Ch. 706..710: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 706-710

Chapter 0706

"Troops!" Rafe barks out, clearly seeing what I'm seeing - what we all are. "Ready!"

"I -" I stutter, anxiety and adrenaline starting to race through me as my eyes focus properly on the two huge helicopters heading directly for us. “I thought we weren't supposed to see action -"

“We weren't,” Jackson snarls, falling into a fighting stance that's clearly muscle memory in the face of a threat, like he's ready to pounce into the air and take the helicopters down himself. "It doesn't make sense to attack this part of the line..."

"Either way," Luca says, soft and confident, "they're coming."

"Hold!" Rafe shouts, his voice still echoing powerful and strong as he moves to stand just before me, falling back into line so he's not an obvious target. "Hold!"

He holds an arm out like he could physically hold the troops back. My breath starts to pant as I look frantically around at all the warrior-track Cadets, who all look so much calmer than me.

But of course they are - they've been preparing for this -

"And...." Rafe says, bending forward a little, staring at the helicopters that swiftly approach, growing larger and larger as the milliseconds pass. "What's he waiting for," I whisper, my eyes darting between my two mates.

"For them to be close enough to hit," Jackson replies, his words a fierce snarl that I know is not for me.

"NOW!" Rafe screams, dropping his hand, and the guns on either side of me explode.

I shout at the noise, jumping into the air and covering my ears. Jackson and Luca each reach out a calming hand towards me, Jackson's landing on my shoulder while Luca's goes to the small of my back. But I look at neither of them, my eyes instead on the bullets filling the air.

Two kinds, I realize - huge one-shot shells that fly directly for the helicopters and then a constant spray of smaller bullets -

I stop breathing as I watch the shells arch high - but they miss -

They all fucking miss -

"Reload!" Rafe shouts.

The smaller bullets begin to hit the helicopters in tiny sparks but the helicopters keep coming - protected either by excellent design or some kind of forcefield -

The Cadets scramble to reload the larger guns and another is fired, the shell soaring past the helicopter closest to us - but it's too late. We can all see it - it's too late - the helicopters are too close to

And they, too, begin to open fire.

us now

I gasp in fear as bullets begin to spray, hitting the ground in front of all of us. There are shouts of fear - perhaps even pain

As my fellow Cadets - my schoolmates - begin to be hit -

A vision of Tony, bloody and senseless in my lap, flashes before my eyes.

"No," I snart, stepping forward,

grabbing Luca and Jackson's hands

where they are on my body, determined. "JESSE!" I scream, my eyes on the helicopters that come ever nearer. "HERE! NOW!"

But I don't wait for him - there's no time.

Instead I just focus on the first helicopter in front of me, my lips pulled back in a horrible snarl, my canines extended.

I pull hard on Jackson's gift, making him gasp.

And I smile as the first helicopter flying towards us bursts into a ball of flames.

The Cadets in our line jump, confused, and Rafe spins to me in shock. But then Jesse's here, reaching for me, and when his fingers brush the back of my neck I feel his power join mine.

The flames in the sky instantly turn

black as the Atalaxian helicopter crashes to the ground in a help of twisted steel and ash. But I use Luca's wind to pull that black fire upward in a huge whirlwind, a swirling orb of fire in the air And I let it hang there, waiting.

Until the second helicopter, unsuspecting, flies directly into it.

The explosion is deafening, and I squeeze my mates' hands as I grit my teeth.

But there is nothing but a cool, vicious sense of victory in my heart as that helicopter, too, hits the ground.

"Holy shit," Rafe whispers as the guns around us go silent.

Chapter 0707

"Ari," Jesse whispers, equally awed, starting to take his fingers away.

“No,” I growl, leaning back, wanting to maintain contact. “Look."

I lift my chin upwards to the sky, where through the rising smoke we can see more helicopters coming. Four of them.

Rafe glances at me and then touches the radio at his ear, relaying back to our father at the base the events of the attack. I keep my eyes on the approaching Atalaxian forces as a Cadet runs over to Rafe, glancing anxiously at me as he reports casualties amongst the Cadets and requests medics. Rafe orders him to call for aid and then turns to me as the Cadet runs away.

"How are you?" he barks out, his eyes sweeping over me, assessing.

"I'm fine," I snarl, keeping my eyes on the sky, a cold thrill running through me as I see that these helicopters are likewise heading right for us. Rafe grabs my chin, trying to force me to look at him, but I just pull it away, keeping my eyes on the sky.

He barks my name again and I glance at him once. "They're coming Rafe," I growl.

"Can you do that again, Ari?" he snaps, all business.

I nod. "That and more."

