Ch. 66..70: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 66-70

Chapter 66

We spend a long time under that tree as Jackson tells me the long story about how he stayed up for three weeks in a row, only giving in because he was so incredibly bored by the end of it. About how he just wandered around at night all alone, doing chores and going for runs just to have something to do. About how he missed dreaming, and missed rest, because while he wasn’t precisely tired, in a bodily sort of way, he was exhausted mentally.

“We need sleep, I think, to turn off our minds,” he says at the end of it, thoughtful. “Life’s hard enough as it is we need time away from it all, I guess.”

“Yes, that makes sense,” I murmur passively, all my words blurring together as I sit with my chin still propped in my hand, just staring at him, mesmerized.

Because god, he’s gorgeous. Jackson – he’s so brutal at first sight, all harsh lines and scars and darkness. But the more time you spend with him and the more he opens up the more you see the grace in him. It’s almost, somehow, like he…tucks it away, hiding it. But when he lets it out?

His face just….lights up, like a flaming beacon in the night. And god, is he breathtaking.

“I mean, it makes sense, right?”

I startle out of my reverie and curse myself for letting myself get lost in “Hmm?” I say, straightening up.

my mate’s

gaze.

He laughs at me. “Sorry,” he says, running a hand through his messy hair, “I’ve been boring.”

“Jackson,” I say, my voice low with the understatement, “you’ve been the opposite of boring. I got… completely lost in what you were saying.”

He grins, desperately pleased at the compliment, and his mouth to say more –

opens

But I gasp, suddenly looking around. “Shit, what time is it!?”

my god,” he says, dropping my hand suddenly and springing to his feet. “Shit, Clark,

“Oh

we’re late

I squeak in protest, pushing myself to my own feet as Jackson grabs my book satchel off the floor, thrusting it against my chest when I finally stand up straight. “We’ve got to go,” he says, looking desperately back to the castle.

“Well then you carry this!” I shout, pushing the satchel back to him. “Run!”

We do run then, and Jackson beats me, obviously, even carrying both of our books. He grabs my hand and basically drags me through the halls once we’re inside, towards my Chemistry classroom.

“How do you even know where this is!?” I gasp as we get close.

Jackson just glares over my shoulder at me, like I’m stupid for not knowing that of course. he would know where the Chemistry classroom is.

Inwardly. I’m pleased by this, though there’s no time to dwell on it, especially as I consider that Jackson fulfilled his promise to Rafe that he’d see me to my next class even though it means he’ll be even later for his.

But…instinctually, I know that he’s not doing it for Rafe’s sake.

He’s doing it for me.

I’m panting by the time I get to the door. Jackson, predictably, is not.

“You good?” He asks, unstrapping my satchel from his shoulder and handing it to me.

I nod, glancing towards the door, anxious to get inside.

“I’ll see you,” Jackson murmurs, turning away.

“Come over!” I call after him, knowing that it’s costing me even more time but unable to stop myself. Jackson turns, staring at me. I shake my head, speaking all in a hurry. “Come to our room,” I beg, “come spend time with us. We want you there.”

Jackson just raises an ironic eyebrow, which makes me laugh.

“I want you there,” I say as I grin and grab the door handle. “Which is all that matters.”

He smirks for a second and then nods once before turning away, heading down the hall.

And I grin, and twist the handle, pressing into the room.

Dr. Neumann looks over at me, clearly annoyed. “And what emergency has kept you away today, Cadet Clark?”

“Apologies, sir,” I say, hurrying to my seat. “No emergencies. Just…lost track of time…. studying.”

“Your tardiness will make itself known by a reduced grade on your next quiz, Clark” Neumann says, turning back to the board as I sit down. “Don’t let it happen again.”

And I nod, agreeing to the terms, even as I realize that…

Well. If there was another chance to spend the morning with Jackson under an oak tree, holding his hand and sharing secrets?

I’d do it again in a heartbeat, damn the price.

That evening, Jesse and Rafe come into the room late so late that I’m already bathed, changed into a fresh uniform, and sitting on the couch with my arms crossed, glaring at the door.

“Where have you been!?” I snap the moment the door opens and they come breezing in.

Both boys stop dead in their tracks.

“What?” Jesse says, staring at me, standing stock still. “What’d we do!?”

“You let me sit here all alone!” I shout as Rafe closes the door and I get to my feet, grabbing the note I got at breakfast off the coffee table and waving at them. “And I have plans! Which you almost made me miss!”

