Ch. 406..410: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 406-410

Chapter 0406

"More inconspicuous," he murmurs, opening the door for me. When I slip inside and buckle my belt, he goes around to the driver's seat and climbs in, starting the car.

"Such a new leaf, Luca," I say quietly, turning in my seat to smile at him. "No press at all?"

"No press," he says, giving me a sad, ashamed little smile as he starts to pull out of the garages. As we go, I note that another car follows us - black, but likewise inconspicuous. Almost assuredly filled with bodyguards that my dad sent after me. If Luca notices, though, he doesn't say anything. And neither do I.

"Where are we going?" I ask, looking out fondly at our beautiful city as it passes by. Night is already encroaching on this, the second-darkest day of the year. Everyone complains about it - wanting summer sun at all hours - but honestly, I kind of like it. Something about the brief days and the long, quiet nights...I don't know. It's peaceful, and mellow, and full of secrets.

"Not far," Luca says, smirking a little as he drives, being a bit cagey on purpose. He glances at me and I just smile at him, happy to let him have his secrets. He's not wrong, though - we drive about fifteen minutes towards his neighborhood and then stop, to my surprise, on what feels like a random street by a public park.

When I see the groups of people - families mostly, little kids eagerly clutching their parents' hands - I gaps, delighted.

"We're going to a bonfire!?" I gasp, sitting up in my seat.

"Is that all right?" Luca asks, grinning at me and producing two knit caps from the back seat.

"Yes!" I say, almost bouncing in my eagerness. "Yes, yes!"

Luca laughs and pulls the black knitted cap down over my conspicuous hair. I take his meaning immediately, tucking the ends of my hair into the hood of my coat and pulling my scarf up so that it covers half my face. When I look over and see him doing the same, I grin, because he really does look disguised. I mean, there aren't that many well-muscled Alphas around that are his height - but at the casual glance, there's no real sign that it's Luca Grant under there.

"Very mysterious," I say, laughing, loving it.

"Just for a few minutes," he says, nodding to me and taking tucking a spare bit of my hair up beneath my cap. "We'll get some cider, and then find a spot, and then the darkness will do the work for us."

I nod eagerly, agreeing to the plan, trusting him. And so we get out of the car, and Luca grabs a blanket out of the back seat and comes around to my side. I slip my mittened hand into his gloved one as we start forward, eager and excited. Because bonfires - they're traditional midwinter activities and almost every neighborhood has their own. But I've never been able to go to one - my family, we're just too obvious when we go out into big crowds like this.

But as Luca and I slip through the gathered people, I realize that when I'm just with him, all wrapped up like this? It's enough - we're just...two normal people here for the celebration. Not Princess Ariel, just some girl here with her boyfriend.

And I absolutely love it.

Luca leads me to a little stand where a woman is selling hot mulled cider for charity at what seems like a ridiculously cheap price. Luca buys two and when the woman leans forward, asking if we'd like to spice that up a bit, he laughs and nods. She grins at him and pours a generous portion of whiskey into each cup. Luca tips generously and I smile at the woman - who of course can only see my eyes - before taking my cup and walking close at Luca's side over to where the bonfire is just being lit.

Unlike most of the crowd, though - which gathers eagerly around to watch the flames start to lick up the wood - Luca and I head to a slight hill behind the bonfire, shrouded with trees and darkness. There, Luca hands his drink to me to hold for a moment and then spreads out the blanket.

Chapter 0407

As we sit, I notice with a little smile the two dark figures who come to stand behind us - even more inconspicuous than we are. And I'm grateful for them - grateful for my dad for always wanting to keep me safe - even as I know that nothing's going to happen. That even if anyone did want to hurt us, Luca - my mate - would protect me.

But, well. Dad's will be dads.

"What do you think?" Luca asks, his voice more cheerful than it's been all night as he sits down next to me and I hand his drink back to him.

"I love it," I say, grinning at the orange light of the fire that's slowly starting to spread out. The heat, too, that I can start to feel on my face. I tug my scarf down and take a sip of my whiskeyed cider, knowing no one will notice. "How big will the fire get?"

