Ch. 386..390: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 386-390

Chapter 0386

My eyes go wide when I see how packed it already is with our family, and our closest friends, and all of dad's advisors including, of course, my grandpa.

A smile bursts onto my lips when I focus on the group of young men in the back comer - all of them dressed in Cadet black.

"Ohhh, that's a sight for sore eyes," Daphne murmurs, slipping in behind me and pressing the door shut, likewise looking over at our boys.

I grin and grab her hand, dragging her over to where they're all waiting. Rafe-wearing his own crown, which shines bright against his dark hair - Jesse, Ben, and Jackson, locking just as I remember them, and Jackson looking a bit relieved, if I'm being honest, to be back in clothes he understands. I look briefly around for Luca, but he's not here yet. Still, there's no time to dwell on it.

Jackson instantly opens an arm to me as Daphne and I cross the room and I dart to his side, wrapping my arms around his waist and bearning up at him. "Hi, I missed you," I whisper, grinning. "Everyone's been torturing me all day looking for your mark."

He laughs a little and runs a fond hand over my cheek and down my neck. "Sorry to disappoint," he murmurs, shaking his head with a smirk. But then his face falls. "But really. sorry - I didn't get you in trouble, did I?"

"No," I say, quickly shaking my head. Cóntent belongs to NovélDráma. Org

"I like this," he murmurs, shifting his eyes to the shining rose-gold circlet on my head, which mom picked - of course to match my hair. "Very pretty on you." He raises the hand not wrapped around my waist and traces a finger around the curve of it.

"Thank you" I say, smiling with very real pleasure. It's not every day, after all, that your mate tells you how pretty you look in your crown. "But, um.."I tum, quickly, my eyes seeking out Rafe and Jesse. I let go of Jackson and hold my wrists out to Jesse and Rafe. "Scent marking, please! Dad's orders."

Jesse just laughs and obliges me, even though Rafe frowns. "Wait, why?" Rafe asks, though he steps forward too when Jesse finishes.

"I don't know," I say with a shrug. "Dad said something about camouflage. Just..obey your king, all right?"

"Whatever," Rafe sighs, following Jesse's routine and glancing over at Jackson. "Sorry, man," he murmurs, "I know you went through a lot of effort to scent her up good-"

Jackson just growls a little, not liking the joke, but I just laugh when he pulls me possessively back to his side.

"So, um," Daphne says, standing close to Ben- who is unusually quiet - tucking her hair behind her ears. "Do we...have any idea what this is about yet?"

"No," Rafe murmurs, clearly anxious about it. "But.." he sighs, looking over at the door to the conference room, "I think it's big, guys. I don't know what it is but... think it's big."

My stomach drops, and by the looks on all of my friends' faces, I can tell that they do as well.

"I come delivering one more little lost cadet!"

I look over with surprise when I hear Aunt Cora's voice ringing out cheerfully. My surprise increases when I see her walking over with her hand between Luca's shoulder blades, Uncle Roger on his other side. She grins at my mate, a little mischievous. "I found him wandering the hall, looking for a plant to puke in."

Luca scowls a little but doesn't deny it, and when I step closer to peer at him I realize that he's hung over as hell. I blink in surprise, because honestly I didn't think he was that drunk this morning - but that must have been the adrenaline clearing his head. Still, the exhaustion, and the drinking, plus barely a few hours sleep?

Luca does...not look bright-eyed and bushy tailed.

"Ah, it's all right, kid," Roger says, patting Luca on the shoulder in turn as my mate steps into our little circle, settling close to Jesse and not looking over at me. "We've all been there."

Chapter 0387

Cora and Roger take a moment to look over all of us with fond eyes. "Damn, you all look so cute," Cora sighs, putting her hands on her hips. "Roger really did this nation's women a favor when he designed these uniforms."

