Ch. 636..640: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 636-640

Chapter 0636

Daphne grins at Jesse, laughing at something else he's said and reaching for the last cookie in the sleeve when...

She turns, a little shocked, towards the little tiny clock on the mantlepiece in the room that rings three times.

"No way," she whispers, her mouth falling open as she turns wide eyes back to Jesse. "There's no way we stayed up until three in the morning."

"I am very fascinating, Daphne," Jesse murmurs, sleepy and smug, stretching his hands behind his head and lacing his fingers there. "Do not doubt my powers of keeping someone up late into the night talking about...absolutely nothing."

She laughs, shaking her head at him, but also sighs and stands, stretching her own arms.

"Don't do it, Daph," Jesse murmurs, sighing and dropping his hands, reaching for his backpack. "I've probably got more cookies in here - we can pretend its ten o'clock."

“Jesse,” she says, laughing and shaking her head, putting her hands on her hips. "You have to sleep too."

"No I don't, Jackson has this cool new thing where he can just jolt energy into you," Jesse says, jabbing a finger into the air to demonstrate the method. "I'll just stay up all night -"

"Oh yeah?" Daphne asks, raising an eyebrow. "And does that work for mere mortals too, or just you magical types?"

Jesse scowls, staring up at her, but then sighs and gets to his feet. "Fine fine, woman, you win," he mutters, disappointed to see the night end. "Hey Jess," Daphne says, taking a step closer to him and folding her arms anxiously across her stomach. He turns to her in surprise, looking down into her face. "Um," she says, letting her eyes fall, "this was...really nice. Maybe we should do it again some -"

But suddenly she frowns, her head snapping to the right as she peers over the balustrade. "Did you hear that?

Jesse just stares at her, not giving a damn what's happening on the ground below, desperately wanting her to finish her question.

"No, seriously," Daphne says, glancing up at him and then moving to peer over the balustrade. "Is that..." she leans far forward, narrowing her eyes. "Is that Luca and Ariel? Coming in this late?"

"What?" Jesse asks, moving to stand next to her and looking himself. "Oh damn. I think it is."

"What on earth are they doing out there so late?"

"They might have the same question for us, if they knew we were spying on them like this," Jesse murmurs.

"Well, her skirt is all muddy," Daphne says with a smirk. "So, not too many questions about what they were doing all night."

Jesse just scoffs and then laughs, standing up straight to look at Daphne in surprise. "With Luca? No way."

"What are you talking about?" she asks, straightening and turning to him in turn.

"Ari is going to pick Jacks," Jesse says, crossing his arms over his chest. "It would kill him if he know she was out fooling around with Luca in the woods. She wouldn't do that to him."

"No way," Daphne says, leaning closer to peer into Jesse's face. "Luca and Ari have been in my room twice lately and they're so close - whenever she's with Jacks it's so... platonic! He barely touches or acknowledges her!"

"Because you only see them in the big group!" Jesse says, grinning at her, "when Jackson's on his best behavior!"

"Well, when is he not on his best behavior!?" Daphne counters.

“When he sleeps in her bed every night," Jesse says, his smile deepening as he plays his trump card. Daphne's mouth falls open, scandalized, as she turns back to the two figures walking quietly across the Castle lawn, Luca's arm around Ariel's shoulders and hers around his waist. "Well damn, Ari," Daphne murmurs, shaking her head. "Good for you, girl."

"I don't know," Jesse murmurs, shaking his head. "She still has to choose one. I thought Jackson had it locked but..." he shrugs, again casting out a hand towards the pair below.

"This whole choice thing is so stupid anyway," Daphne murmurs. "The goddess fated her both. She should get to keep both." She shrugs and turns away, remembering how late it is and the call to bed.

"Yeah, I think you're over-estimating how possible that is," Jesse says with a sigh. "Jacks and Luca are on okay terms right now but...forever?" he shrugs. "I don't see it happening."

"What, you couldn't share?" Daphne asks, mischief in her voice as she turns to Jesse at the door, watching as he puts what's left of the whiskey into his backpack and then lifts it over his shoulder.

"Share my mate?" Jesse asks,

pausing. And then, perhaps not meaning to he lets his eyes drift all

the way down Daphne's form and

back up in a way that makes bet

blush, imagining a very vivid scenario of precisely whom he would be sharing. "No," he says, locking eyes with hers at last.

"Absolutely not."

"Even if she - your mate - asked you? As a personal favor?" Daphne smirks here, playful. "Fulfilling the will of the Goddess?'