"Pretty big," Luca murmurs, slipping an arm around me and taking a sip of his own drink. "Especially as the night passes, and people get...a little liquored up. And start burning all the old chairs they don't want anymore."

I burst out laughing, looking over and up at him. "Does that really happen?"

“Stick around, Princess," he murmurs, smirking and still staring into the flames, taking another sip of his drink. "You're in for one hell of a sight.”

I laugh, and snuggle closer to him, and enjoy the warmth of his body alongside the fire. We're quiet for a long, long time as the fire builds and someone brings out some speakers, beginning to play old traditional songs that everyone knows and can sing along with.

"Why did you bring me here, Luca?" I ask quietly. And I know, through the bond, that he knows that I'm aware that this isn't just any date - that he picked this location, and this level of secrecy, for a reason.

He takes a deep breath, I think wondering where to begin. "I thought I'd handle it differently, Ariel," he murmurs, contemplative. "I thought that...all I'd have to do to win you over would be to show you how boring Jackson is, and how fun and exciting I am."

I burst out laughing here, giving Luca a little smack on the chest. "Jackson is not boring," I protest.

“Yes he is,” Luca murmurs, his eyes falling a little to the spot on my neck where Jackson scent marked me not long ago - his own little petty shot at Luca, which I now see has found its mark. "Jackson is dull as rocks, Ariel, if you're an idiot like me and think that the only way to be interesting is to be flashy, and loud, and to have VIP status at all the hottest clubs."

My heart sinks a little as I start to realize where Luca is going with this.

"But," Luca continues, "when I started to realize that Jackson doesn't have any of that - and that you sometimes like him better anyway -"

I open my mouth, desperate to protest, but Luca gives me a pleading look. I hesitate but close my lips.

"It made me realize," Luca continues, "that, of course, you're not actually a girl who cares about any of that bullshit. And it made me freak out because...I also realized that the only thing I've got is that bullshit."

My heart sinks because, I mean, is that how Luca really sees himself?

Chapter 0408

Luca looks off into the fire now, his arm heavy around my shoulders, as he confesses what might be his deepest truth. "I'm very afraid, Ariel, that I don't have any substance at all. That I'm just flash, and that the moment I run out of interesting twists and turns that...everyone will see that I'm just a fraud. And that I'm boring, and never will do anything interesting or important. And that...you'll see that too."

My heart sinks to hear Luca say this because I couldn't believe anything less to be true of my sweet, brash mate. I scootch closer, not protesting because...well, he told me a secret, didn't he? And I don't want to immediately throw that in his face by telling him that it's not true.

But I know he can feel it, down our bond, in every pulse of my heart. That that's not at all how I see him.

And he groans a little, and grits his teeth, and lowers his forehead to press against mine. "You're too good for me in every single way, Ariel Sinclair," he murmurs, shaking his head slightly. "It took me way...way too long to realize that. But your dad...really helped me see it. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life endeavoring to deserve you. Whatever it takes."

"Luca," I say, mournful now, because - I mean, whatever my dad said to him, it was clearly too much. Luca was beat up by it and has lowered himself too far.

"Ariel, please -“

"No," I say, definitive, pulling my face away from his and looking clearly into his eyes. "You said your part, now I get to say mine."

Luca sighs but nods, recognizing the fairness in that.

"I know you're not going to believe me if I say that none of that is true," I whisper, looking up into his brown eyes. "Because I am...biased." He smirks a little, because that would indeed have been his argument.

I smile in turn, unable to help it. "But listen to me, Grant," I say, a little growl in my voice as I lean forward and wrap my hand around his scarf, pulling his face a little closer to mine. He grins at me, I think entertained at my minute ferocity. "You may doubt my opinion on the matter, but the goddess?" | shake my had. “She doesn't make mistakes. And she doesn't give mating bonds between mismatches."

Luca's smile grows, but he doesn't say anything, not wanting to fight me on it.

"You do deserve me," I whisper, nodding to him. "You don't need to endeavor to do it. Even if...well, even if you do need to behave better in the future."

I loosen my grip on his scarf, but he just smiles at me and lifts his hand to stroke over my cap and then down my back. "To treat you like the very literal goddess you are," he murmurs.