"And you three?" Rafe asks, clearly addressing Luca, Jackson, and Jesse now. "We're good?"

They all murmur in the affirmative.

"All right, then," Rafe murmurs, stepping back in front of the group and turning towards our classmates - all of whom are terribly confused about how the hell we knocked down two Atalaxian war choppers without landing a single shot from the guns. "Hold fire!" Rafe shouts out at the Cadets. "I want these guns quiet! We're going to play possum for a bit, lure them in."

The Cadets hesitate only for a moment before barking out the affirmative.

Rafe steps back close to me. "All right, trouble," he murmurs. "When they get close enough, you take them down."

"Oh, I don't think so," I murmur, staring unblinking into the skies.

And then, without my brother's permission, I send my fire out to meet the enemy.

I pull further on Jackson's gift,

letting the fire rage and feeling a

strong pulse of joy and pride coming from him to see me work. Jesse

sends more shadows for sen

likewise pulling on Jackson's power through me to fuel them.

When it's enough, I increase Luca's wind, splitting the dark inferno before us into two whirlwinds that I send out into the night, heading right for the enemy.

And as my magic plows forward into the darkness, hungry for the taste of metal, for something to burn, I'm shocked at how...

God, how easy it is.

The fire responds to me as if it's more than some creature at my beck and call - as if it's me. And I can feel feel the taste of the air

as the fire and the wind rushes through it, feel the hum of the

helicopter as my power races for them.

et

"Can you...can you see it?" Rafe murmurs, leaning forward, peering into the dark. "The magic, the fire?"

"No," Jackson murmurs, casually handing him the binoculars from his neck. "I can feel it, though. I know where it is through her." "Same,” Jesse murmurs. Luca nods, and Rafe glances at us like we're all insane.

My chest heaves a little as I keep the tornados out there turning, read for whatever is next - not because it's hard or because I'm tired, but because I want more.

I want to - I want to hurt them.

I'm well aware that I'm killing people - that these are not just anonymous drones being sent by Atalaxian forces, but instead manned by real people with homes and families. But somehow, right now, I just - I can't care.

 

Chapter 0708

 

My wolf instantly pounces on the small part of me that wonders if that makes me a monster, snarling her fury at the thought. And she is right-

The Atalaxians, they started this war twenty years ago, they began their attack just when my father took his throne because they knew we were already weak. And it's unlikely that they expected us to stand for more than twenty years, but they continue their pursuit because they want us.

They want Moon Valley's rich resources and our beautiful land, of course, but they also want our people. They want to bend us to their will and their ways, to enslave our women to their ridiculous concepts of femininity, to use everything that makes us a rich and vibrant nation to feed their empowered class, their royal family.

They have already taken so much from us. They've hurt my friend.

And now they're trying to take me.

Because I'm not a fool - I know who these helicopters are after. Gibson - he knew, somehow, what I could do. And these helicopters are attacking this part of the line because they know, again, somehow, precisely where I'm standing.

So let them come.

And I'll show them the consequences of trying to hurt me and the ones I love.

I will take them all down one by one if I have to burn myself out to do it.

"Give 'em hell," Jackson snarls, squeezing my hand, and my fires flare just as four more helicopters appear in the distance.

"Do you even need me to pretend to give you orders?" Rafe murmurs, glancing at me.

I glance back and don't say anything. I mean, I don't want him to feel useless but...we both know the answer to that.

"Dad," Rafe says, raising a hand to the headpiece on his ear. "I would suggest that you...watch this."

The helicopters fall as easily as the first six, my fires laying in darkness, waiting to spring up and take them down.

Four planes come after that and they're craftier, dodging the flames at first, perhaps having learned to use heat-seaking technology in order to see my magic.

But it doesn't matter - Luca's winds move faster than the planes can fly.

They, too, fall to the join the others in the charred and steaming graveyard that used to be an empty landscape before us.

We wait for more, but half an hour passes and Rafe orders me to pull the whirlwinds back.

I hesitate, glancing at him, not sure -

"You're burning Jackson's energy," Rafe murmurs, giving me a little glare that clearly lets me know that I'm pushing it that he's already let me step outside of the command a lot tonight.

"I'm good," Jackson murmurs.

"I said to pull back," Rafe snaps, glaring at him too. "You can start them again if we need them. Right

now, we're reserving our res

and not giving the Atalaxians

chance to figure out what the hell we've got going on."

Realizing that that's a good point, I sigh and drop Luca's wind, letting the flames fall to the ground. Then I cut Jackson's power and feel Jesse's shadows pulling away.

I let my head drop, closing my eyes and taking in a deep breath as I drop my mates' hands.

