Ch. 796..800: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 796-800

Chapter 0796

Pippa looks up at me with a great deal of sadness in her eyes, her hands falling from my dress as she finishes the last button. I turn towards her, concerned and sad for her sake.

"I'm really sorry," she whispers, shaking your head. "That you didn't get to meet that Gabriel. That you have this one instead. I think..." she bites her lip and shrugs. "I think you would have liked him."

I frown, desperate to know more and concerned. "What happened?" I ask, stepping close, intuiting that it's some sort of secret. "What...changed him?"

Pippa glances towards the door, anxious, clearly weighing the consequences. "Look, Ariel," she whispers, "no one knows this, so please don't tell, but if you're to be his Luna you should know, and...you're going to figure it out sooner or later."

I nod eagerly, my wolf standing up straight, her whole body still as she waits.

"Gabriel...about five years ago he pledged himself to the God of Darkness," Pippa whispers, looking into my eyes, her own shining. "In exchange for the power to protect this palace, and all the people in it, from the weapons and the magic of Moon Valley."

My mouth falls open a little, my eyes going wide. "What does that mean?"

"He mentioned it today," Pippa says, lifting a cupped hand and making a little side to side motion with it over her other hand, like she's forming a snowball. "It's like...a dome? A magical dome of protection? When Gabriel is here in the palace, none of your Goddess magic can work inside the dome. And none of your country's weapons - any country's weapons - can penetrate it. No matter how powerful. No one can get in and no one can get out without Gabriel opening the barrier for them."

I gape at her, shocked. But suddenly it makes so much sense - why the Atalaxians famously gather all of their nobles together in one place. Why Moon Valley has never just...exploded the entire thing. I mean, beyond the ethical concern of murdering thousands of innocent people - women and children included - it...would end the war.

Still, I shudder at the idea, knowing that my father would never do it. That even if I'm angry now, I wouldn't want him to.

"Wait, so," I say, frowning and turning my attention back to the woman who is supposed to become my sister-in-law in a week. "And that dedication to Darkness...it made Gabriel different? Changed his personality?"

Pippa glances again at the door, anxious. "It corrupted him," she whispers, leaning close to me. "He; told us once, early on he sobbed and cried and said that he could feel his wolf being enclosed in the darkness, that he was losing himself to it"

-

Horror fills me as I remember, suddenly, the glimpse of his wolf that my wolf saw. Of the horrible wolf in his soul, with glowing eyes, and panting breath, his legs sunk low in darkness like oil, like tar. I gape at Pippa, who nods to me.

"Did you see it?" she asks, her hand reaching out to clasp my arm. "Did you...did you see his wolf? I know that sometimes mates can..."

Slowly I nod. "Pippa," I breathe. "It was...horrible."

Tears fill her eyes - tears for a friend she's lost, one she can't help. A man who has...disappeared from

her life, replaced by a terrible stranger.

A knock comes at the door, making us both jump.

"Oh no," Pippa whispers, straightening up, wiping hastily at her cheeks. "Am I okay?"

I smile softly at this poor girl who doesn't want anyone to see her cry. "You're stunning," I murmur, reaching up and wiping a stray tear that she missed from beneath her eye. Pippa laughs a little and gives me a lovely smile before she turns for the door, dashing towards it.

I watch her go, scowling a little because...damn it. I really like her. As determined as I am to not like or

trust any of these Atalaxians... Pippa seems to somehow be immune.

She pulls open the door a little, peeking out, and then pulls it open all the way. "Oh, hello!" she says, half excited, half wary. I peer beyond her and instantly see the reason why.

 

Chapter 0797

Two brothers stand in the door, one a lovely man who I suspect is lying to his Luna. The other, terribly corrupted by the god of Darkness in exchange for the immense power to protect his people. Both of their gazes move immediately to me.

I set my shoulders back, putting on my Princess Cupcake persona a little more than I did when I was alone with Pippa, and call on my years of Princess lessons as I slowly dip into a deep, formal, old- fashioned curtsy.

"Well?" I ask, my head bowed low. "Elias, Gabriel? Will I do?"

"You're beautiful, Ariel," Elias says, crossing the room with his brother as I raise myself back up. Eliasi gives me a soft smile before he dips into a low, low bow - the kind I know from my lessons is only used in Atalaxia for members of the royal house.

"Yes," Gabriel says, studying me, his hands slipped deep in his pockets. "I suppose you will do, now that you're dressed correctly, and not as a man. Or a slut."

I go a little still at that accusation, only my lessons with Faiza stopping me from either laughing boldly in his face or slapping him hard across the cheek. Or both. Probably both.

"Pippa?" Gabriel calls, turning his head to look for her. "Isn't there a crown that goes with this? And jewels?"

"Yes!" She scurries away to fetch it.

"Our grandmother's crown," Gabriel says, turning his eyes back to me, narrowing them a bit. "A great Princess of Atalaxia. I hope that you will endeavor to live up to the honor bestowed on you by wearing it." "I will try," I say, quite soft and gentle, going to my knees before this Prince as Pippa comes back and reverently hands him the crown. I demurely lower my chin so that he can place the object on my head. It's heavy, and when I turn to look in the mirror I see that it's a gorgeous, elaborate crown, studded with diamonds and sapphires.