I laugh a little, wondering where he got that idea. "Well, I mean,” I say, shrugging, a little uncomfortable with the idea. “Demigoddess, at best.” Luca laughs, and leans forward to kiss me, and I wrap my arms eagerly around his neck, glad to have him close again - glad to have my mate back, for everything to be okay between us.

We kiss for what feels like a moment, but what must actually be a rather long time, because when Luca pulls away and I open my eyes I realize that it's quite a bit darker than it was when I closed them.

"I really am going to try, Ariel," he whispers, leaning close to give me a little peck. "I promise."

"Okay," I whisper, nodding to him even as I turn my eyes towards the fire, resting my head on his shoulder. The bonfire is raging now, leaping up towards the sky, and my skin shivers with delight as I hear the flames crackle. I smile as my eyes take in the ragged red edges against the black starry sky, the bright yellows and whites down by the logs at the center.

"Do you like it?" he asks, lifting his chin towards the bonfire.

Chapter 0409

"I love it," I reply, breathy. But then I frown, looking up at him. "You never answered my question, though. Why did you bring me to this?" He smiles down. "Because I intuited you'd love it, little pyromaniac princess."

I burst into laugher, sitting up straight.

“What,” he says, grinning at me, “you always tend the fires at school, and insist on building one, even when it's stifling hot in that room –“ "I so do not!"

"You do," he insists, raising a critical eyebrow at me, and I scowl before leaning back against him and tacitly admitting it. But...well, a fire is nice! And I like it when the bricks on the fireplace stay hot all night and warm my little nook.

"But beyond feeding your rather worrying preoccupation with flame," Luca says, a little dry, making me laugh, "I brought you here because...I've been trying, for twenty-four hours, at least, to...go back to my roots. To remember things that make me feel...real. And not like a fraud."

I ignore the parts about him being a fraud because I know he doesn't want to have that fight right now - me insisting that he's not, and him having to dig further into his current state of self-loathing to insist that he is. So, I focus on the other thing that he said.

"So, this," I say, raising my chin at the bonfire, at the small community gathered around it - simply enjoying being together, and having a few drinks, and laughing and singing in the firelight. “This makes you feel real?"

"It does," he says on a tiny sigh. "We used to come here every year to this fire. Mom...we lived alone, in a little apartment, before we went to live with Gran. After...after dad left. And we didn't have a lot - mom says we survived on crumbs and pride, and we laugh about it now but...the reality wasn't too funny."

My heart swells with pain, and I try to keep it from the bond because I want Luca to tell me these things, even if I know that his core instinct is to just tuck this part of himself away, his dark memories, his sadness. But I pull my mitten off, and wrap my hand around the back of his neck beneath his scarf, wanting to feel my skin on his.

Just for a moment. Just so he knows I'm real, and I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere.

Luca smiles at me. "Yeah," he says, laughing a little, his brashness coming back as he pretends that the memory doesn't hurt him as much as it does. “Dark days, then. But we'd always come here at Christmas, and...you know, there was always something to eat. And mom would have some drinks, and I'd run around with the other neighborhood kids, and it was always..."

He gets a little choked up, and I press myself close to his side when I see silver line his eyes.

"It was always a good night," he murmurs, looking out towards the fire, pretending not to notice the little tear that drifts down his cheek.

I do my very, very best not to cry. And I only fail a little bit, but Luca just laughs and wipes my tears away with his thumb. "I'm very grateful to you, Ariel," he murmurs gently as he does. "For...helping me figure out who I really am. Even if I'm not there yet."

"You're magnificent, Luc," I murmur, taking his cheeks between my hands and pressing a serious kiss to his mouth. "Thank you for letting me in." He gives me a wink, some of his cheeky confidence coming back. "Anytime."

Someone clears their throat behind me, and we both look back to see one of my bodyguards stepping close. He looks significantly at his watch, letting me know that time has run short. Has probably run fully away with me, if I'm being realistic.

I sigh as I look back at Luca.

"Let's get you home, Gorgeous," he says, giving me a sly grin and a final kiss before he stands and helps me up.