To my surprise, my cousin wraps

me in a hug from behind, pulling me back against his chest and pressing a discreet kiss to my cap. "That was amazing, trouble," he murmurs. "You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'm all right," I sigh, smiling a little and leaning my weight against him. "Your shadows were cool. Were they...were they sharks today?" He laughs a little. "Yeah, I was trying something new," he murmurs.

"You were thinking about Tony," I whisper, tears again pressing at my lashes. "With the water."

"Yeah," he sighs, tucking his mouth close to my ear so only I can hear him. "I was. Don't tell anyone though, okay? I don't want people figuring out that I have a heart."

“Oh, Jess," I sigh, standing up and turning my head to give him as big a smile I can - which isn't much. "Stop kidding yourself - we all already know."

 

Chapter 0709

Jackson lets out a sharp, impatient snarl, and Jesse laughs, giving me a little shove towards him. "All right, all right, I'm sorry, take him."

I stumble forward a step into Jackson's arms, where I'm wrapped up tight. "You're being very indiscreet, you know," I murmur, wrapping my arms as far as they'll go around his waist. "People are going to figure out that you're in love with the Shrimp."

"Who cares," he says, utterly dismissive. "They'll still be scared of me. And you now, too."

I lift my head to grin up at him and then push away, turning for Luca, who is waiting.

"That was really cool," he whispers, folding me into his arms in turn. "I mean, I know it was violent but...I could feel it, Ari." He shakes his head as he lowers it to mine. His wolf anxiously paces at the other end of our bond and mine crosses it to him, pressing herself warm to his side, pleased to be there and pleased that he's open to us in this moment.

"I think you have magic, Luc," I whisper. "I think...I think it's more than just us."

"I know," he sighs, shaking his head. "And just when I thought I couldn't get any cooler..."

I grin, looking up at him, very pleased to see him start to embrace this part of himself instead of being afraid of it. "We'll figure it out, you know." "I know," he whispers, nodding down at me.

"Okay, come on, it's still an active battle," Rafe says, snapping his fingers at me and Luca with a frown, one hand on his earpiece, clearly listening to some sort of report coming through. "Eyes on the horizon, kids."

"Don't call me kid, I'm older than you," Luca murmurs, smirking at Rafe.

"Then act it," Rafe bites back, giving Luca a little glare and turning away. But then Rafe turns back with a little frown. "Also, I'm still bigger than you so...fall in line, Grant."

I smirk and roll my eyes as I look up at Luca. "Alpha bullshit? On the battlefield?"

“Where else?” he asks, smirking back at me.

"Here, eat something," Jackson murmurs, stepping close and holding a granola bar out to me.

"What?" I ask, looking up at him.

He just growls deep in his chest.

I sigh, looking down at the wrapped food. "Jacks, I'm really not hungry -"

"You haven't eaten a damn thing all day, Ariel," he snarls, holding out the bar more insistently. "I'm going to watch you eat that. And then you're going to drink water. And then you can blow up more helicopters. But not before."

I wrinkle my nose and purse my lips as I look up at him, not liking being bossed like this. But he just raises an eyebrow and I take the granola bar, unwrapping it and taking a petulant bite.

"Thank you," he murmurs, looking away towards the horizon for both of us and stroking his broad, heavy palm over my head as he does.

I sigh, standing between my mates, and likewise turn towards the horizon as I eat my snack.

The three of us stand just like that, vigilant, for hours.

et

The Atalaxians don't send any more helicopters for our particular little set of troops, I guess figuring out that it's a surprisingly well-defended position and a dead end. As dawn approaches, the assaults on the Atalaxian entrenchment slow and then stop. A huge number of trucks, tanks, and other miliary vehicles begin to cross the plain before us - clearly visible in the growing light.

"What...what does this mean?" I ask quietly, watching them.

"It means we won," Jesse says softly at my side.

I look to him with wide eyes. "What?"

He nods to me, his face quite serious. "This was the second part of the plan - sending troops to occupy that land mass once the Atalaxians have retreated so they can't re-take it. This means we pushed them back."

I exhale in a long rush of air, turning back to the horizon. But with my relief comes exhaustion. "That's good," I whisper, nodding.

"Very good," my cousin returns.

I glance over at him. "This was big, wasn't it?" I ask, soft. "If we had lost this..."

Jesse glances at me from the

net

corner of his eye. "If we had lost this," he murmurs, "we'd have been swearing allegiance to a very different King today. And losing our titles, which doesn't work for me." He sighs, huffy, trying to make me Smile. "I don't do commoner.

It works and I huff a laugh, shaking my head at him.

