Ch. 351..355: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 351-355

Chapter 0351

Events move too fast for me to comprehend them all as I stand with Bruce Grant at my side, watching my mate fight for me, for our nation, for our pride against the enemy.

And something is different in Luca now - it's like he's a new man, newly made. His fists move light lightning, and he dodges all of the Atalaxian's stunned blows. The bigger man has no shot, because somehow - and I honestly don't know how it's like Luca's three steps ahead of him-like he already knows where the Atalaxian's punches are going to land and has moved out of their way before he even thinks of it.

Luca gets the Atalaxian on the ropes again and again, delivering blow after devastating blow as our crowd screams for him, chanting his name. The enemy does his best, but he's soon on the defense, just doing his best to keep his hands up. But they slacken, and fall, and Luca lands a series of devastating, snapping blows that leave his face streaked with blood.

With a mighty yell the Atalaxian surges up off the ropes, lurching for Luca, trying to grab him

- to take him down-

But Luca is ready for it - like he was waiting for it - and as soon as the Atalaxian takes his second off-kilter step towards him. Luca looses the final blow.

The Atalaxian's skin shakes as Luca's fist connects with his cheekbone, cracking it, sending him falling to the mat with a thwack that reverberates all through the ring, shaking my whole body, which is pressed to the edge of the canvas.

I gasp, along with the rest of the crowd, as Luca stands over the Atalaxian's prone body- huge, hulking on the ground and roars his victory down over him.

And that's it - we all go wild. The screams that fill the stadium are the loudest that I've ever heard as everyone goes absolutely insane. The ref starts to count but nobody can hear him, because we're all shouting Luca's name -

The Atalaxian - he is completely gone, knocked senseless on the mat. No flutter to his eyes, no twitch to his limbs. His back lifts, just softy, with his breath-

But beyond that, nothing.

I spare a glance for the Atalaxian's coach and trainers across the ring for me, but they just stare at him, shocked and appalled and disgusted.

But I have no room for pity. Because everything in my mind - my entire world-

Is filled with Luca.

Luca, roaring again as he strides around the ring, pounding his fist against his chest.

Luca, triumphant, his pain drowned out by his pride, his victory, the joy that thrums through his veins.

Luca, turning, looking for me.

I laugh, overwhelmed, delighted, and tears of pride streaking down my cheeks as his eyes find mine. And then he's dashing for me, pulling at the laces on his gloves with his teeth, trying to get them off so he can reach for me.

But it doesn't matter, because I'm already clambering into the ring. When Luca sees what I'm doing he laughs and gets to his knees at the side of the ring, pulling me up, pulling me inside, and then he holds his gloved hands out, and I put my little hands in them, and he stands and takes me with him.

The crowd is screaming again - screaming for him, screaming for what, I don't know-

I don't care, honestly, because all I can see is my gorgeous mate as he bends down, wrapping his arms high around my thighs, and then lifts me up so that I'm held just slightly above him, laughing and smiling down into his gorgeous, slightly battered face, running my fingers through his hair.

"You did it," I say, still laughing, unable to help myself - the joy running through me, through us god, it's like a drug.

"You fucking did it, Ariel," he murmurs, shaking his head at me. "God, you're amazing. I could have never-

 

Chapter 0352

"No," I murmur, shaking my head, denying it - categorically. "I helped, Luca, but you..." I take a moment then, looking around at everyone shouting his name - chanting it - shouting and screaming his victory. "Luca, this is all you."

He just shakes his head at me, marveling a little, loving me a lot, and then he loosens his anms just slightly so that I slip down lower against him, until I'm close enough to kiss. Immediately, I lower my face to his, and kiss my mate, cupping the back of his head in my hands, treasuring him- every moment of it. And he kisses me back, passing me all of his joy, and his thanks, and his pleasure, and his pride. All of it - everything he is - to me.

My sweet mate- my fighter.

God, but I love him.

The crowd now, I know, is cheering for both of us. But I don't care. I don't care at all that the whole nation is seeing this - that our secret is laid bare. The only thing that matters now is being in Luca's arms, his mouth on mine.

Or, at least, it's the only thing that matters for a long, long moment. Until someone comes and taps Luca on the shoulder. "Um, Mr. Grant?"

Luca growls as he pulls his face from mine and shakes his head a little, clearing it, looking down at the judge next to him.

