasps again. "Ariel!" she says, gesturing over to the fabric sitting on the bed. "What are you doing!? You haven't even tried that on yet!?"

"We got distracted!" I protest.

"Go!" she shouts, giving me a shove before reaching a hand out to Juniper, asking her to stand so that she can check the hem length on her dress. I move to the bed and gather the black fabric in my hands while I head to the bathroom door just as Markie starts to try to pull Daphne away.

"No, her hem is fine!" he groans. "Give me a makeover! What color should my eyebrows be!?"

I'm laughing as I step into the bathroom and pull the door shut behind me. Then, grinning, I quickly peel my clothes off and step into the dress, pulling it up over my body. I turn to look at myself in the mirror, but eyes immediately go wide with anxiety as I fasten the zipper on the side and stare at myself in the mirror.

Because as innocent and ethereal as Juniper's was?

This one is...sexy.

The zipper done, my hands fall to the sides as I stare at myself in the mirror, at the dress that's cut in so sharp a sharp V over my chest that it comes to a point just above my navel. In many ways it's cleverly done, the V so narrow that it's almost demure there's no cleavage on display, just a great deal of implication that it could be.

I twist a little, observing the way that the dress loops up over my shoulders in diaphanous straps about an inch wide and then falls gracefully down my back in a wide scoop, leaving my entire back bare as the fabric settles just barely an inch above my butt. My eyes go wider - if possible - when I see how much flesh is bared, and I blush at myself...

But then I bite my lip because...I mean, because I kind of like it.

This feels like the kind of dress that was made for a spy disguised as a princess, a femme fatale, someone who people underestimate because she's pretty and delicate but who can poison you in nine different ways.

The kind of dress for a princess with two Alpha mates, each of which is ready to tear the world apart at her command. Slowly, I smile.

Because I absolutely love it.

Chapter 0328

I beam in particular at the thought of Daphne, who envisioned me in this dress tonight. Daphne, my dear friend who knows the intricacies of my story, and my personality, so completely that she...made this dress.

And instantly, I know that she made it. And that she made it for me. Because it fits like a damn glove, even if it is a little bit long.

Eagerly, I move for the door, pulling it open and smirking when I find Daphne standing about ten feet away, waiting for me, the straps of a pair of insanely high stiletto shoes draped over her fingers, held out towards me. "I cut the hem for six-inch heels," she says with a smirk. "Think you can handle it?"

I squeal with excitement as I scurry over to her, throwing myself into her arms as she laughs and hugs me back, as Markie says " whoa!" and Juniper gapes from her spot by the vanity, pins all over the bottom of her dress.

"I love it," I whisper to Daphne, incredibly excited as I pull back and take the shoes from her hands, leaning on her shoulder as I start to pull them on.

"You do!?" Daphne nearly sings, excited. "I dreamed it up, but I wasn't sure you'd like it -"

"It's perfect," I say, shaking my head a little.

"Actually," she murmurs, and I watch with surprise as she pushes hastily at the straps over my shoulders so that they fall, dainty, to hang in loops over my arms, leaving my shoulders bare. I hesitate for a second, thinking that the whole dress is going to fall down, but then I realize that Daphne's crafted it so carefully that the boning and structure beneath the long strip of black silky fabric holds it up. The whole dress looks like it's crafted to go to pieces and leave me naked in an instant, but really it's quite sturdy.

"You're so clever," I murmur, twisting a little as I take in the effect in the mirror. "I can't believe you did this. Every girl in the nation is going to want one of these tomorrow." Daphne laughs and heads back to Juniper while I finish pulling on my shoes. I turn towards Mark and Juniper, wanting their opinions, when the door opens and mom comes in in her own gorgeous gown, a confection of peach-colored organza and lace.

When mom presses the door shut and turns to me, her mouth falls open.

"Oh my god," she whispers, looking me up and down, her eyes wide and her expression blank.

I bite my lip, not sure if I like this reaction. "Is it too much?"

Slowly, my mom raises her eyes back to mine. She's silent for a long, long moment, and my stomach sinks, but then she clasps her hands in front of her chest and gives a brilliant little shriek of joy. "Ariel! You look gorgeous! You look amazing!"

I burst into a grin and my mom hurries across the room to me, taking my hand and making me spin in a circle for her, her eyes going wide again when she sees the back.

"You look so sexy," she whispers, meeting my eyes, which makes me laugh and blush at once. Pleased, Daphne goes back to kneel on the floor in front of Juniper, fixing up her hemline in a hurry.

"But seriously, you don't think it's too much?" I ask, a little worried.

Mom laughs and gives me an anxious little grimace. "I think your dad's going to flip."

I go a little pale at the idea but mom just flaps her hand at me, darting over to the closet where some of my coats are kept, pulling out a chic little faux-fur wrap. "You can just wear this until we get to the fight, and then he won't have a chance to protest, will he?"