But even as I admire it, my heart sinks. Because I miss my simple rose-gold crown, the one that marks me as a Princess of Moon Valley. The one my mom picked out. The one that Jackson once told me he thought was pretty.

"And the necklace," Gabriel says next.

I raise myself up, my eyes going wide when I see the diamond choker in Pippa's hands not only because it's absolutely dripping in diamonds but because -

"Yes," Gabriel snaps as Pippa steps forward and lifts it to my throat. "The necklace will cover your shame until I can cover it with my own mark."

I do my best to contain my horror as Pippa works at the clasp, loosing a slow breath, my hand gripped tight on my wolf's fur as she snarls at the thought.

When Pippa steps away, Gabriel offers a hand. "Come, Luna," he says, his voice low and serious. "It's time for you to be presented to your King and court."

There is a loud murmur of conversation as we approach the ballroom, my hand held neatly high in Gabriel's as he escorts me, Elias and Pippa following close behind.

I glance over at Gabriel as we walk, my wolf anxiously walking back and forth in my soul, a low whine in

her throat. Because on a physical level...I mean. I get it. I understand what my grandmother the Goddess was thinking.

A great ball of self-hatred forms in

my stomach as I take in Gabriel's broad shoulders, his trim waist, the way he carries himself with utter

confidence. My wolf gives a

little huff as I consider that Jackson

is taller - but then again,

someone

being taller than Jackson-would be...absurd.

Still, I can't deny it, especially as I look up into Gabriel's regal, fine-featured face with those cheekbones so high and sharp they could cut glass, those shining blue eyes damn it, but he's hot. Less pretty than Luca, less

contained-ferocity than Jacks, but...gorgeous.

Gabriel flicks his eyes over to me, a smirk on his lips almost like he can tell what I'm thinking. I snap my head back to the front, clenching my jaw, because that's impossible at this point, right? I haven't accepted our bond, so there's no way that he could be beginning to sense my thoughts, my feelings.

Chapter 0798

But...my grandmother did order me to get all of my mate's marks so that my magic could fully develop... Still. The idea of carrying Gabriel's mark on my flesh? Maybe this one...I'll reject and see replaced.

She had a reason, my wolf murmurs, walking back and forth in my soul. She picked him for a reason... I know, I whisper back, running a hand over my wolf's soft fur, trying to calm her. We'll think on it later. Now we concentrate, yes?

My wolf sighs as two servants begin to open the doors before us, sitting down primly on her haunches and preparing to play her role as the sweetest, stupidest, weakest and prettiest wolf in history. She grumbles as she lays down, but I murmur to her that she's a good girl, and she gives my mental hand a little lick of support.

Golden light floods into the hall from the fabulous ballroom ahead and I take a deep breath, concentrating as we step into the room. The chatter fades, every single person turning towards us to stare.

I hold my chin high and walk proud but demure at Gabriel's side, well aware that this is precisely how he wants me to be. A spoil of war, his tamed princess, made utterly Atalaxian under his command. A role I'm quite capable of playing. For now.

We sweep to the center of the room, our footsteps echoing. Gabriel looks around, smug, but he doesn't say a word. He doesn't need to. When we get to the center of the room music begins - classical strings singing out from some hidden alcove. He turns to me, slipping one hand around my waist, and then begins to move into the steps of a slow, formal waltz.

I blink for a moment in surprise but then begin to move with him, my feet remembering the steps from years of dance classes in a thousand styles. I look up into his face and he smirks down at me. I let a little smile find my lips.

"A risk, my Prince," I murmur, my voice light and pleased like he's the cleverest person I've ever met. "What if we'd gotten to the center of the room and you'd discovered I couldn't dance?"

"Oh, I know you can dance, Ariel," Gabriel murmurs, glancing around the room. "I've known since I was a

child that you were my mate. I was careful to take notes on my future Luna."

My eyes go wide. And this time, I'm not faking it. "Wha - how...how did you know?"

"My father, fool that he is," Gabriel sighs, glaring off somewhere into the crowd that watches us, "had me dedicated to the Goddess soon after I was born. Something about your mother giving him the idea that Darkness was not the right God to guide my life. But it did reveal that

one very useful fact."

I go a bit cold at this, because my own baptism vision didn't include any information about Gabriel - only Luca and Jacks. Why...why would my Grandmother do that? And are there...others? Lurking out there? Other mates?

A cold rush of horror runs through me at the thought.

Gabriel and I continue the dance in

perfect silence, each of our steps perfectly in tune with each other, with the music. When it comes to an end he steps away and gives me an elaborate bow. The entire room politely applauds and I turn towards them all, pressing a hand to my chest and giving another deep curtsy, demonstrating to them all that I am at their mercy and glad to be here.

Secretly, though, my knee aches a bit from so much obeisance.

Honestly, I prefer my own

family's

court, where mom greets pretty much everyone with a hug and asks if they're hungry. It's much kinder on the knees. Plus, you get a snack.