"Um, sir?" the little man says, taking a step back at Luca's ferocious growl, staring wide-eyed at both of us. "There's the little matter of...declaring the victor?"

Luca bursts into laughter, smiling at the man with his most dashing smile, and I can see that the judge is immediately dazed by it by the raw beauty and power of my mate. But then Luca turns it on me, and I swear that if I was standing my knees would go weak. "Got distracted, didn't I?"

"Oh, I think they'll forgive you," I murmur, grinning at him.

His smile deepens and then Luca carefully places me on my feet. "I like your dress," he murmurs, making me burst into laughter. Because honestly- of all things to be thinking about right now-

Luca seems to agree with me though, tugging me close to his side and turning us both so that we face the judges and the little committee that must have climbed into the ring while Luca and I were inappropriately distracted. They all bearn at us, and none of us spare a glance - not really - for the Atalaxian champion, who is being rolled moaning onto a stretcher, begging to be let back into the ring, begging to finish the fight.

But as he's moved away, a woman steps forward, a ceremonial belt stretched out over her hands. I grin when I see it, and then look up into Luca's happy face. A little bit of the pain is coming back now as the euphoria fades, and I know that soon we're going to have to get him into his locker room, and then get my mom down to patch him up-

But for the moment? For the moment, this is all that matters in the world.

The announcer comes forward, declaring Luca Grant officially the winner of the bout, champion of the two kingdoms.

The crowd goes wild again, only softening when the announcer holds the microphone out to Luca, inviting my mate to say whatever he wants in this moment of his victory. Luca looks down at me with a smile, and I know what he wants to do - that he wants to give all the victory to me.

But gently, leaning against his non-injured side, I shake my head, not wanting that.

So, he does the next best thing, and simply raises the belt high above his head with his spare hand and says, his voice booming, "to Victory! And Moon Valley!"

And then Luca drops his hand, and kisses me again, as the crowd again screams their approval.

Chapter 0353

 

I have to admit that the entire world feels a little surreal three hours later when I'm sitting pressed between Daphne and Ben in a booth, laughing and watching as Jesse, and Rafe, and Luca spray bottles of champagne into the air and down onto the crowd below, who are all going mad for it, screaming their approval and their love of the nation's Prince, and Duke, and renewed national boxing Champion.

"Oh, come on, Daph," I say, pressing a hand to my chest because I'm laughing so hard, "how can you go home after this!? It's way too much fun!"

"I have to admit!" she says, having to raise her voice almost to shouting levels so that I can hear her over the pounding music. "You guys are making it really hard!"

And only about to get more difficult, I think as Rafe, grinning, comes over to the table and holds out a hand for her. Daphne smiles broadly as she places her hand in his, and then she laughs as Rafe pulls her up and into his arms, starting to dance with her.

I lean into Ben next to me, who wraps an arm around my shoulder. "I have to admit it," he murmurs, bringing his mouth close to my ear so I can hear him. "It does not make it any easier, knowing that your brother can dance."

I burst out laughing, snuggling closer to my friend and shaking my head. Poor Benny!

But he just laughs along with me and gives me a wink, passing me another shot of tequila from our collection on the table.

I take a little sip from it even as Ben downs his, because I'm already feeling pretty tipsy. It's been an incredible evening. It took a moment, of course, to get out of the stadium. Mom was waiting for us in Luca's dressing room, as I predicted, to fuss over him and magically heal all his wounds before Luca gave some press interviews.

Rafe pulled me begrudgingly away from Luca's side as mom worked and Luca interviewed, checking in on me and making sure that I was all right. But things got quite a lot easier after mom healed Luca's broken rib, and then after that short bit of press, the party began.

Luca came with us in the limousine, to my pleasure, and brought his mom and his Gran along. His Gran cried the whole time - happy tears as she pressed herself to her grandson's side and looked around at the royals, clutching a glass of champagne that she didn't drink. Gran and Linda declined to come into the club when we arrived, instead taking the limo home, but my parents and aunt and uncle shocked me by coming in with us.

"Oh, we need a little fun, mom said when Rafe protested that it wasn't safe - or appropriate - for the King and Queen to be out at a nightclub. "Besides, the people should see that their monarchs can party."

Honestly, I think that the whole reason they came was because it was very clear that Markie and Juniper really, really wanted to go in. The two of them were having a blast, and Jesse was doing a wonderful job of making sure that they were included in all the laughs, even slipping them a couple of drinks when our parents pretended not to be looking.