"All for you, my love," Roger murmurs, leaning close and giving her a peck on the cheek. I grin, looking Roger over too and noticing that his own military uniform is cut in much the same style as the Cadet's - though of course, much fancier. Chic, slimming, black, and with lots of medals to display his many triumphs.

"Mommm," Jesse groans, pretending to be upset. "Stop checking out my friends."

Cora grins, wrinkling her nose at him - she always does get a kick out of her son - and nods to me and Daphne as well. "You two also look dashing, though I'd expect no less. Daphne, your designs - they're so beautiful. Do you think you could whip something up for me?"

"Hey!" Roger frowns, turning towards his mate. "I'm the designer in the family-

Cora Ignores him completely as Daphne's face brightens. "Really?" Daphne asks, her hands clasping eagerly below her chin. "What are you thinking?"

"Something that will make Ella really jealous that she didn't get to you first," Cora says, reaching an arm out for Daphne and pulling her away a little so that they can converse. Roger nods to us and then goes with them.

The rest of our eyes tum to Luca. "You okay, bro?" Jesse asks, slinging an arm around his shoulder.

"I'm fine," he murmurs. "Don't...fuss. Or I'll puke on your shoes."

"Don't you dare," Jesse growls, even while he grins. "These were expensive."

"I have like, twenty pairs just like them now," Jackson murmurs, crossing his arms and leaning his weight into his back foot as he studies Jesse's shoes. "You can have some of mine if yours get ruined."

Jesse laughs, opening his mouth-surely to tease Jackson about his newfound shoe collection, or the size of his feet, or whatever - but a loud clap comes from the front of the room.

Instantly we all turn to see my dad standing there with his hands pressed together, likewise dressed in his military regalia and crown. My mom stands stoic at his side, and next to her are Juniper and Mark also wearing their crowns. I'm a little surprised by this, actually - they usually don't come to important functions. But, well, I guess mom and dad have decided that they're big enough now.

"If we're all gathered," dad says seriously, looking around at us, "then let's get started." When no one protests, he nods once and opens the door to the council chamber, gesturing for us all to enter before him.

I take a deep breath and glance at both Jackson and Luca before stepping to Rafe's side. Luca, to my surprise, meets my eyes and gives me a serious nod. I smile at him, nodding back and passing a warm pulse down our bond, letting him know that we're okay.

But then I tum my attention to the task at hand, filing into the room.

I'm looking around a little anxiously, wondering where I should sit or stand - with my family. amongst the royals? Or with my fellow Academy Cadets? But my thoughts are interrupted with the sound of a slamming door.

I jump, spinning, to see the door to the room shut behind me but..wait, where is my dad?

I look around, but he's not here - and...

Well, he's not the only one, is he?

My mouth drops a little when I realize that we're all in the room together-

Except for Luca. Cóntent belongs to NovélDráma. Org

Who is currently trapped in the antechamber alone with my dad.

The antechamber rings with quiet as Luca stares wide-eyed at his King. "S-sir?" He sputters out, not knowing what else to say.

"I wanted to take a minute with you, Luca," the King says, his voice so low and dangerous that Luca almost has to strain to hear it. But he doesn't dare lean forward to try to catch the words - not with the rage that's obviously pulsing through the King right now. "To have a little chat about your behavior."

Luca gulps anxiously, his stomach turning over, acid climbing up his throat. God, shit, he was going to puke before - but now staring down the most dangerous man in the kingdom? A man who tore the last monarch's throat out with his own teeth?

God, he really is in danger of puking all over someone's shoes.

"The correct response," Sinclair snaps, "is yes, sir. Can you say that, Luca?"

"Yes, sir," Luca instantly responds, nodding and working to stand up straighter, shame pulsing through him with every heartbeat. Shit, this is bad. Really bad.

"Good. Now. On to the matter at hand. Do you think that it's appropriate, Luca? For you to go running through my palace early in the morning? Shouting at the top of your lungs? Not only shouting, but screaming for my daughter, demanding that she appear? Demanding that she corne skittering to your side at your beck and call, like some kind of whelp under your command?"