"

But Rafe's barked order for us all to pack up and head back to the camp rings out around us and my cousin and I turn, walking with Jackson and Luca back to the waiting transport truck that will take us back.

Inside the truck I lean against Jackson's side, my head on his shoulder, and nearly fall asleep. I would have, too, if I wasn't bounced around every few seconds by another rock or pit passing beneath the wheels.

But when we arrive back at the camp, I'm glad I didn't, because I see my father standing there at the edge - clearly waiting for us.

And the sight of him fills me with hope, happiness, and a great sense of safety, as it always does.

 

Chapter 0710

Jackson has to pull me back into my seat when I try to jump up before the truck even stops. I scowl at him but he just smirks at me.

As soon as the truck pulls to a stop, though, he lets me go and I move swiftly for the back. Something in the back of my mind registers all of the other Cadets likewise sitting still as I pass them, and jump down from the back of the vehicle, and stride right for my father, who wraps me up in a tight hug.

I burst instantly into tears, tired and overwhelmed and finally feeling safe enough to do it. Dad tucks my head against his chest though and turns away with me, not letting my schoolmates see.

"All right, trouble," he murmurs, his voice low and sad to see me this way. "It's all right."

Footsteps approach and I sense my mates as well as my brother and cousin. When they're close, dad turns me gently away and we all walk to the large tent before us - the one set up for dad and Uncle Roger for rest as well as meetings.

As soon as we step inside dad scoops me up into his arms, one beneath my knee and the other behind my back. He walks me steadily to the back of the tent to a lonely little cot away from the action. He sits down there with me in his lap, holding me close to his chest. I glance over at the rest of the room where I see my boys mingling, talking with Roger and some other aids, Luca and Jackson glancing over at me every few moments.

But I sigh, exhausted, and close my eyes, resting my head against my dad.

He lets me sit in peace for a long moment, just holding me tight, and the quiet does wonders for my poor beaten soul.

I mean, being here in my dad's arms doesn't fix anything but I just...I mean, I love my dad. It's impossible to not feel better, warmer, safer when he's around.

"We're so proud of you, Ariel," dad murmurs, taking my cap off my head and setting it gently on the bed before pressing a kiss to my braided hair. "So terribly proud."

I nod, knowing he means it.

“I don't think you know how important it was, what you did,” he continues, his voice soft, his words just for me. “We weren't expecting them to attack that part of the line - it's why we put you there. Strategically, it was a bad choice for them - unless they had something planned which we didn't see. That must have been it."

"I think they were going for me," I say quietly. "I don't know how they'd know it, but I think they knew I was there."

"We're considering that,” dad replies, and I feel him nodding. “Which is...disturbing, in its own right. But either way, my dear, what you did was... incredible. Had they broken through the line there, we'd have had to completely re-route our forces, give up the attack. And considering that the Cadets weren't trained enough to hold the spot -“

"You need to teach them to shoot straight, dad," I say, lifting my head and giving him a dubious look. "Those helicopters were well within range, I can't believe they missed -"

Dad's face bursts into his handsome smile as he looks down at me. "Not everyone's a sharp-shooter like you."

"Well then they should be," I say, screwing up my face with doubt. "That was...embarrassing."

"Luckily they had you to make up for it," dad says, resting his forehead against mine. "You're not taking me seriously enough, Ariel. You were a huge part of this victory tonight. What you can do..." Content belongs

"I know," I say quietly, nodding and letting my eyes drift shut again. "We have to think about putting me in a more strategic place."

"Trust me, darling, we are,” dad says,

tightening his arms around me and allowing me to rest my head against his chest. "But tomorrow. We'll do that tomorrow. You rest now"

Swno

I take a deep breath, listening to the slow and steady sound of his heartbeat, willing myself to relax.

But I know I can't.

Not without knowing.

"Dad?" I whisper.

"Don't, trouble," he says, his voice heavy with grief. "Don't ask me now. Just rest."

But I shake my head. "I have to know. Is he..."

My dad sighs and puts a hand on my cheek and I open my eyes, looking up into his. But I know his answer before he gives it.

"I'm sorry, Ariel," my dad says, his face drawn. "We lost him a few hours ago. I'm sorry, darling, but he died."

My lip starts to tremble as I try so hard to be strong, as my eyes fill with tears.

"It's all right, sweetheart," dad

murmurs, gathering me close to him, tucking my face against

warmth. "Let it out. It'sOV

 

I obey my father, wrapping my hand in his shirt as I sob my heart out, missing my friend, devastated that I'll never hear him laugh again. That he died for me.

My father holds me tight for what feels like hours, rocking me like a child, while I'm swept away with grief.