Still, about after an hour of that, mom and dad declared that they were taking Mark and Juniper home, and Cora and Roger sighed that they had to get home to the rest of their passel.

"They've probably tied the babysitter up again," Core murmured to Roger, her face genuinely worried.

He just shrugged and took another sip of his drink. "Kind of a crappy babysitter, if she allows her charges to tie her up in square knots that she doesn't know how to un-do."

Mom had kissed us all goodbye and wrapped Luca in a warm hug, telling him again how proud she is of him, how proud he's made the nation. And Luca had bearned to hear it - I think needing it after a lifetime of his uncle subtly implying that he's not good enough.

Since then, it's just been this drinks, and good times, and dancing, and all of us blowing off a great deal of steam after a crazy semester and an even more stressful night. We've been dancing, and singing, and celebrating our hearts out - and I've done most of it in Luca's arms, which has been...amazing.

Chapter 0354

Something has shifted between us now, after tonight after I've finally realized how deep our bond really goes. Luca and me- we're tied now, both in the nation's mind and in our souls. I don't really know how to describe it, even now as I watch him dancing with Jesse, both of them singing along to the music, looking gorgeous and young and free, like they haven't got a care in the world.

"Where do they get the energy," Benny murmurs, his arm still slung casually around my shoulder, and I glance at him, pleased to see as much love for our boys as I'm sure is beaming from my own eyes.

"I don't know," I say, a little wondering. "Must be something about warrior track that gives them...a crazy amount of stamina."

"Drugs," Ben says, nodding wisely and making me laugh. "They must put some kind of drugs in their water bottles. Or steroids."

"Very plausible," I say, grinning. He's right, though - Ben and I are wiped, but the boys - it looks like they could go all night.

Daphne, however, is defying our predictions - because the way she's dancing with Rafe right now, with a huge smile on her face as he turns her around and then pulls her close to him...

Well. To be honest, I think she'd be perfectly happy spending the rest of her life doing this. Unlike Ben and I, she doesn't have a tired bone in her body, and clearly has no intention of going home anytime soon.

Still, even if I am more tired than the rest of them, I'm more than happy to stay and bask in the happy atmosphere, quietly sipping at my drink and relaxing. Because it was a stressful and taxing night. I definitely need to unwind.

"So, you're okay, after all of that?" Ben asks, easy and conversational.

I turn to him a little. "What do you mean?"

He shrugs. "It just looked very upsetting," he says, looking at me seriously. "The way you ran down there, and were pounding your hand on the mat, shouting his name - it was intense, Ariel. And obviously way more intense for you, since you were living it."

I laugh a little, shaking my head. "It was intense," I murmur, shifting my eyes back to Luca. But worth it. He needed me."

"It was awesome," Ben replies, a little mystified. "Like, everyone could see the two of you connecting, see the way you brought him back. It was very cool."

I hum a little in the back of my throat, remembering that moment, wondering what it looked like from the outside. But, I mean, obviously there's footage of it - I guess if I really want to know, I could watch a recording.

I grimace a little, thinking that that might be a little embarrassing and deciding against it.

"Is it always like that?" Ben murmurs, his words a little slurred and curious.

"Is what?" I ask, needing clarification.

"Your bond - being mated. You're just...always connected like that? Can feel what each other feel? Can...like pass emotions around, trade them?"

"Oh, god, no," I say, my eyes going wide as I glance over at Ben before returning my eyes to my beautiful mate, laughing with my cousin as Rafe and Daphne come back over to them at the end of the song, the four of the easily chatting. "I mean, like, I can feel that he's happy now -"

"You can also see it," Ben points out, gesturing towards Luca, not really getting it.

"I know," I say, grinning and tapping my chest. "But I can feel it too. But what happened tonight - and it happened before, with Jackson, during the examination - where we really connect like...super deep?" I hesitate, knowing I'm not being very eloquent or very clear, probably because of all the drinks. "That's not...every day."

"Hmm." Ben says, nodding as he takes another sip of his drink, his eyes going a little far off.

We sit quietly, companionably for a moment, before he surprises me by continuing to push on the subject. "What did it feel like?" Ben asks softy. "When you...when you first knew? That they were your mates."

"When I first knew?" I ask, kind of surprised that he wants to go this far back. Ben meets my eyes and slowly nods.