Chapter 0388

If Luca could melt into a mortified puddle of humiliation, he'd do it, right then and there. He presses his eyes shut and hangs his head.

"Answer me!" Sinclair barks.

Luca's shoulders start to tremble. "No, sir."

"No, sir' is right," the King growls, stepping forward and snatching Luca's face, pressing his

cheeks tight between his fingers, making the boy look up at him. "Now listen to me, you fucking spoiled child."

The way the King, his mate's father, calls him a spoiled child makes Luca want to just... shrivel up and die.

"I don't want a single one of your excuses, and I know that you have them. That you were drunk? Learn how to control your liquor," Sinclair gives Luca a shake as he bites out the words, a pulse that vibrates through Luca's entire body. "You were angry? Control your fucking emotions. That she betrayed you? She has another mate, Luca, and one who comports himself far better than you did this morning - so fucking leam from him."

Luca groans aloud now, unable to help it, completely miserable.

Sinclair shoves Luca away from him, hard, like he can't stand to touch him any longer.

"We're all well aware that you only won that fight last night, Luca, because my daughter saved your ass - came running down to your rescue and pulled you out of that stupor. And don't even think that it slipped my attention that your incredible luck at being her fated mate also recently made you a very rich man."

Luca's head whips up at this. "Sir, I offered

"Oh, cut the shit, Luca," Sinclair growls, the ferocity of his expression stealing Luca's breath and his will to speak. "You offered to give her the money - Ariel told Ella that, so of course the news got back to me - but you also know my soft-hearted daughter by now, know she'd never take it, or that if she did she'd put it right back into your gym. My daughter, no matter how you look at it, made you incredibly rich - prize money and media farne, both."

Luca's eyes press shut and he hangs his head - because Sinclair is right. The offer - he'd have given her the money if she'd have taken it. But... deep down, he'd known she wouldn't take it.

"You will keep the fight money," Sinclair says, and Luca raises his head to meet the King's eyes again, not understanding. "But within twenty-four hours you will transfer all of the money from the magazine article into an account that I will provide an account in her narne. And then she, alone, will decide how she wants to allocate it. You're not her accountant, Luca even if you pretended to give her the funds, and she said she wanted them to go to the gym, I'm not as naïve about money as my daughter is. You were still in full control over how the funds would be allocated. An empty. Fucking. Offer." Cóntent belongs to NovélDráma. Org

Luca takes a deep breath and then nods once, agreeing. "Yes, sir," he whispers.

"We'll discuss the matter of your uncle, and his incredible hubris, at a later date," Sinclair

snarls, taking a step forward and grabbing Luca by the collar, hauling him close so that Luca can feel the Alpha's breath on his face. "But in the time we have left, I have one more thing to say to you."

Luca crumbles in fear and mortification, his knees almost giving out beneath him. But Sinclair ignores this, holding the nation's champion up with his fist alone.

"If you ever," Sinclair whispers, "ever again raise your voice at my favorite child - Princess Ariel Sinclair, goddess-born, a fucking angel on this earth- if you ever dare to yell at her like that? Ever again?"

Luca's whole body shakes as Sinclair brings his mouth very, very close to his ear. "Then I'll fucking rip your heart out, Luca Grant. And I mean that very, very literally."

With a vicious shove, Sinclair casts Luca away from him, disgusted.

Luca stumbles back a few steps, his head still hanging, his shoulders slumped.

"Get yourself together," Sinclair snaps, and get in there. You're still her fucking mate and I won't have you humiliating her further by aniveling."

Luca takes a deep breath and does as he's told, straightening up, even though his skin is still ashen and his expression slack.

Sinclair studies Luca as he puts a hand on the knob to the conference room. "It would do you a world of good, boy," he quietly seethes, "to spend a great deal of time licking her god damn boots. Do you hear me? You're on thin fucking ice - and I expect you to treat her like the very literal goddess that she is."

