Ch. 666..670: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 666-670

Chapter 0666

 

I call the little drone back to me with the handheld base, grinning as it lands in my hand like a bird and reattaching it to my belt. "Thank you!" I murmur to it. "I'm asking for one of you for my birthday."

It really was incredibly useful to be able to send the little drone out ahead of me to scope - it's small and quiet enough to go mostly unnoticed and it allowed me to see a whole pack of what I assume were Wright's soldiers running straight for my base, probably intent on overwhelming Blythe and I from the start.

But, since I knew their path and where they were heading, I just headed slightly west and stayed out of their way, keeping an eye on them with the little drone and continuing my trek north while they headed towards my empty camp.

I take a deep breath and start up the slight hill towards Jackson's camp, doing nothing to hide the sounds of my approach or otherwise disguise myself. Instead, I pull a little white napkin out of my pocket - one I stole from our breakfast tray this morning - and start waving it over my head.

I see the flurry of activity that breaks out in Jackson's camp as soon as I'm spotted and can't keep the little smirk from my mouth as I approach. “Halt!” comes a voice from above, and I turn my gaze on a couple of Cadets peering over the edge of a hill at me. “Stay there!"

"I'm not going to shoot!" I call out, still waving the little flag. It's a lie, but...well. If they fall for it, that's their problem.

"Just stay there!"

I do as I'm told, dropping my arm and waiting, grateful that they didn't shoot me on sight.

But if I know my mate, they're under distinct orders not to.

Jackson appears a moment later, his huge form cresting the hill and standing on top of it, glaring down at me like he's already worried that what I'm going to say and do next is going to ruin all of his plans.

Which it is.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he calls.

"I come bearing gifts!" I say, holding out the gigantic assault rifle.

Jackson's eyebrows go up, liking that one. "Where's Blythe?"

“He died,” I say, heaving a big dramatic sigh and twisting my lips like I'm sorry about it.

Jackson sighs again but orders his troops not to shoot and waves me forward.

I grin, setting forward at a jog and heading directly into the camp.

Unable to hide their curiosity, the soldiers in Jackson's camp peer at me from their assigned locations. Jesse gasps, immediately striding forward, and I hear Tony give a whoop as he likewise rushes over.

"Hey!" Tony says, dashing in and wrapping me in a hug just as Jacks opens his mouth - probably to scold me.

"Hi, I brought you a present!" I say, hugging him and then detaching the little drone from my belt and pressing it into his hands. "It's super cool, it —" "Ari," Jesse growls, "You can't just —“

"And this is for you!" I push the assault rifle at my cousin, making his mouth form into a little stunned "o" of delight as he takes it and begins his inspection.

"You can't just abandon your team and join ours, Clark," Jackson says, his voice dark. "You can't just give us your supplies."

"Well, then say you captured them or something, say, giving a shrug and starting to unsling my paintball rifle and drop the guns from my hips and thighs Jesse's eyes go wide when he sees just how much firepower I'm currently carrying.

5

"Ari," Jackson sighs, dragging a hand down his face, "you can't just break all the rules because you're -"

"Yes, Jacks,” I say, deliberately interrupting him and looking him hard in the eyes. "I can."

Everyone goes a bit still as I palm my last handgun - the same one I used to kill Blythe - and raise it to point at Jackson's chest next.

"What do you say?" I ask, starting to

grin, a bit wicked. Jackson's face goes slack as Tony's bursts into a smile. Jesse just looks between us, shocked and confused. "Want to blow off this stupid game with me? Go get some sun?"

Tony bursts into laughter as Jackson stares at me for a long moment.

Then my mate's face breaks into a wide smile. “Passing command to you, Sinclair,” Jackson murmurs, keeping his eyes on me and taking his earpiece off, holding it out to Jesse.

"W-what!?" Jesse gasps, staring at him, still not getting it.

But the sound of my gun breaks the stillness of the fort. Jackson doesn't even take a step back, just looks down at the pink splotch on his front before tooking up at me, proud and pleased and a little bit vicious. "Come on, kid," he murmurs, holding out a hand to me. "Let's bail.

 

Chapter 0667

 

"Wait, I can't go yet!" I gasp, laughing, delighted that this is working out as I planned. “I'm still alive!" I turn to Jesse, buzzing with happiness and energy. "Want to take me out, cousin?"

"You're insane," Jesse murmurs, but he sighs and reaches down to take one of my pistols off the ground. "But yes, cousin, nothing would give me more pleasure."

I gasp dramatically as Jesse raises the gun and gives me a steady shot in the shoulder. I gasp, stumbling back, pretending to be grievously wounded. But then I'm laughing, dashing forward and taking Jackson's hand as he snarls and pulls me to his side.