“What plans,” Rafe asks, frowning at me as he crosses the room and snatches the note from my hand. I don’t answer, planting my hands on my hips and frowning at him, letting him. figure it out for himself.

1

“Who….who the hell is Daphne?” Rafe murmurs.

“Daphne?” Jesse asks, perking up and coming over.

Rafe raises his eyes to mine, predictably frowning.

“She’s the seamstress, Rafe,” I sigh, snatching the note from his hands. His eyebrows lift with clarity – Jesse and I told him about that, of course. “I want to go! And she asked me to come now, and you forbid me to walk through the castle alone so let’s go!”

“Is this invitation for one?” Jesse murmurs, grabbing the note from me and peering over it. “Or does she mention…any dukes…”

I just roll my eyes at him and continue glaring at Rafe.

“I don’t think this is a good idea, Ariel,” Rafe says, making me groan at how predictable and stubborn he’s being.

“Rafe, she’s my friend, and I already sent her word that I would –”

“Well, why did you do that when

“When I hadn’t asked you first? Rafe,” I sigh, looking down at my shoes, trying to figure out how to phrase this. “We are walking a very fine line here, my brother, between you protecting me and you being my jailer. Can you….can you please go a little easier on me, here? Daphne – I trust her, we trust her. And she’s my friend.”

There’s a long moment of silence, but I look up when Rafe sighs.

“Okay,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “You’re right, Ari – and if you and Jesse trust this girl, then I guess it’s time for me to meet her to.”

“No need,” Jesse says, buttoning the top button on his shirt so that he can look all sharp. “I’ll take Ariel down to Daphne’s room –”

“Oh fat chance of that,” I groan, shoving him away.

“What!?” he laughs, stumbling back a step. “She’s a nice girl! I just want to say hi and –”

“And hit on her relentlessly?”

“Yes,” Jesse says, grinning at me like a fox. “Yes, and hit on her relentlessly. God, please let me go –”

“Jesse!” I snap, smacking him again. “Don’t hit on my friends! It’s my only rule!”

He laughs blatantly in my face and Rafe joins in.

Chapter 67

I stand back, looking confusedly between Rafe and Jesse. “What?” I ask my brother and my cousin, “what’s so funny?”

“Ari,” Rafe says, shaking his head at me as he puts a hand around my elbow and tugs met towards the door. “Not hitting on your friends? That has never been a rule.”

“That has always been a rule!” I gasp, staring up at my brother.

“Well,” he says, grimacing at me a little. “Then that is a rule which Jesse has never followed.”

“What!?” I snap, trying to spin and stare at Jesse but hauled along by Rafe. “Who – who have you hit on?!”

“Who haven’t I hit on?” Jesse replies, still grinning at me, wicked.

“Jesse!” I shout, truly scandalized and betrayed. “Annie? Rebecca? Padme!?” Jesse just grins. and I gape, looking up at Rafe for confirmation.

“He hooked up with them all too,” Rafe informs me, dry.

I let out a loud screech of protest, spinning to stare at my cousin, who just shrugs at me like he couldn’t help it.

“You bring around these nice girls, Ariel, who fall for all my lines!” Jesse exclaims, holding out his hands and shaking his head like he couldn’t help it. “Pretty ones too it is like a buffet. And you expect me to do nothing!?

“Stop making out with my friends, Jesse!”

“No, don’t make me promise that it’s my favorite hobby –

–

“Jesse!” I lash out, trying to smack him, but I’m too far away. Rafe sighs, hauling me further

towards the door.

“Did you seriously make out with Annie and Rebecca?” I call over my shoulder, desperate.

Chapter 0/

Jesse just shrugs, innocent. “Someone had to do it, Shrimp.” He clasps an honorable hand to his chest. “I was happy to fall on that sword.”

I just growl and turn away. Rafe sighs and grabs the door handle.

“Wait, what about Theresa!?” I shout, spinning to look back at Jesse.

“Oh my god, Theresa!” Jesse groans, throwing himself on the couch. My jaw drops as he covers his face with his hands, moaning like he’s mourning the loss of something beautiful he’ll never have again. “Theresa is a freak

I let out a scandalized gasp, but Rafe just tugs me along.

“A freak in the best possible way, cousin!” Jesse shouts after me just before the door snicks. shut. “The best possible way! Rafe can tell you, too!”

“Oh my goddd,” I moan, glaring at my brother, whose cheeks blush a guilty pink. For the next ten minutes as we wend our way through the halls I pepper him with questions. He answers everything I want to know about Jesse, but doesn’t confess any of his own sins.