"You and your personal favors,

Daphne," Jesse murmurs, stepping

close

close enough for her to

et

catch a heavy whiff of his scent, which makes her eyes flutter half shut. Do me a favor, Jesse, and don't hit on me - just be my friend! Dome a favor, mate, and let me have a side piece! Honestly, Daph, do the demands never cease?"

Daphne bursts out laughing at this, blushing and turning towards the little glass door into the royal suite, pulling her keys out of her pocket and swiftly unlocking it. "Yeah, well, a girl only gets what she wants when she asks for it," Daphne murmurs, wondering for the millionth time what it really is that she wants.

Jesse nods, conceding the point, and follows Daphne across the suite, both of them silent and tired but still not wanting the night to end - not really. When they get to the wooden door that opens to the rest of the castle, though, Daphne pauses, sorting through her keys.

"Jesse,” she says quietly when he arrives next to her in the dark. She fiddles anxiously with her keys.

"Yeah?"

"Um."

When Daphne looks up at him, biting her lip, Jesse's wolf's legs go weak, his head lolling to the side as he gives a tender little howl - because they both know that they'll give her whatever she wants right now, any single god damn thing she asks for and he'll run to the end of the earth to get it. But Jesse doesn't let this show. Instead he just smiles and nods to her, encouraging her to ask.

"What if..." her cheeks flush bright red and she looks down at the keys in her hands. "What if I...retracted that particular personal favor?"

Jesse's heart stops dead in his chest.

She peeks up at him through his lashes. "What if I said...that...you know, if you wanted to, if you felt like it...you could...hit on me again. If...if you wanted to? Even just as a joke, like it was before."

Chapter 0637

It takes every single bit of Jesse's control to keep his cool in this moment. To not shout in victorious joy, and pump his fist in the air, and snatch Daphne up into his arms and spin her in a circle. To refrain from telling her that hitting on her was never a joke – that he was just shit at it, and didn't know what to do - and he just wanted to make her laugh, always just wants to make her laugh -

For the rest of his damn life wants to make her laugh -

But Jesse just exhales slowly, looking away to the side with a shrug, trying and failing to keep a smile off of his mouth. “I mean, sure, that's fine,” he says, his voice only shaking a little tiny bit. He turns his eyes back to her. "Do you want me to like, start right now?"

Daphne's blush deepens even as she beams, turning towards the door with the key in her hand. "No, Jesse, don't be ridiculous," she murmurs, laughing as she jabs the key at the door and then realizes that, of course, she doesn't need it. That the lock turns from the inside in here - she won't need the key until they're out in the hall.

Jesse grins as Daphne's whole face goes red and she hastily pulls the key back, unlatching the door and pulling it open.

"Because I can start now if you want," Jesse says, following her out into the hall, his voice light and teasing as he peers at the beautiful rosy color on her cheeks. "I mean, your beauty outshines the moon and the stars, Daph -"

"Oh, shut up," she says, laughing and giving Jesse a little shove as she pulls the door shut and deftly locks it, slipping her keys into her pocket. "You'll embarrass me."

"Ah, I'd never want to do that," Jesse murmurs, giving an easy shrug and he smiles down at her. Daphne takes a deep breath and regains her equanimity, looking back up at him when the fire fades from her cheeks. "We'll...give it a grace period. See how it goes."

"Yeah," Daphne says, her hands reaching up to play with the ends of her hair as she just stares up into his face. "Grace period sounds good. Sounds...logical."

Jesse nods.

"Um, I'm this way," Daphne says, nodding to the stairwell behind her. "And you're that." She lifts her chin to the hall behind Jesse. "So...I'll see you soon?"

"I'll walk you," he offers, taking a step towards the stairs, meaning it. A step that conveniently brings him...very close.

"Nah, I'm good," she says, giving him a soft smile. "I'll make it by myself."

"Okay,” he whispers. "Good night, Daphne."

"Night," she replies, soft. And then it takes far too long to peel her eyes from his, to turn towards the arch at the end of the hall that leads to the stone set of stairs.

As she walks away Daphne ducks her head, blushing and grinning ridiculously wide, hardly believing that she had the courage to do that - to just... ask him to throw away the rules that she had stupidly set up months ago when she thought she was only interested in Rafe -

But how - how had she had the courage to do that - to take down the rules - but not had the courage to just grab him, like she wanted to, and pull him close against her. And she totally could have - he had been standing so close! She could have just...stood on her toes! God, was she really that much of a chicken? Honestly-

Daphne gasps as she suddenly spins, someone grabbing her arm, pulling her back towards the hall.