"This really is crazy," he murmurs, beaming down at me as Jesse turns towards his shocked troops and starts to shout out orders. "There's going to be hell to pay for this."

"I said I wasn't going into battle without you," I reply, stepping close and smiling up at him. I shrug. "They should have listened."

“Oh, get out of here, you ghosts," Tony says, laughing and giving me a little shove. "The rest of us have work to do."

"Don't lose!" Jackson calls, tugging me with him as he turns away towards the check-point at the back of the base. "Follow the plan - it's a good one -you should -"

"Go on, McClintock!" Jesse shouts. I turn for a second to see him grinning at us, waving as we go. "I'm in charge now!"

"They're doomed," Jackson murmurs as I turn back to him and we head through the woods.

"Oh, who cares," I sigh, pressing myself closer to his side than I probably should. "Let's go hang out."

About thirty minutes later we're back at the school after a fairly awkward helicopter ride with Blythe and two more Cadets I don't know. Blythe just gaped at me as Jackson and I climbed into the helicopter, clearly not understanding what the hell my motives were in taking him out only to die so soon.

But I just glared at him right back and don't say a word, remembering what he said about Juniper. Mind to mind, I passed Jackson the information about what Blythe said. Jackson went rigid and then turned a ferocious snarl Blythe's way, ready to rip him to pieces.

It gave me a great deal of pleasure to see each and every drop of blood drain out of Blythe's face.

But that pleasure quickly drains from me as we disembark the helicopter and Jackson and I go our own way, because I still have a great deal more to do today.

Well, tonight. Today I imagine the

people I want to have important

conversations with will be bus

the Games. But still, there's a great deal to prepare for tonight.

Jackson walks quietly at my side during our traverse through the castle and back to our room. But when we get inside, he quietly takes my hand and turns me to him.

"Why didn't you tell me, Ari?" he asks, frowning down into my face. "I could have helped you with this."

"It was mine to do, Jacks," I say, raising my chin and squeezing his hand. "I kind of needed this to not be a Team Sinclair sort of thing. I needed it to be mine."

He raises an eyebrow at me. "But aren't we a team? You and me?"

I step close to him, looking quietly up into his face. "We are," I say, meaning it with my whole heart. "But when you and I are a team, Jacks... think sometimes people just see you, and don't notice lil ole me

standing there at your side.

He growls a little at the idea. "Only fools would make that mistake," he says, raising a hand to my cheek.

"Yeah, well," I say with a sigh. "World is full of a lot of fools."

"And you've thought about the consequences of this?" he asks quietly. "The Captain is going to flip At best you're going to lose your status as his little pet sniper, his favorite student. At worse, you'll get

kicked out of school."

I take another step closer, wrapping my arms around his waist, resting my chin on his chest as I look up at him. "I won't get kicked out of school."

"How do you know that?" he murmurs, knocking my cap off and stroking a hand over my braided hair.

 

Chapter 0668

"Nepotism," I say with a grin.

He laughs, short, and shakes his head. "You're very confident, Sinclair."

"It's what I tried to say last night, Jacks," I whisper, my face falling into more serious lines. "We're not just...students playing games anymore, not really. We're prepping for actual war - and considering what we can do when we're together, they shouldn't be training us separately. It's a waste of time. And if they won't listen to me when I say that - I'll make them listen."

"Bold little fire sprite," Jackson murmurs, gazing down at me, his support clear in his expression as well as down our bond. "I hope you're right." "You're in trouble too, you know," I say, grinning up at him. "You didn't have to leave. You could have shot me first - I'd have let you."

"And turn down the opportunity to hang out with you all afternoon?" he says, raising an eyebrow at me. "As well as make a very bold statement to the authorities that my allegiances are to the Princess and her alone?"

I grin at Jackson and he shakes his head.

"No way, tiny," he murmurs, bending slightly to press a kiss to my forehead. "I wasn't missing this."

I laugh and reach my arms up, emitting a little squeak of demand, and Jackson laughs, immediately picking me up and turning me in a circle as I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face against his shoulder and hugging him quite tight. And even as he holds me close and I let warmth and happiness flood me, I know that it's short-lived.

Jackson is right - that I've got a storm of trouble coming my way quite soon. Still, until it does? I'm going to enjoy every bit of rest and relaxation that I've got.

"Come on," Jackson says with a little sigh, carrying me to the couch and then putting me down on my feet when we get there. "Are you hungry? You should eat – and then we have work to do. We've got to plan out what you're going to say to the Captain, because he's going to walk in here in a complete rage and -"

"Oh, I've already done all that," I say with a little yawn, stretching my arms over my head.