“Fine,” I growl when we finally get to Daphne’s door, crossing my arms and glaring up into. his face. “But this one is off limits, okay?”

“Okay, Ari,” Rafe says, nodding to me with a smile. “I can make that promise for myself, but Jesse? Don’t hold your breath waiting for him to agree to it.”

“So rude,” I mutter, reaching out to knock on the door.

Rafe and I stand quietly while wait, and I hear a set of footsteps inside. Then, the door swings open.

“Hi!” Daphne says, beaming at me. “Welcome, I –”

But her face falls when she looks up at my brother standing next to me. Her mouth makes a little “o” as she stares at him.

“Hi,” Rafe says, giving her his best Prince

his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Daphne “fe, Heir to the Throne smile and holding

out

“It’s…um, hi,” she says, reaching out to shake his hand and smiling up at him nervously. raise my eyebrows in surprise she handled herself beautifully with Jesse. Honestly, I’m at little shocked by this reaction to Rafe. “I mean,” she says, blushing as she takes her hand away, “it’s a pleasure to meet you….your highness.”

“Please, call me Rafe,” he says, smiling at her warmly, a little used to people reacting this way it’s been the same since we were kids. He moves on with the conversation so that she has a chance to find her

feet again. “Will you send word up when you and Ari are finished with your visit? I can come back down and –”

“Oh, no need,” she says, and I’m glad to see her relaxing a bit. “I can walk Ari back up to vour

room.”

Rafe just quirks an eyebrow like he doesn’t believe either of us can protect the other for a second. Daphne, coming back to herself as the moments pass, just smirks at my brother.

“I’ve been walking through this castle alone for years, sire,” she says, putting her hands on her hips. “And not once have I been accosted.”

“Oh yeah?” Rafe asks. “What’s your secret?”

“Pepper spray,” she says with a shrug, making both of us laugh. “No, but really,” she continues with a grin, “servants‘ corridors. Honestly, we’ll be fine.”

“All right,” my brother says with a nod, surprising me. I didn’t expect him to agree to that so easily I guess our little two–second chat earlier really hit its mark. He turns to me then. “How long do you think?”

–

I shrug, looking over at Daphne. “An hour? Maybe two?”

“Let’s make it two,” she says, wrinkling her nose at me. I grin and nod to Rafe, who sketches a little bow and turns away, waving over his shoulder.

Daphne gives a little squeak of excitement, pulling me into the room. “Oh my god,” she says, pressing the door shut behind us and leaning back against it for support, “that was Rafe Sinclair! At my door!”

I laugh, shaking my head at her. “Don’t be so impressed – it’s just Rafe,” I say with a shrug. “Plus,” I gesture to myself, “Nation’s princess! Right here!”

“Oh, I know,” she says, laughing and grabbing my arm, tugging me over to the bed and gesturing for me to sit down. “But you’re not nearly as hot as he is.”

1 squeak in dismay, standing up straight at the offense.

Daphne just rolls her eyes at me as she crosses the little room. “You’re very pretty, Ariel, but you just don’t do it for me.” She reaches up to a shelf and grabs a bottle of wine as well as two small glasses. “Can I persuade you?” she asks. “I know it’s technically illegal but,” she shrugs and gives me a hopeful look.

“As long as you promise not to tell my brother,” I say, eyeing the bottle – because honestly, a glass of wine sounds fantastic right now.

“As long as you promise to dish,” she counters, laughing as we both sit down on the bed. Daphne pulls her bedside table close and pours us each a glass of red wine.

“Dish about what?” I ask, taking the glass she offers me and leaning back against the pillows. I grin, pleased that it’s so instantly easy between us. Daphne – I feel like I’ve already known her for years. But, I guess that makes sense, when someone’s carrying your deepest darkest

secret.

“About everything,” she sighs, smiling warmly at me. “I want to hear all about your week, and about how no one else has figured out you’re a girl –

–”

“Because boys are idiots –” I say, taking a sip of my drink and humming lightly with pleasure at the velvety taste.

She laughs, and nods. “Yes, tell me all about the boys.”

“Daphne,” I say, sighing, “as the only acknowledged girl in this

Castle, you could have your pick of the boys. You know that. So why do you need me to tell you all about them when you could just go knock on any door you want and have him kneel at your feet, spilling hist guts?”

“Because,” she sighs, a low and devastated sound, “I’m abstaining.”

“Why?” I ask, grinning.