Her mouth falls open as she finds herself again staring up into Jesse's eyes.

"Please," Jesse breathes, shaking his head as he pulls Daphne into his arms, "please tell me that that was long enough of a grace period. Because I - I can't fucking wait anymore to do this -"

Jesse pulls Daphne desperately to

—

ven

him like he may never get another chance - like he can't believe he got this one. And then he presses his mouth to hers like it's the last thing he might ever do- like he's desperate for her - like Daphne is the air and he a man alone and gasping on a dying pl. But here, alone, with her -

Everything is different - everything has changed.

Jesse bends Daphne back, just slightly, and kisses her like she's the

only damn thing on thing in this world that matters to him anymore - like having her in his arms is as natural and intrinsic as his need for

et

air, for water. Like she always should have been here, pressed tight against his body - like he hates the months that passed when she wasn't. Daphne's arms find their way around his neck as the kiss sweeps absolutely through her - through them both, shaking them to their cores, cutting loose any doubts.

When Jesse pulls away a moment or a century later, panting, his eyes moving over her beautiful, perfect face like it's some kind of

masterpiece, the words just spillet

from him. "I'm in love with you, he whispers, shaking his head, the truth of it plain on his face. "I'm so fucking in love with you, Daphne - I have been, since the moment you walked in our door -"

 

Chapter 0638

She gives a desperate little cry, slipping her hands from around his neck to grip his shirt, like something might try to tear him away and she fucking dares it to try. Daphne yanks Jesse even tighter against her, making him stumble forward with the force of it, both of them laughing as Jesse catches his balance and then pulls her up into his arms, falling back against the stone wall and staring at her, awed.

"I love you too," Daphne whispers, smiling recklessly as she rests her forehead against his, laughing even as tears start in her eyes. "I'm sorry - I'm so sorry it took me so long -"

But Jesse just shakes his head - denying categorically any need for apology now that he's got her at last. He just pulls Daphne close, kissing her again and again.

Because this is it, as far as Jesse is concerned. A door shut, complete.

Jesse's shadows swirl out around them, gossamer and fervid, shielding the pair of them from the rest of the world and creating their own private space just for them, alone.

But there - in the corner of the hall, beyond the reach of his shadows.

Something darker lurks.

And is displeased.

I exhale slowly as I slip into our room, pressing the door shut quietly behind me and taking a second to lean against it and close my eyes. Because Jackson is waiting for me in my bed, and Luca is currently walking away down the hall, and I need a damn second to get my thoughts together...

So right here against the door is...kind of the only place to do it.

God, but that was intense. Luca - he makes so much more sense now, but honestly I'm a little freaked out by how much of his whole easy-going playboy persona was a façade - built to purposely conceal the deeply restrained person he is beneath. And, really, I'm shocked at how ably he hid that from me for months - me, his mate! I mean, I know I was naïve at the start and didn't even think to look for his wolf until my wolf connected so easily with Jackson's, but Luca really did a good job of keeping him tucked away. It explains a lot, honestly, about how Jackson and I were able to get so close so fast while Luca has, oddly, been the slower burn of my two relationships.

And god – god I could kill his uncle for making him muscle through that. Luca - he was clearly a kid with a ton of emotions who was told to just grit his teeth and force his way brutally through them, to express himself only in the ring, where his uncle recognized that he had the unique physicality and talents to be a champion. Where he -

"Ariel?"

My head snaps up when I hear Jackson's voice.

I glance over at Rafe's bed, where I see the shape of him sleeping, and then at Jesse's, which is oddly...flat. But I ignore that, pushing up from the door and moving to the nook.

"Hey," I whisper, peeking in at the

bed and smiling at Jackson even as

a yawn overtakes me. God, but I'm tired. "I'm fine - I'm sorry if you

were

worried. I'll just take a quick shower and-"

“Ariel,” Jackson says, sitting up and holding a hand out to me. “Just...come to bed. I don't care if you smell like him.”

"But," I say, glancing down at myself, knowing I must stink of Luca and feeling weird about it.

"You need your rest," Jackson says, holding his hand out further. "Just...come to bed. That's so much more important."

My heart instantly reaches for my sweetheart mate and I beam at him, completely touched. "Okay," I whisper, nodding to him. "Just... let me go brush my teeth, okay?"

"Whatever makes you feel good," he murmurs, sleepy, laying back down amongst the pillows.