He goes a bit still, frowning at me. "When did you do that?"

“Last night,” I say, waving a hand at him, dismissing the point. Honestly, I've got all of that planned. “I think I have other priorities this afternoon.”

Jackson just stares at me like I'm

insane again but I just smile and

fold my hands behind el.

turning sharply on my heel and

heading for the bathroom.

"Okay," Jackson sighs, sitting down on the couch. "I'll be out here when you're ready."

I don't say anything. Instead I just quietly go into the bathroom and step to the side, leaving the door open. I turn on the shower to a nice steamy setting and unbraid my hair. Then strip off all of my clothes, starting with my boots and leaving everything in a piled heap in the corner.

Taking a deep, happy breath in anticipation of the way the water is going to feel against my skin, I step beneath the rainfall shower head and tilt my head back, instantly drenched and loving the feel of it on my face.

As I do that, I send a little pulse of want down the bond to Jacks. Just a tiny thing. A nudge. An invitation.

A few moments later, I hear his footsteps at the door and I turn around.

I step forward a little so that the water only hits my back, taking a moment to wipe my face so that I can see him standing there, staring at me, a little shocked.

I take a moment then as my heart begins to pound and I bite my lip. "Well?" I say, the word soft as I give a little shrug. "Are you coming in?"

My mate growls, the sound resonant and possessive in his chest.

And then he steps into the room and starts to strip off his clothes in turn.

 

Chapter 0669

My heart absolutely pounds in my chest as my mate kicks off his boots and pulls his shirt over his head. When his hands move to his belt next, deftly unbuckling it and then unbuttoning his pants, beginning to shove them to the floor, my mouth goes dry.

And I forget to breathe.

Because, I mean, up until now I have felt very brave.

But quite suddenly I am on very, very new ground. And it's quite scary here.

Jackson feels my fear, probably hears the frantic thrum of my heart, and smirks at me as he straightens up, standing before me completely naked for the first time.

And if there was any breath left in my lungs it would all woosh out at once because he is...he is one hell of a specimen.

God damn it, but he's gorgeous. I let my eyes move slowly all the way over him, from his beautiful face all the way down to his feet. And god, hell, but I'm pleased by what I see.

"Breathe, Clark," Jackson murmurs, stepping close to me and wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling my slick body tight against his and running a hand over my wet hair as I stare up at him. "It's all right."

Obedient, I suck in a deep breath, staring to shake a little bit, which makes him grin.

"Where'd that brave girl go?" he whispers, smiling down at me. "The one who was ready to take on the whole school and give the Captain and the rest of the military a piece of her mind? What, she's scared of a naked guy?"

"No," I snarl, giving him a hearty smack on the chest that makes him laugh. "I'm just adjusting, okay!? You naked is...impactful, all right?" "There she is," he murmurs, taking a moment to stare down into my eyes.

But just a moment - because half a second later, Jackson lets out that wicked snarl I love and snatches me up into his arms, stepping into the shower so that the water pounds down around us, his mouth finding mine like it belongs there.

I moan into him, not bothering to muffle it, my legs going around his waist as Jackson lifts me up against him, one hand sliding slick over my back, the other lifting to wrap in my hair low behind my head. I gasp as he tightens the strands in his fist, tugging my head back just slightly, baring my neck to him.

It's the most delicious agony as he

moves his mouth from mine and licks his tongue down the length of my throat, pausing to press his teeth - just delicately - over that soft place he loves just between my neck and my shoulder. I shudder, hard, my hips shifting me tighter against him, but he lifts his head and kisses me again fervent and a little out of control.

Jackson and I lose ourselves to each other then in the water, his heartbeat soon coming to match my own for pace and urgency. He kisses me like to take his mouth from mine for even an instant is a sin and each move of his lips against mine, each press of his tongue, has me falling even deeper into a dizzy spell of want.

Because the effect he has on me - it hasn't changed, not since that first time he kissed me in the darkness on that cliff. Just like that first time, want him instantly, badly, on a very visceral level. I want him to set me down immediately on the cold tiles of this shower, and lay his body over mine, and sink himself so deeply inside of me that I forget my damn name.

Except this time, Jackson and I are closer. Our bond is established, and open, and so, so much deeper than it's ever been. So when my wolf howls to his, telling him how badly we wants this, his is already there, pressed against her side, baring his teeth, snarling in that fierce way she so loves.

Jackson groans, his shoulders trembling slightly, and pulls his mouth from mine, though I can tell it takes a great deal of will and effort to do it. He breathes deeply, staring into my eyes, searching them.

"Do you want this?"