“Because I have dreams,” she groans, shaking her head like its’s a great sacrifice to give up

boys for the sake of your ambitions. I smile then, recognizing the feeling, especially

considering that all I want to do is hurl myself at my mates. But I, too, am abstaining. Or, at least I’m trying to.

“What dreams?” I ask, wanting to know more wanting to know all about her, frankly.

“All of them.” she sighs, smiling at me and leaning forward. “I want a big life, you know? I want to do everything – feel everything, see everything, touch everything, taste it. I want to do it all.”

My smile deepens as I consider my friend, swept up a little in her verve for life. “What’s stopping you?” I ask quietly, sipping more of my wine.

“Money,” she says, giving a chagrined little shrug. “We…didn’t grow up with much.”

I nod, listening, my mind going back to Jackson who I’m starting to think might come from a similar world. “Well, what does that have to do with boys?” I ask. “Why does that make you ‘abstain, as you say?”

Daphne just gives me a long, slow grin.

Chapter 68

“Because,” Daphne says, giving a happy little sigh and taking a long sip of her wine, “you’re

–

right the boys here would throw themselves at my feet just because I’m the only girl here

– at least, the only admitted girl here.”

I raise my glass in toast to her, conceding the point.

“But,” she continues with a shrug, “I’m not going to throw myself at the first boy I find myself attracted to – fall in love, get wrapped up in a marriage I haven’t really considered, find myself ten years from now tied to a life that I didn’t want. I want to be more careful than that.”

I nod, understanding. “So, you want to choose your boys carefully. Clever work, Daphne.”

She grins at me, accepting the compliment. “Seems a waste sometimes, though. All these boys for the pickings and I just….leave them on the vine.”

“A job perk left unused,” I murmur, agreeing. “Is the job worth it, besides that? You seem really isolated here.”

“I am isolated,” she says, shrugging before grinning at me, “which is partially why I’m so

–

glad you’re here now seriously, you’d better make it through to the spring semester, I’ll be desolate if you leave me after only a couple months.”

“I’ll do my best,” I say, nodding seriously, “just for you.”

She laughs along with me but then I tilt my head to the side, considering her again, wondering about her past. “Daphne, how did you end up here?”

“My uncle got me the job,” she says quietly. “He was the tailor here before me he brought me in two years ago, when his heath started to fail and he couldn’t keep up with the work. And then when he died, they gave me his spot, because I’m fast, and I work hard, and I know the uniforms inside and out.”

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, realizing that she really is all alone here now that she’s lost her

uncle as well.

Emergency calls only 400

15:23

“Don’t be,” she says, her smile soft. “He had a long life, and I’m not unhappy here. I’m cozy. and warm, and busy I like all that. And the Academy pays incredible wages, so it’s well worth being alone for a little for the money I can stash away and send home to my mom. I figure a few more years of this and I’m…totally free.”

“What’s that mean to you?” I ask, genuinely curious. “Total freedom?”

“Doing whatever I want, whenever I want to,” she sighs, her eyes going a little far–off at the idea. “I don’t need a big mansion or anything – just…the ability to travel where I want, to support myself.

Maybe get a cat.” She shrugs.

“That does sound nice.” I say quietly, considering that…well, I never even thought of that as a possibility for myself. Total freedom, a life on my own terms…

“You can come along if you want,” she says quietly. “But…I would request that you bring your hot brother.”

I burst into laughter at this, stretching my leg across the bed and giving her a little kick. “Do you seriously think he’s that hot?”

–

“Ari,” she says, laughing a little low laugh. “Every girl in the nation. human and wolf- has had a crush on Rafe Sinclair since he hit puberty. That height? Those shoulders, those eyes?” she sighs, leaning back against her pillows.

“Ewww,” I say, wrinkling my nose at her but laughing anyway, “you wouldn’t think he’s so cute if you had to listen to him snore day in and day out.”

Daphne smiles but shakes her head, letting me know that not even that would be enough. I sigh because I mean, I know Rafe’s reputation in the world I’ve seen the tabloids, and I’m aware that my brother is objectively good looking. But still, a national heartthrob?

I guess I’m just too close to it. “Poor Jesse,” I sigh, resting my head against the wall. “You’ll break his heart, you know, crushing on Rafe like that.”

“Yeah well,” she murmurs, smirking at me. “Something tells me your Jesse needs to have his heart broken a bit, doesn’t he?”