I smile at him again and then hurry away into the bathroom, stripping off Daphne's clothes and leaving them in a pile on the floor, tossing the red wig on top. I splash water on my face and wash my hands, quickly brushing my teeth before skittering off to bed in my underwear, hoping that I got the majority of the scent off.

When I crawl into bed Jackson

อน

reaches for me and I sigh, content, as I lay myself out over his chest. He gathers me to him, one hand wrapped warm around the back of my thigh, the other stroking softly down my back. "Seriously, tiny," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my hair. "Are you all right?"

"I'm okay,” I say with a sigh, letting my eyes drift shut. "Can I...tell you about it tomorrow? I'm so, so tired."

"You got it,” he murmurs, still softly stroking my back. I fall asleep faster than I think I ever have in my life.

Chapter 0639

 

I'm too tired for the full dream state that night, but even though I'm asleep some part of me is conscious of my wolf moving anxiously to the edge of my bond with Jacks, and lifting her snout, and giving a sharp little howl, her feet tapping and calling to his wolf.

Jackson's wolf appears instantly across that little bridge, trotting across it with ease but lowering his head a little when he sees mine - takes in the mess of her fur, covered in dust and dirt from hours running with Luca's wolf, using her body to knock free the mud and the dust.

Jackson's wolf huffs with displeasure - not with the fact that she spent time with Luca's wolf and helped him just...not liking to see her exhausted and disheveled. He moves forward then, softly beginning to nuzzle my wolf, cleaning her up in turn. He licks her face, quite tender and gentle, and then moves along her body, rubbing his own against it. My wolf gives another little exhausted howl and lays down. Jackson's wolf takes a few more minutes to look her over, nudging her with his snout and sniffing to make sure she's okay, and then he curls up next to and around her, curving his head warm over her neck as she rests her snout against his paws.

As my wolf drifts off to sleep, I blink awake - just for a moment, and press a kiss to Jackson's chest, incredibly grateful for him.

Because even if I took care of Luca tonight - even if he needed me...Jackson always takes care of me, makes me feel warm and cozy and good. And I love him so, so much for the sweet generosity of his soul, hoping that I can do the same for him.

"You already do," Jackson murmurs, making me jump a little and laugh. "Now go to bed, baby," he murmurs, stroking a heavy hand over my hair. "We need sleep."

“Okay," I whisper, kissing him again and closing my eyes, falling again into a sweet slumber, curled up with my mate, just as our wolves are curled up in my soul.

I wake up the next morning to the very, very pleasant sensation of Jackson wrapping me up in his arms and rolling me over lightly in the bed, pressing a kiss to my neck. I hum lightly, lifting my hands to stroke through his hair and hitching one leg up over his hip.

"I could get used to this," he murmurs, letting a hand drift up my thigh, squeezing my ass as it travels past on its way up my torso. "I do not mind waking up to you in your underwear."

"Shouldn't we just do it like that first night?" I whisper, my head lolling sleepily even as I smile my happiness. "When it was just bottoms, no top?" "When I get you in a room all by ourselves," he murmurs, nipping the skin of my shoulder before pressing kisses all along my clavicle, "you had better sleep in absolutely nothing." I gasp a little, my head spinning to Jackson as his hand finishes its journey up my body and cups my breast.

“Jacks!” I huff, scandalized, my eyes moving to where the curtain is shut to the room where my brother and my cousin are still asleep - Jesse especially, since he came through the door at around five in the morning.

"What those two don't know won't hurt them," Jackson murmurs, shifting again to settle himself more completely between my thighs and lifting his mouth to mine, kissing me deeply - much more deeply than he usually does in the morning.

I lose myself to it, kissing him back, letting my body follow its instincts, my hips rising up against my mate my breath coming in little pants. He growls, possessive and warm, his tongue pressing into my mouth in a way that causes a little moan to break from my lips.

A sound that is...too loud for my comfort.

I break away, biting my lip and shaking my head at him.

Jacks growls his displeasure but nods, pressing a much more chaste and simple kiss to my mouth before rolling away to the side, tugging me with him.

"Well, this is different," I murmur, my heartbeat slowing as I stroke a hand long down his chest and over his hard stomach. "What's got you all frisky this morning?"

"You," he murmurs, stroking a hand

over my hair missed you last

night. I like you here. I mean," he shrugs, don't want you to feel...bad about not being here - you go what you want. But if we're just talking about my preferences," he shrugs again. "I like you here."

I grin, nodding to him. "I like me here too."

"Tell me," he urges, pressing a kiss to either of my cheeks. "I want to hear about Faiza's assignment."