I laugh and nod, grinning at my mom, loving her loving that she doesn't have a prudish bone in her body and would never try to make me feel any shame about my body or wearing whatever I want.

Mom tosses the coat onto the bed and then quickly begins to confer with Daphne about what we should do for makeup and hair. Mark pretends to get in on it, giving his playful suggestions, all of which are dismissed because he has terrible teenage-boy tastes. But by the time Juniper's hem is all sewn up, I'm equally fitted out as well, with dark and smoky makeup on my eyes, and barely a bit of gloss on my lips, and two tiny diamond clips holding my hair back from my face so that it flows down my back. Simple, sexy, dangerous. When I stand next to my mom and my sister and look in the mirror, I grin around at all of us - shocked at how three women with such similar features can look so different tonight. But each of us so lovely in our own ways.

"Oh, I love you both so much," mom squeals, putting her arms around our shoulders and giving us each a kiss and a squeeze. "What about me!?" Markie protests, behind us, left out.

"Yes, you too, Mark, of course," mom says, her voice over-indulgent as it always is with him, but he beams anyway when she turns and gives him a hug.

As she does, Juniper turns to me and crosses her arms, looking me up and down. "Who's spooky now?" she asks, smirking.

"Yes, bubblegum sparkle princess is no more," I say with a mock sigh, grinning at her, remembering her words on the day I came home. "It's all dark Ariel now."

Juniper laughs with me and then gives me a nod. "I think it's cool," she says, giving a one-shouldered shrug. "New era, new princess. I think it...suits you. All sides of you."

"Thanks, Junie," I say, a little softer now, genuinely touched.

"You're welcome," she says, giving me a big grin. "In exchange for my kindness, please do not tell mom and dad if you see me drinking champagne tonight."

I narrow my eyes a little at my wicked sister, but then I grin and loop my elbow in hers, giving her a nod. Secrets between sisters, after all, are very important. It's about time Juniper and I were on the same team.

"Are we ready?" mom asks, moving towards the door.

"Aye aye, Captain Mom," Markie says, giving her a foolish salute. She grins at him and then points to the fur still on the bed." Seriously, Ariel, you'd better wear that or your dad will lock you in your room."

I grin and, as I move out of the room with my sister on one side and Daphne on the other, I grab my coat, pulling it over my shoulders and feeling incredibly excited about the night.

Because I have a new dress, and I get to go to an event with my entire family, and watch my mate beat the crap out of someone and defend our national pride. It can't get any better than this.

And what, possibly, could go wrong?

Chapter 0329

Downstairs, where we all gather by the door and wait for the cars to come around to the front of the palace, is the best kind of chaos. I'm beaming ear-to-ear, a cheeseburger in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other, as I chat with my family, greeting everyone and exchanging compliments.

None of the compliments are false, actually, because everyone looks amazing. All the men are in tuxes, and while my dad and Rafe wear tuxedos like they were born for them, nobody outdoes Uncle Roger and Jesse for flare. Jesse's suitcoat tonight is made out of an incredibly gorgeous wine-colored velvet with black lapels. It would swallow anyone else, but Jesse's personality can handle it. "Hello, gorgeous cousin," he murmurs, pulling me close to give me a kiss on the cheek as he smirks at my cropped fur jacket. " What are you hiding under there?"

"Oh, weapons," I I say, grinning and taking a big bite of my cheeseburger. "Vials of poison, a very small sniper rifle." I put my fingers up close to my face, pinched together, indicating the rifle's approximate size.

"Not a crossbow?" he asks, raising an eyebrow, his hands slipped into his pockets.

"No, I'm kind of over those at the moment," I say with a sigh, tilting my head to the side. "Though I can't imagine why." Jesse laughs and pats me on the shoulder before moving over to the little buffet mom had set up by the door she always does this, wanting us to each have a bunch of greasy food before we go out to a party or an event so no one's drinking on an empty stomach. And, despite being practical, it's delicious.

I continue to eat my burger and sip my champagne, letting my eyes drift over my family. I grin to see Markie standing with my dad and Rafe, pleased as hell to finally be allowed to come along to a big grown-up event like this. Ben and Daphne are raiding the buffet, I think a little shocked by it but enjoying it nonetheless. Juniper, meanwhile, is being extravagantly admired by Aunt Cora, who is stunning in an elegant navy-blue jumpsuit with wide-flared legs that almost give the impression of a dress until you see her move.

I'm suffused with happiness, thrilled to be here with everyone, except...

Well, except my eyes keep moving to the door. Because there's one person missing, and he's precisely the one I'm waiting for.

A bell rings by the palace's main doors, letting us know that the cars are here, and my dad looks over at me with his mouth drawn into a thin line, a little worried. Because it's time to go, and he's well aware that Jackson's missing.