“Probably,” I say, nodding and meaning it. Jesse – I love him so much, and I know his heart. is in the right place, but all of my friends? He would certainly deserve it.

Chapter no

But still, he’s my cousin and I love him. He deserves some loyalty, after all. “Jesse’s not a bad guy, Daphne, I don’t want you to think that. Just a flirt.”

“I don’t think he’s bad,” she says, nodding with a smile. “I just think he’s maybe a little bit… dangerous. A little too easy to fall in love with, that one you’ve got to watch your step around him before you find yourself swept off your feet.”

“But not Rafe?” I ask, curious,

–

“Rafe’s impossible,” she says, grinning at me. “Nobody actually expects Rafe Sinclair to look their way. You cousin the duke,” she shakes her head, “a little too possible.”

I huff a sigh through my nose as I look down at my wine, not precisely disliking learning about this side of my brother and my cousin that I hadn’t thought of before, but certainly unnerved by it. Daphne, perceptive, moves on.

“So, enough about me,” she says, leaning forward and smacking me on my knee. “Tell me everything. Ari – how the hell did you get in here!?”

The time passes fast, then, as I fill her in on my journey. Daphne’s a good listener – rapt, asking questions when necessary, but always letting me take the lead. But as the story continues, I see her perk up a little, her intuition tingling, when Luca’s name starts to be repeated more and more as I go

on. By the time I get to the part where Luca and Ben are coming over to our room every night for dinner, there’s a full–on smirk on her lips.

“What!” I say suddenly, interrupting my own sentence to lean forward and give her another little kick.

“Nothing!” she says, bursting into a laugh and grabbing the bottle to refill my glass of wine, just a little bit. “Just…you light up a bit, when you talk about Luca Grant.”

“I do not,” I protest, but my cheeks redden..

“You don’t blush like that when you talk about Ben,” she teases, her voice sing–song as she leans back against the pillows.

I sigh, leaning my head back, wondering how much to tell her. Daphne she’s very easy to talk to and I’m dying to have a girl to talk to about all of this mate stuff. But still I can’t talk to her about it before I talk to Luca about it. That feels…unfair. So, I compromise.

–

Chapter os

“Fine,” I sigh. “I like him.”

“Ariel!” she shrieks, giggling, “that is so cute!”

“It’s not cute” 1 protest, sitting up and laughing too. “It’s terrible

“Oh no it’s not,” she murmurs, cozying up against her pillows and holding her wine glass with both hands. “It’s adorable you two are totally going to end

up together.”

My blush deepens and I put a hand on my hot cheek. “It’s so dangerous though.”

“Yeah,” she says, agreeing. “You’ve got to be careful. But…you should also totally make out with him.”

I burst into laughter, shaking my head. “You sound like my wolf,” I murmur.

“Wolves are very wise,” she says sagely. “You should listen to her. And then come back here. And tell me everything.”

“You just want gossip,” I grumble, but I can’t keep the grin off my lips.

“Ariel,” she sighs, “beyond an enduring friendship that we can trust and build? Yes. Gossip is precisely the thing I am starved for most.”

I burst out laughing.

“And!” she continues, laughing with me, “Considering that you’re a hidden princess at an all–boys Alpha Academy? And you’ve somehow gathered around you like the hottest collection of celebrity boys I have ever seen? You are precisely in the best position to provide it.”

I grin, shaking my head, because I had not considered it in that light not at all.

Chapter 69

“Fine.” I say, yawning into my wine. “Just for you, Daphne. I’ll bite the bullet and make out with Luca Grant someday and tell you all about it.”

She laughs with me, but…well, my wolf turns in an eager circle in my soul, desperately hoping that I do.

“Thank you, what a martyr you

what a martyr you are,” she says, sarcastic, but then she sighs and glances at the clock. “I think it’s time to get you back, though.”

My jaw drops open as I look up at her clock too. “That’s impossible,” I murmur, shaking my head.

“Deeply unfair,” she agrees, putting her wine down and reaching for mine, which I hand to her. “Will you help me make some deliveries on the way up?” she asks, gesturing towards some boxes by the door. I murmur that of course I will – I’m a gentleman cadet, after all and she laughs as we both fill our arms with boxes.

Daphne leads me through the back corridors of the castle and, true to her word, we don’t meet a single soul. I’m fascinated by the passages, which are so different from the ones I traverse every day – much darker, smaller, and more secret. We take a freight elevator upwards and I’m a little surprised when the door opens directly into the corridor where the majority of the cadet dorms are. Ben, I think, is somewhere on this floor.