And then I tilt my head to the side, wondering why on earth he's asking about this now.

Chapter 0355

I hesitate for a second, trying to remember what it was like when I first realized that my

mates were in the room. "Um... it felt like... like someone threw a brick at my wolf. But I didn't know who threw it."

He bursts out laughing, and then I do too, because I realize it's ridiculous.

"Clarity, please, Princess," Ben murmurs, drifting his drink casually through the air in invitation for me to continue.

"Well, like, because it didn't hurt," I say, laughing again. "But...I felt it, in my soul, in a very visceral way. A shock, like being hit out of nowhere, to recognize that he was there - it was just Luca at first, and then Jacks a moment later. And I didn't know who it was yet - just that they were around."

Ben hums, considering.

"And then," I say, tilling my head to the side, "it felt like...gravity changed? Like...like if I was a compass, all of a sudden north wasn't north anymore. Everything in me pointed towards Luca. And then to Jackson. And then to...both. Does that...offer any clarity?" I ask, frowning a bit, turning towards him, very much hoping that it does.

"Yes and no," he says, giving me a little smirk, because we're both aware that my description is heavily metaphorical and not based at all in any reality.

But, well. That's having a mate for you, isn't it?

"Ari," Ben murmurs, frowning again, and hesitating like he's not sure if he should ask. "Did... did either of them...hit you harder? Pull you more, in one way, instead of the other?"

"No," I say instantly, shaking my head. "Both ways at once. Both directions. Equal pull in each."

Inside, my wolf bares her teeth and then nips me, getting my attention. I sit up straighter, looking around because - is something wrong? Why did she-

"Come on," Luca says, making me jump a little as I break out of my reverie and look up into his smiling face, at the hand he's holding out to me. "Come and dance with me, Gorgeous. It's been six minutes since you've been in my arms, and it's six minutes too long

I laugh, accepting his hand, but then I hesitate and look back at Benny, not wanting to leave him here by himself.

"I'm up!" he says, grinning at me and pushing himself up from the seat. "It's been six minutes since I've been in someone's arms too! Please, someone! Come and hold me!"

I burst into laughter at my friend and open my other arm to him even as Luca pulls me to his side. Then, between my mate and my pal, I walk out onto the dance floor and proceed to get swept away in the music.

"This has been the most amazing night," Luca murmurs in my ear about forty-five minutes later, holding me close to his chest and tucking his head down close to mine as we lear against one of the booths, still both swaying to the music but taking a minute to ourselves.

"I know," I say, resting my chin on his chest and grinning up at him. "You were so amazing, Luca, Did our nation real proud."

"And you?" he asks, quirking an eyebrow at me. "Were you proud?"

"Luca!" I say, laughing and standing straighter. "Of course I was proud! I was so proud - am so proud!"

"And do you... mind?" he asks, grimacing a little.

"Mind what?"

He shrugs, and I can see he's a little anxious, even though we've both had enough alcohol at this point that we should be far beyond that. "Mind that...well, I mean, you jumped out of the box, Ari. And then you sprinted down to the ringside, and connected with me, and pulled me out of a stupor, I mean, that, combined with the article - people are going to know,"

"Oh, that," I say, waving my hand and rolling my eyes, completely dismissing it as I lean back against him. Luca laughs but squeezes me a little, urging me for an answer. "Luca," I sigh, smiling up at him, "I never minded if people knew that you're my mate- I never wanted to keep it a secret because I was ashamed of you or because it was shameful. I just - I mean, we as a family, we just keep things close. It's like mom's magic -

"Ella's insane magic," he murmurs, his hand drifting up to his ribs, where she knit the bone together this afternoon with half a thought.

Inod, eager. "Exactly. Mom's never kept it a secret - she'll heal everyone, anyone. She's just... never made a public announcement before." I frown a little, hoping he sees the difference. It's about...discretion? Not secrecy."

"I get it," he murmurs, holding me close and sliding his hand up my bare back and burying his fingers in the roots of my long hair. "And I'm sorry about all that. I'll make it up to you."

"You don't need to," I murmur, letting my eyes drift shut a bit, relaxing against him.

"Yeah, but I want to," he says on a sigh, dropping a kiss to the top of my head that makes me smile, that makes warmth drift all the way through me. "I'm just...so damn in love with you, Ariel Sinclair. I'm going to give you the world, whether you want to or not."