I give him the quick run-down as my

mate idly runs his hands all over my body, checking in on me, reminding me a great deal of his wolf in this

moment. And I tell him most of what I we did last night, leaving out...well, honestly, kind of the important bits, the things that will hurt his feelings or make him mad. So, nothing about Tony stepping in to help me when Luca got distracted. Nothing about Luca's trauma or our breakthrough, or how we spent hours in the woods just holding each other, kissing softly, letting our wolves explore their new closeness.

Chapter 0640

Jackson's aware that I'm holding something back - I shut down the bond a little bit so he doesn't hear my thoughts or feel my feelings as I speak - but he doesn't say anything about it, giving me my peace and my privacy.

"That's an interesting assignment," he murmurs, letting his hand travel idly up and down my back. "Though...I don't know why Faiza wants you to train so hard as a spy. I'm not...I mean, Ariel, I'm not going to let you go into situations like that without me."

I bite my lip and nod, because I agree - I have no intention of doing anything dangerous without Jackson by my side. We've already made that clear to each other and to the Captain.

"She's still my teacher, though." I murmur. "I...still want to learn."

Jacks nods his understanding and takes my hand in his, raising it to brush a kiss over my fingers. "I hope you'll think about bringing me some time in the future," he murmurs, keeping his words light, I think so I won't feel pressured. "I want to see you in action. And keep you safe."

"You just want to see me as a redhead," I whisper, grinning at him.

He snarls a little bit at this and shakes his head, vehement. "You're the perfect blonde," he murmurs, his eyes moving to my hair. "Besides – it's already...pinkish orange."

I gasp a little, laughing and smacking him on the arm. "The proper term is rose-gold."

He laughs along with me, nodding. "Yes," he says, letting his eyes drift shut. "My perfect little rose-gold wolf. I remember.”

The curtain to our bed suddenly rips open and I squeak in surprise as Jackson turns to glare at Jesse, who stands there rubbing one eye, looking like he's been run over by a truck.

"Jacks," Jesse croaks. "I need the energy. I need it bad."

"I told you," Jackson growls, pointing a finger at him. "Not to get addicted."

"Help," Jesse says, flopping down at the end of the bed and reaching out to wrap a hand around my ankle. "I've got the contact. Give Ariel the juice. I'll never ask again."

"Yes he will," I sigh, even as I flop my hand out to Jacks and he rolls his eyes, settling his hand in mind and starting to pass energy to me.

"It's your fault,” Rafe calls, and I peek over Jackson to see my brother frowning and moving towards the bathroom. "Why the hell were you out till five anyway, Jess?"

"I was being broody," Jesse calls. "Looking at the stars, contemplating existence."

Rafe just stares at our cousin for a second like his choices of pastimes are a complète mystery. But then shrugs. Whatever. Get your energy set - you have to take Ariel for her run while Jackson and I draft"

UMS

Rafe heads into the bathroom without another word as I gasp, sitting straight up, having totally forgotten about the draft today.

"If you were up brooding all alone,” Jackson murmurs, smirking as he looks down at Jesse, still passing both of us his magical energy. "Why do you smell head to toe of Daphne this morning?"

I gasp again, spinning to look at Jesse.

Jesse glares hard at Jacks. "You keep your god damn mouth shut, you traitor."

"Jesse!" I whisper-shriek, my hands flying to my chest. "What - how did you - what -"

"Ariel, I am too tired and you are too naked for this conversation," Jesse mutters, closing his eyes and looking away. "I confess nothing. Your boyfriend's stupid snout is mistaken."

"No, it's not," Jackson says, dry.

"How can you smell her on him?" I whisper, leaning over towards Jesse and sniffing but I get nothing.

"My sense of smell is better than yours," Jackson murmurs, casual. I scowl at him, jealous, which just makes him burst into a grin.

"You're telling me everything," I

growl, turning back to my cousin and kicking my foot out at Jesse - an act of violence that does nothing, since he just tightens his grip on my ankle and absorbs the blow.

“No, I'm not,” Jesse replies, sighing and looking up between Jackson and I. "There's nothing to tell. Now let's go!"

Jesse smacks my ankle and then jumps out of bed, looking utterly refreshed.

"God, I love my cousin's mate's powers," he calls, stretching his arms over his head and whooping as he moves for the dresser and a fresh set of clothes.

"I just love the mate," I say,

snuggling down next to Jackson for another moment. He gets all snarly, just the way I like him, making me laugh as he again rolls me in the sheets, kissing me for all that he's worth.