“Oh,” I say, surprised as we step out of the elevator and the doors close, blending seamlessly with the stone wall. I run my fingers over the place where the door just was, fascinated. “God, you’d never know it was there…”

“I know,” she says. “Cool, right? Come on,” she nods towards the boys‘ doors and we quietly walk along, dropping boxes outside of doors and giving a little knock before we move away. to the next one. Calls of thanks follow us down the hall but Daphne moves quickly so that there’s no time to respond.

When our boxes run low towards the center of the corridor, though, Daphne curses lightly under her breath, looking down at the one in her hands.

“What?” I ask.

“I brought the wrong one,” she sighs, looking up at me and then back towards the elevator. “Do you mind? We have to go back and get it

“That’s okay.” I say, smiling at her. “You go on – I’ll drop off these two,” I say, nodding to the ones in my hand, “and then continue upstairs.”

Daphne bites her lip, looking over at me, clearly remembering her promise to Rafe.

“I’m two flights of stairs away from my room, Daph,” I say, grinning at her. “I think I can take the risk.”

She laughs a little and nods. “Okay. But if his Highness asks, I walked you all the way to the door, yes?”

“No worries,” I say, and then I reach out to give her a quick hug before she scurries back towards the elevator.

I sigh with pleasure, thinking over the night with a great deal of joy as I drop the last two packages off, giving little knocks on the door as I go. God, it was just so great to be able to talk freely to someone. I mean, I can talk to Jesse and Rafe, but not the way you would a girlfriend –

“Hey!”

I spin in the hall towards the voice behind me, suddenly wary.

My eyes widen when I see Alan Wright standing over the package that I just dropped at his door, glaring daggers at me.

“What the hell are you doing with my uniform!?” he snaps, stomping towards me.

“Nothing,” I protest, stumbling a few steps back. “I just dropped it off-”

“Why the hell are you dropping it off!?”

“I’m just helping! I –”

Wright grabs my collar in his fist, yanking me closer to him. I gasp in surprise and then grab his wrists, baring my teeth and kicking at his shin and his knee. “Let me fucking go!”

He just shakes me, dodging my kicks and hauling me forward so I don’t have the room to get any good blows in.

you alone,

“You god damn rat,” he growls, glaring down into my face. “I’m glad I finally got you so I can rip you to shreds =”

“What the hell!” I shout, choking a little and scrabbling at his wrist, scratching and smacking at it, trying to hurt him enough so he’ll let me go.

“You!” he seethes, shaking me again, so hard this time that I my head snaps back on my neck. “You’re the reason my brother didn’t get in to the Academy!”

My mind half processes his words, though I’m truly concentrating on getting the fuck away from him

“I know all about that stunt you pulled in the obstacle course! You and god damn McClintock what did you do, pay him to help you!?”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“You DID!” Alan shouts.

Doors start to open down the hallway, faces popping out as Wright shoves me away from him and raises his fist like he’s going to beat me to a pulp. “You cheated, and you weaseled your way into this Academy, and you took my brother’s spot and ruined his life –”

I flinch back as Wright moves towards me, because this man – he’s strong, as big as Jesse at least, and powerful

“I’m going to kill you!” he shouts, drawing his arm back now as I turn to run. “You god damn –”

–

“Hey!” a voice snaps, and I instantly turn back towards it instinctual, primal – even though everything else in my mind is telling me to run. I turn just in time to see Lucal grabbing Wright by the arm, hauling him back as Wright begins to throw the punch that would have connected with the side of my head, probably sending me sprawling.

“Get the fuck off of me!” Wright shouts.

“Back off!” Luca commands, spinning Wright and shoving him, hard, so that he stumbles back against the wall. A crowd gathers now, watching.

“They roped you in too,” Wright growls, his teeth lengthening into his fangs at the threat of a real fight, “these god damn royals getting whatever they want, bringing their pet weakling in, stealing spots from people who actually deserve them –”

“Clark,” Luca snaps, advancing on Wright now, “carned his spot here, just like everyone else.”

Beyond my fear, my heart swells to see Luca defend me like this.

“He” Wright starts to snarl, but Luca interrupts.

“Enough!” Luca shouts, shoving Wright back against the wall again when he starts to stand up. Luca pins him there, a single hand flat against his chest. “One more word against Clark,” my mate growls, “and I’ll knock your god damn teeth out.”

Wright seethes, glaring at Luca, his fangs still extended. But he doesn’t move.