I wave to my dad, swallowing my last bite of cheeseburger, and head immediately for the door to the hall, intending to check Jackson's guest suite to see if he's ready-

But there's no need, because before I've even taken three steps, Jackson appears.

And, as it so frequently does these days when I see him, my mouth drops open.

But this time, it's not a good thing.

"Jacks!" I gasp, quickly closing the distance between un and looking worriedly over his jeans, his casual flannel button-down, the brown jacket draped over his arms. I mean, he looks good, but... "Why - where's your tux!? Didn't mom get you one!?" I look anxiously over my shoulder at the waiting crowd, some of whom have noticed Jackson's appearance and look worriedly over at us, and some of whom are still oblivious.

"Ariel," Jackson says, putting a hand out on my shoulder and smiling down at me. "No, she did, I just "

"Well, why aren't you wearing it!?"

Jackson sighs, and holds my gaze, but he doesn't say anything. It only takes me half a second to figure out the answer to my own question.

"You're not coming?" I whisper, stepping closer to him so that the fur of my coat brushes against his chest, so that I'm staring up into his sapphire eyes.

"Ariel," he murmurs, raising a hand to tuck my hair back behind my ears, gazing down at me, his expression sorry to see me so dismayed. "I'll just be a distraction -"

"No, you won't!" I insist, meaning it and shaking my head. Anger starts to roll in me, a bit, because Jackson - he always thinks he's an imposition, but I always want him by my side. Why does he keep insisting he'll be a bother? "Jacks, I want you to come! We all want you to come!" I gesture vehemently back towards my family, nearly spilling what's left of the champagne from the glass still in my hand.

 

Chapter 0330

Jacks sighs and deftly takes the glass from me, setting it on a table by his side as he speaks. "Luca doesn't want me to come," he murmurs, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Oh, Luca won't even know you're there," I say, waving a hand to dismiss the idea. "Seriously, Jacks"

"No, seriously, Ariel," he says, his tone a little sharper than I've heard from him before. I go still, looking up into his face, realizing that Jackson is asserting himself. Which I certainly want him to do - I just...am not used to it. He sighs and takes my face between his palms, stepping close, speaking more softly now. "I'm fine with it, okay? This is Luca's big night, he's worked hard for it, he deserves the spotlight. And he deserves your full attention. And beyond that, you deserve to have a night where you just get to concentrate on him - I know that if I'm there you'll check yourself, always looking over your shoulder to make sure that I'm okay."

I sigh too, my expression falling as I gaze up at my sweet, thoughtful mate. "I just...always want you to be okay."

"I know," he murmurs, slipping his hand around to the back of my head and wrapping his other arm around me, pulling me close, bringing my head to his chest so I can hear his words rumbling as he speaks them. "Take the night, Ariel. Feel what it's like to be Luca's mate, to give him your full attention. I think that's...important."

"Why is it important?" I murmur, hating the idea of Jackson not being there, of him missing it.

"Because," he says, and I turn my head up to look into his face again when I hear the smirk in his voice. "When you pick me, Ariel, I want it to be with the full knowledge of what life would be like as Luca's mate - all the highs and lows. I'm not going to be accepting any accusations that I sabotaged his chances by always hanging around you, spoiling your good time."

"I would never accuse you of that!" I gasp.

"Yeah," he says, smirking and laughing a little. "But he would."

And I can't help it - I grin, and stare up at him. "I think you're too good, McClintock," I whisper, shaking my head a little. "That maybe you should play dirty, every once in awhile."

"Oh, I've got plenty of time to play dirty with you, Clark," he murmurs, his voice hitting that low register that makes my eyes flutter half shut. He takes my chin in his hands, then, sharp, and pulls me up onto my toes as he dips his head to kiss me. His movements are rougher than usual, his lips hard on mine in a way that lets me know precisely what he's got in store for me in the future.

My wolf responds with a panting little howl, frantically turning in circles, urging me to try to find a way to stay in his arms. To make him come with us, or stay here, or run away to Aunt Cora's beach cottage with him and just live on whatever canned food they've got stocked up there for as long as it lasts -

Because I never, ever want to not feel precisely like this - pressed wann against Jackson's body, tight in his arms.

I have to admit, I'm a little dazed when he pulls away, but his arm tight around me stops me from stumbling.

"Have fun, enjoy yourself," he murmurs, smiling down at me. And his eyes twinkle a bit, like he's daring me to have more fun than I could with him. Because he kind of...knows that it's impossible.

"Ariel?" my mom calls, worried. I glance over my shoulder and see that my family is starting to head out the door. Jackson raises a hand to her, letting her know she's been heard, asking for another moment.

"Jacks," I say, pouting pathetically, a little whine in my voice.

He just laughs and shakes his head at me, moving to step away. But I move with him, not ready to part.

"What will you do tonight?" I ask, really wanting to know.

Because Jackson, alone in the palace, or the city?

What on earth will he get up to?