Luca musters his courage, and all the love he has for Ariel in his heart, and raises his eyes to Dominic Sinclair's. "Yes, sir."

Sinclair nods once, and pushes the door open. The two enter with Luca trailing a few long steps behind.

Chapter 0389

My eyes are fastened on the door the entire time it's closed. Even when Rafe tries to pull me away I hastily shove him, not caring who sees.

Anxious as hell, I send shout after shout down the line of my bond with Luca, trying to figure out what's happening, what he's feeling, what on earth my father is saying to him right now.

But there's nothing coming back - our bond is completely sealed off. Banging against it is like pounding on a concrete wall - I'm not sure that Luca even feels the echo.

Still, as desperate as I am to know what the hell is going on? Not a part of me even thinks about interrupting.

Because when my dad is mad?

You do...you do not get in his way.

The door snaps open and dad strides in and my eyes, if possible, go wider. Dad storms into the room and quite frankly it's impressive - whatever angry conversation he just had with Luca definitely put him in the right mood to intimidate our foes. But my mouth falls open when I see Luca.

God, his skin is ashen - actually grey. He doesn't look up - not at me, not at anyone - just walks hastily to Ben's side at the end of the line of Cadets and takes his spot there, standing perfectly still.

Rafe elbows me, hard, as the door at the other end of the room opens. I ignore him, my eyes fastened on my mate, seriously worried about him-

*Ariel!" Rafe hisses, and the anxiety in his voice breaks me out of it. I snap my head up to look at him. "Luca later - now, this."

He nods, hard, at the entering Atalaxian delegation. I snap my mouth shut, realizing that he's right that I have a job to do today as the Nation's Princess. So I square my shoulders and exhale a long breath from between my teeth, focusing.

To my surprise, I am immediately distracted by the men who march into the other side of the room and begin take their places seats before us, some sitting and some standing, as we are. All of the Atalaxians march with military precision, dressed in black uniforms - I guess neither of us are very creative there - and looking entirely like a unit. I take a moment to look around at our own more heterogeneous gathering of people, deciding that I like it more. Not only do we have women and people of many ages represented, but there are people here from many walks of life - not just military.

Moon Valley, I know, has celebrated diversity as a strength since the moment my father took the throne. I raise my chin, proud of that, proud of the group of people we've mustered here to meet the Atalaxians, who value the complete opposite. Cóntent from NóvelDrámá!!

The room is square and arranged almost like a parliament, with rows of chairs on either side so that everyone can see each other. I stand with Rafe slightly to the right of center- the spot reserved for our parents, Cora, and Roger - and I take special note of the people who stand directly across from us, likewise taking the place of pride. An older man is clearly their leader. He wears no crown, but instead an impressive number of medals across his chest that mark him as a senior member of their military. The young man standing next to him, however - slowly studying us with stunning sapphire-blue eyes - wears a crown - just a thin band of silver, or perhaps of iron. But still, a member of their royal family. I hadn't noticed him at the fight - had he perhaps not been there? Or just not wearing his crown?

When his eyes land on me he pauses for a moment, and then smirks, a derisive laugh pulsing quickly through him. My eyes narrow just slightly, but that's the only reaction I let him have. I hold his gaze for a moment and then move on as the last of the Atalaxian delegation files in. My eyes move next to the young man standing next to the Prince about my age.

He's tall, broad-shouldered, lanky and handsome. I blink for a moment, and then look between this young man and the Prince next to whom he stands. God, they could be brothers, couldn't they? But this one doesn't wear a

crown. Still, the family resemblance is incredible - I know without a doubt that they're related, that there's another royal of some variety standing across from me. As I study him, this second royals eyes suddenly meet mine, and as they do a shudder passes through me.

I stand up straight, my eyes widening. And he does the same.

We stare at each other for a long, long moment, both shocked and curious. Because what... what the hell was that?