“That’s right,” Luca says. He moves his hand, standing up and staring around the hall at the gathered crowd. “And if anyone else has anything to –”

But before he can finish, Wright surges from the wall, releasing a guttural shout as he lunges for me, fangs bared. I gasp, stepping back, raising my arms to defend

Wright is snatched back though, and I can barely see Luca grabbing his uniform from behind, tearing it as he hauls Wright back towards him. And then, when Wright stands stumbling before him instead of lunging for me, Luca raises his fist and winds back his arm

And then Luca delivers one hell of a punch right across Wright’s face, ripping across his cheekbone, making his head snap to the side.

My face goes slack as Wright falls instantly to the ground, out cold.

Luca looms above him, his shoulders hunched, his breath coming fast – a champion boxer delivering a knock–out punch and waiting, almost begging Wright to get up so he can deliver the next blow.

Holy hell, my wolf whispers inside of me. And for once, I have…no urge to shoo her away.

When Wright doesn’t move for several silent seconds, Luca lifts his head, glaring around at everyone in the hall.

“Does anyone have anything else they want to say?” he shouts, his fists still clenched as he slowly turns and meets everyone’s eyes.

No one says a word.

“Good,” he snaps, and then he turns, taking two quick steps towards me and grabbing me by the arm. “Come on,” he growls.

And then he drags me forward, into his room.

Chapter 70

“Luca!” I gasp, still shocked as he slams the door shut behind him and locks it. But he doesn’t say a word as he turns towards me, still livid, his jaw clenched. My eyes go wide because – is he mad at me? Is he going to –

But he just closes the distance between us in one step, his hand flying up and knocking the cap from my head in one swift move. I gasp again, my hands flying up to my hair –

“I fucking knew it,” Luca growls, his eyes roving over my face, my hair his nostrils flaring as he takes in my scent my real scent, which my hat has been hiding for weeks-

–

I barely have a moment to see his face soften, just incrementally, before he grabs me around the waist, and pulls me to him, and seals his mouth to mine.

Instantly, I melt, going almost limp against him as Luca kisses me, as I taste him for the first time in real life, in my real body. And it is so, so much better. I moan into his mouth as my arms wrap instinctually around his neck, pulling him closer as his lips move deliberately, desperately over mine. My mouth opens to him and he takes full advantage, deepening the kiss as his arms tighten around me, pulling me tight against his chest.

–

I lose myself to it – to him completely, my mind going numb as my wolf howls with joy and pleasure. My body takes over as I kiss him back fiercely, shivers running all through my body, my skin tingling where every inch of it is pressed to his –

To my mate-

And god, the way he kisses me, the way his soft lips move firm against mine, the way my head bends back on my neck

God, I could fucking drown in it.

But to my shock, he pulls away. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs, pulling back just an inch and looking down at me with half–lidded eyes, his hands sliding up my body to my neck, to my hair. “I’m so sorry, Ariel –”

1

gasp,

shivers running through me again as I hear him say my name-

My real name

My eyes instantly fill with tears. “What?” I breathe, not understanding. “Why –”

“I’m sorry,” he says again, the fingers of one of his hands burying themselves in the hair at the nape of my neck, his other hand making its way to where I’ve tucked the end of my braid in, making quick work of undoing it. “I’ve been suck a jerk this week I regret it so much, Ariel –”

I laugh, suddenly, shocked.

–

“I have!” Luca says, nodding quickly as his fingers start to comb through my hair, unraveling it so that it falls down below my shoulders, rose–gold and wavy from its wrapped up in my braid. “I figured it out but I’ve been so fucking mad at you –

–

time

The laughter falls from my lips, quickly replaced by a guilty groan. “Luca, no,” I murmur, pressing myself close to him again so that my body is flush against his, so that I look up into his face. He wraps a hand in my hair and grasps it in his fist, like a handful of gold he desperately wants and needs. “I’m so sorry it wasn’t right, to keep it a secret –

–

“No,” he says, his eyes going wide. “Ariel, I get it you had to keep it secret, even from me

–

“I did,” I say, tears starting to slip down my face as I nod. “And I hated it

been torture-”

–

I’m so sorry, it’s

He groans now, clearly horrified to see me so sad, and he wraps an arm tight around me as he turns towards his bed, sinking down onto it and pulling me with him. I inhale sharply –

Because suddenly, I’m in Luca Grant’s bed –

But my mate simply lays me out next to him so that we’re face–to–face, our heads both resting on his pillow.