 

Chapter 0410

 

I grimace as I slip through the dining room door to dinner, because I am well aware that I am both late and underdressed.

But I laugh as I try to quietly press the door shut behind me, because a huge cheer goes up from my gathered family at my arrival, letting me know that I was a complete fool for thinking that I could just...quietly sneak into the room and pretend that I was here the whole time.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I protest, putting my hands up, a little envelope held tight in one of them. "I'm very rude and the worst child of the year." "Oh, you're forgiven, baby," mom says, holding her arms out to me as the rest of my extended family - including Jackson and Jesse's whole pack - turn back to their conversations and their food. Grinning, I move swiftly to my mom's side and let her wrap me in a big hug. "All okay?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say, grinning down at her and her gorgeous silver gown. "Nice dress, mom! You look great!"

"Nice sweater and muddy jeans!" she returns, grinning at me, impish.

I laugh, blushing and look down at my simple clothes - because of course, the rest of my family dressed for a formal dinner, and here I am in jeans smelling of bonfire. "Should I go get changed? I didn't want to be even later -"

“No, baby," dad says, his voice rumbling, drawing my eyes to him and his broad smile. “Just relax, enjoy the night – no one cares what you're wearing." He eyes the envelope in my hands. "Is that for me?"

I narrow my eyes a bit, even as I smile and hold it out to him. "How did you know? What's in it? Why won't anyone tell me?"

"In due time," dad murmurs, taking the envelope from me and tucking it into the inner pocket of his suit coat. Then he cheerfully turns back to his conversation with my grandpa, waving me off towards the empty seat I see at Jackson's side. I beam at my dad, dropping a kiss on his cheek as I scurry off towards my mate, who I'm desperately pleased to see sitting quietly next to Juniper at the end of the table.

"Let me see!" I hear mom say behind me, and I glance over my shoulder to see her fishing into dad's coat, trying to get the mysterious envelope out. "Ella!" dad sighs, half exasperated, half loving it as he swats her hand away.

But I grin and turn my eyes back to Jackson as I draw close to my empty seat, beaming as I take in his beautiful blue suit. It was the perfect selection for him - setting off his tanned skin, his dark hair and - of course - his stunning eyes. "Hi," I say, sinking into my chair, beaming at him. Jackson immediately wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me closer and pressing a kiss to my cheek, wanting me near.

"Took you long enough," Juniper murmurs, dry, looking at me with a lazily raised eyebrow as she pushes her dinner around on her plate. "Jackson and I had to endure all of this without you - and you know we like to use you as a shield."

"A shield?" I ask, surprised, laughing already.

"Yes," she says on a sigh. "A tiny, perky blonde shield, drawing all the attention away from normal people like us. You have no idea what we've had to put up with without you."

Jackson nods at me sagely like this is all very true. "People asking about our day. Our opinions on things. It's...terrible."

"Oh god," I say, laughing and rolling my eyes at both of them as one of the chefs brings me a plate. I thank him and then turn my eyes back to Team Taciturn. "You two," I say, picking up my fork and waving it between them, "are the true match of the evening. Doom and Gloom, ladies and gentlemen - finding a way to turn familial love and interest into the greatest burden anyone can bear."

"It is," Junie groans, even as she grins and turns back to her plate.

Jackson just leans close, taking a deep sniff of my hair. "Missed you. Glad you're back.”

I smile and press myself warm to his side as I start to eat, losing myself to the evening of family warmth and joy.

Midwinter eve, as is traditional, goes very late, all of us staying up to greet the holiday at midnight and to light the ceremonial fire that will burn for twenty-four hours to keep the darkness at bay. In the meantime, though - while we wait for the proper time - there is a great deal of drinking, and laughter, and games to be had.

The kids, I know, have the most fun, all of Jesse's siblings running screeching around the room chasing each other, playing, laughing. Jesse's behind it all, I know, whispering secret missions in his siblings' ears – telling Chase to try to slip salt into Rafe's whiskey, promising him a present if he can do it without getting caught. Urging Rosie to see how many times she can call Mark “Mork" before he completely flips out.