But in a moment he looks away, frowning a bit, clearly as confused as I am. I don't look away though, watching him closely, trying to figure it out. He continues to study our group passively, but then his eyes flare, and he drops them to the ground. I tilt my head, still watching, and see that he does not again look up.

 

Chapter 0390

Inside, my wolf nips me, her hackles a bit raised. You watch him, she murmurs, wary.

What? I ask her, looking between this young man and the Prince next to him who I'm not sure why - seems... much more vicious to me. Which one?

The one with the crown, she replies. I don't know what, but he... he gets under my skin, makes me itchy, makes me want to run, roll in fresh mud, climb in a river and wash myself clean. His wolf - not right...not right.

I frown a little, anxiety turning in me, because...what's happening here?

*Thank you for meeting with us," my father booms out, and my head snaps to the left, to where he stands with my mother, his beautiful Queen, stoic by his side. "Though I admit that I don't understand the purpose of this meeting - not when we have at least ten smaller peace councils scheduled over the course of the next few days of your visit."

-

The older man at their center, the one to their Prince's right, breathes in a heavy breath, as if he's almost tired by it all. "There will be no need for those," he says, his voice soft and stem. "This will be our last meeting. And it will, in itself, be quick."

I stand up straight in my surprise - because this is... unexpected. Unprecedented! This whole visit was arranged around peace, with the boxing match meant to be a public sporting event between nations, an olive branch extended to demonstrate that we're not as different as we think we are. But then to cancel the peace talks after that?

What...what went wrong?

I glance up at my brother, worried. He glances down at me, a frown on his own lips, clearly feeling the same.

*Speak plainly, Gibson," my father snaps out. "What is the meaning of this? Why cancel early? We haven't even begun."

"Because," Gibson, their military commander, replies. "We saw everything we needed to see last night. Our reaction is unanimous. We are ready to end this war."

Hope swells in me alongside the rush of whispers that break out amongst my people. Is it... is it really that easy? But my father's voice is wary, not buying it. "Should I take this to mean," he asks, his voice low with his disbelief," that you wish to draw up a peace accord? Because rest assured, we can do that...very quickly."

*No, you misunderstand," Gibson replies on a bored intake of breath. And then he exhales slowly, a wicked grin shaping his mouth. "What I mean to say is that...after your shameful display last night, with your weak champion - who relies on a woman for strength - that Atalaxia is recommitted to our original plan."

I clench my jaw to keep my mouth from falling open in my shock because...what!?

"Yes," Gibson drawls, looking around at all of us with distaste, like we're horrible scum and he's at risk of infection just by breathing the same air as us. "We find your champion," he sneers at Luca here, who hangs his head, "as emblematic of Moon Valley's rather faulty prowess: short-lived, weak, and too dependent on women for its strength," Cóntent from NóvelDrámá!!

His eyes flick to me here and I raise my chin, not letting him intimidate me. Luca did need my help last night against his opponent, who was a cheat and a ringer, emblematic of Atalaxia itself. All it proves to me is that with the help of its women, Moon Valley can beat even the worst odds. I won't let myself be cowed by this man's ineffectual insults.

*You will keep a civil tongue," my dad snaps, his voice dangerous and low, "when speaking of my women. Especially my daughter."

The Atalaxian waves a hand, dismissing the point. "The fight served its purpose" he continues, sounding bored." That Moon Valley is weak and in need of guidance. After this Atalaxia is newly determined to conquer Moon Valley, to take over the governance of your lands and to teach your people about proper modesty and morality."

A snarl threatens to break from my throat at his words and only years of diplomatic training keep it down. Others in our party are not so successful, and as I glance around I see even Daphne bearing her teeth at the insult.

*I will return home today," Gibson continues, ignoring the protest, speaking over our people. "And recommend a full onslaught. Prepare yourself, Sinclair." His smirk deepens. "We're going to throw everything we've got at you - and we've been holding back. Your pathetic little kingdom..." he sneers and looks around at all of us, "won't exist in a month."