“Don’t cry,” he murmurs, stroking my face softly with his thumb as he wraps one leg around mine, possessive and greedy and sweet. “I don’t know what I’m going to do if you start crying I’m going to have to go punch someone else –”

–

I burst into laughter at this, shaking my head and lifting my hand to wipe away the few

spare tears that worked their

I’ve been dying to talk to you “ay out. “I’m not crying – not really it’s just…this is a lot

about this for weeks –”

–

cheeks as his

“I know,” he murmurs, pressing a series of sweet kisses to my mouth and my hand moves from my face to my hair, stroking it. “God damn it, Ariel, I could have killed that fucking Wright guy when I saw him threatening you –

“How long have you known!?”

“What the hell were you doing walking the halls by yourself!?”

“Why wouldn’t you talk to me all week!?”

But then we’re kissing again, and we both lose ourselves to it, all of our questions forgotten for the moment as my fingers stroke through his hair, as the warm summer apricot scent of him floods my nostrils and makes me go limp with wanting him. Luca rolls a little so that his weight rests slightly on

top of me, taking charge of the kiss. And god does that feel good – I didn’t even know I’d like something like that

Too soon, he pulls away.

“No,” I murmur, raising my mouth to his again.

“Please,” Luca says with a soft laugh, shaking his head at me, his rich brown eyes happy. “Ariel, if you say one word to stop me, I will kiss you all god damn night. But we we have

to talk.”

I sigh, loosening my hands from his hair and dropping one to cover my eyes as he rolls his body away so that we’re facing each other on the pillow again. I take a few seconds, trying to compose myself, trying to force my mind to come back.

But it is….very difficult. Inwardly my wolf lays languidly on the ground, panting, desperately happy but also still wanting more more of him, more of this, hours of it.

–

Luca wraps a hand around my wrist and gives it a tug, pulling my hand away from my face. And then he slides his palm against mine as I take a deep breath, taking in the handsome lines of his face, closer than I’ve ever seen it before. And up close he is…breathtaking.

“I’m sorry,” he says again, shaking his head just slightly.

“You don’t have to –”

“No,” he interrupts, firm. “Let me get this out, Ariel.”

I smile, again, to hear him say my name. Seeing my expression, Luca smiles too, unable to stop. But then he forces his face into more serious lines.

“I was an asshole this week,” he says, squeezing my hand. “I was mad at you, but I acted like a petty little baby. I should have gone right to you, the moment I figured it out

“When was that?” I ask, desperate to know.

“Oh, like immediately,” he says, laughing and shaking his head at himself. “The moment you ended that dream? After your hat fell off, and your hair fell down?”

He groans as he laughs, rolling over onto his back and covering his face with his hand, shaking his head at himself. I close the distance he created, resting my

cheek on his shoulder.

“God, I was so stupid before,” he mutters. “Seriously, the thing that made it click for me was just that you had long hair under that cap? After all of the other clues?”

I grin, a little pleased. “Go easy on yourself, we are very good liars.”

“I mean, you’re not,” he says, turning to glare at me. “Seriously, you couldn’t figure out a better disguise name for Ariel than Ari? When the Princess is notoriously missing and you hang out with Rafe and Jesse all day, pretending to be their cousin? I’m just an idiot.”

My smile deepens as I unconsciously raise a hand, stroking a finger along the length of his jaw. “Pretty idiot.”

A smile takes over his face and his dimples flare as his eyes move slowly over me. “If I’m pretty, you’re beautiful, Ariel.”

“Really?” I say, a little anxiety twisting in me now. “You’re not…disappointed? That I’m not… Shrimp?”

“No!” Luca says instantly, laughing and wrapping his arms around me again. “Though, honestly, you’re going to have to pay a little bit for making me question my sexuality like

that

“It was very sweet,” I murmur, grinning and stroking my hand over his cheek, where a little stubble is starting to let itself be known, “that you were willing to go gay for me.”

He sighs, shaking his head and pressing his eyes shut. “Most…confusing few weeks of my life.”

“Worth it, though?”

“Ariel, you’re my fucking mate,” he says, his eyes opening in a flash. He stares at me, almost in disbelief. “So, so worth it. Every god damn minute.”

Luca wraps an arm around my waist again and pulls me close. My hands wrap in the fabric of his uniform as he kisses me again, slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring every moment of it. Just as I am.

My lips part as I tug on his shirt, wanting to feel him on top of me again, and Lucal graciously obliges, when

We both go very, very still when a knock sounds at the door.