His question is just a whisper.

net

I only hesitate for a second before I nod, fervent, water spilling down my face and his. My eyes drop to his mouth and I can't help raising a hand to it, running my thumb over his bottom lip, tracing the line of water there and thinking how badly I want to drink it - that anything, anything that touches him first is sacred.

"I do," I whisper, leaning forward to press my mouth to his again, but just for a moment before I groan and pull away, half an inch. "Do...do you?" Because it's always been him pulling back, wanting to wait. And as much as I am desperate for him right now in this moment, I don't want to force it. Not if he's not ready.

Jackson takes a moment and I raise my eyes to his beautiful sapphire gaze - so stunning that I get lost in it, almost missing his very small, very subtle nod.

 

Chapter 0670

 

But then I register that nod and my eyes go wide.

“Really?" I ask, the word hitching in my throat as anxiety hits me again. “Are you – are you sure Jacks? You wanted to wait –“

He gives a tiny shrug, his own throat working. “I didn't want to wait forever. I just wanted to wait until it felt...right. And it feels right, doesn't it?"

I stare at him again, truly considering the question, wanting to give it the full thought it deserves. But it doesn't take me long – because again, I've always been ready - would have gladly let him throw me down and take me in the dirt that first time he kissed me. Jackson - I've been desperately wanting him for a long, long time. And if he's finally here with me?

"It's right," I whisper, smiling softly into his face, running a hand through his hair, so soft and dark now that it's wet.

He smiles, closing his eyes and leaning into my hand for a moment, and then he kisses me again, more gently this time, deliberate and soft, every move of his lips reflecting the great well of emotion that I can feel building on his side of the bond. And I wind my arms around his neck, delighted and thrilled and...well, and terrified.

But that's normal, right? When you're about to lose your virginity?

To be scared and...a little freaked out that you don't know what to do?

Jackson laughs a little, breaking away from me, and shakes his head a bit. "Don't be scared, Ariel."

"Why not!?" I sputter, laughing shakily, honestly a little glad for the levity in so intense a moment. "I can be scared! It's new! I've never done this before!"

“Well if you're scared,” he murmurs, dipping his head and again pressing kisses to my neck, "we don't have to –“

"Jackson McClintock," I snarl, pulling back and pounding two little rabbit punches against his chest. "If you say you're finally going to have sex with me and then you take it back I swear to god I'm going to tear you to pieces -"

He bursts out laughing, shaking his head, his whole body shaking with joy and mirth. "I'm not taking it back," he says, grinning wide. "I just - there's no rush, Ariel, I don't want you to be frightened. If it's scary, we can wait -"

"No," I snap, a little fierce growl building in me. "I - I don't want to wait - I just..." I hesitate, biting my lip.

Jackson nudges my nose with his, quite gentle. "What? Tell me."

"I don't know..." I shake my head, a little frantic. "I don't know...how to do it..."

He laughs a little, though none of it's mocking, and starts to bend, clearly intending to put me down. I squeak in protest, very happy to be up in his arms my favorite spot - but he growls, authoritative, demanding that obey. So I put my feet down and consent to be placed on the floor, where I reach out for him, my hands landing on either side of his waist.

"You don't need to know what to do, Ariel," Jackson says, his voice hitting that low register I very much like.

"Yes, I do!" I protest, my breath coming fast again as I start to freak out. "I - I mean - I have to participate, don't I?! I've never done this before and -"

"Ariel," he growls, his voice low with command. My eyes go wide, because Jackson has never used that particular tone with me, and I look up into his eyes.

"Listen, tiny," he murmurs, slipping

his hand lower to catch my chin between his fingers and tilt my face up to his. "You handle throwing the Games into disarray, confronting the Captain, potentially getting us kicked out of the school, any magical wildfires that come along, and with albprobability the future of this war. But," he turns his head slightly, a smile turning the corners of his lips. "When it comes to fucking you? I'll be in charge."

My eyes go wide as I just...gape at my mate, discovering that I like him bossy.

That I like it very, very much.

“Now,” he murmurs, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me tight against him. “Am I your Alpha or not?"

I bite my lip, grinning a little, trusting him utterly. "Yes," I whisper.

“Good,” he says, dipping his head lower. “Then trust me, mate. And do as I say."

I breathe out all in a rush, ready to

.n

cede him complete control and pulling myself closer. But my eyes suddenly go wide as I suddenly become aware of...him. Between us, pressed hard and thick against my stomach. S

Jackson pauses, frowning at me, going still when he feels my surprise and dismay.

"Jacks," I whisper, staring up at him wide-eyed.

"What?" he asks, going still a bit.

But I shake my head at him, completely freaked out. “Jacks, this isn't going to work."

"Ariel,” he whispers, frowning down at me. "What are you talking about?"