"Come," Gabriel says as the room breaks into more relaxed chatter and the crowd begins to move and

mingle. I exhale a deep breath, glad that that part is over. "Time to meet my uncle, the King."

 

Chapter 0799

I bury my scowl at the prospect of meeting my enemy and nod to Gabriel, letting my face break into a pretty smile like I'm excited about it. Gabriel stares at me for a moment, I think surprised, and then breaks into a dark laugh, shaking his head as he leads me away. "You can drop the front around me, Ariel," he murmurs, wrapping my arm tight in his so that I walk close at his side. "Though it is good around everyone else. Yes, let the court believe you docile and sweet."

"There is no front, highness," I say, quite light, smiling and nodding to those around us who take a moment to nod to me. "I'm very pleased to be here. You've saved me from the tyranny of my home land." He huffs a laugh and glances down at me again. "Lies. I know you for the patriot you are, Ariel."

"Patriot I might be," I say, raising my eyes to his. "But it doesn't mean I can't believe that some things are done better here in Atalaxia. We could benefit from your influence, especially in terms of our social structure and family lives."

Gabriel studies my face, I think honestly considering whether or not I mean that. And inwardly I shout my thanks to Faiza, because every inch of it was a wretched lie.

There's no time to talk on it further, though, as we arrive at the throne.

"Behave yourself," Gabriel snaps, his voice a harsh whisper, his arm tightening harshly on mine. "If you do anything to embarrass yourself, Juniper will pay."

I take a deep breath and nod, letting him know that I consent. For Juniper and Jesse - just in case he does have them - but also for myself. Because this plays into my plans as well.

I focus on the man in front of me, taking in the richly-adorned King, an old man - much older than my father - who sits straight in his throne. He frowns, suspicious and disapproving, as his eyes sweep over my form. And even though I don't dare look at anything else, I don't miss - in the corner of my vision - that a photographer steps forward and begins taking pictures.

Good, I think. Good. Let this all go to the press.

Behind the King stands a young man whose familial relationship to Gabriel and Elias could not be clearer.

I recognize him instantly, of course - the Crown Prince. The crowned young man I last saw in my own Palace before Midwinter.

And, as it was then, his wolf is wrong. Wrong, wrong. I can smell it on him, sense it. Even if I cannot see his wolf in the same way that I see Gabriel's, I know that it's the same. Wrong, corrupted.

And so, I realize as I focus my eyes on the monarch, is the King's.

For he, too, is corrupted.

Gabriel stops a few feet away from the King but loosens his grip on my arm, continuing to hand me forward so that I step to the King alone.

"Uncle," he says, his voice low. "May I present to you my mate, the Princess Ariel Sinclair."

The King says nothing, still frowning at me, waiting for me to show my cards.

So I act, my Princess training coming in quite handy now as I step forward, bowing my head and dropping

to my knees before my enemy. "Your highness," I say, my voice low and reverent. "Thank you for this welcome to your court."

"The welcome is all at Gabriel's

insistence, Princess," the King

murmurs formally, offering one hand to me. "I suggested that you be

thrown in the dungeons with the rest of the dogs we captured from your nation, but my sentimental nephew is convinced he can train you up into a proper Atalaxian lady."

I nod, reverent, my head still bowed. "I will endeavor in all ways to follow my Alpha's lead," I murmur.

"Then you may begin," the King says, offering his hand, his emerald ring shining, "by denouncing your allegiance to your homeland. And vowing allegiance to me."

Instantly I take his hand, like it's

some gift offered to me that I've always wanted and never thought! could have: "I vow it," I say, raising I my eyes to him, willing earnest truth into my eyes. "I disavow any ties to my old life, the land that raised me, my family there. I belong to my Alpha now and swear to honor his will, and through it, yours."

And then I bow my head, and press my lips to the King's ring as if it's my lover.

And when I raise my eyes again I see a small smile on this monarch's lips. And even as hatred and a very deep, very real desire to burn this entire room to the ground races through my heart, a little pleasure swells there as well.

Because in lowering myself before him, and disavowing everything I've ever known, I've played into every concept that the Atalaxian's have regarding womankind: that we're wayward, and stupid, and that all we need is a strong Alpha's guiding hand to show us the way

In thus debasing myself, I think I hope - I have made my first step towards fooling this man into thinking that I, too, am just a foolish little woman.

Chapter 0800

Even though I have every intention of ripping out his throat and walking all the way home with his blood dripping from my fangs.

It's hours before Gabriel escorts me back to my room. Hours of laughing at horrible jokes about how lucky I am to be saved from the homeland I treasure. Hours of smiling at old men who ogle me in my ridiculous corset and openly compliment Gabriel on what a catch he stole from that heathen land, what beautiful sons I will produce for him. Hours of simpering women who congratulate me over and over on the luck I've had to be mated to this...monster.

As we walk back to the room, my head pounds – absolutely pounds becuase the entire time I endured the courtiers, did my best to hold my mask up as they actively insulted my father, called my mother a peasant whore, laughed at my aunt for calling herself a doctor - the entire time... Gabriel's wolf pushed. Pushed towards mine, sought to get to her, sought to bully her into accepting the bond and building the bridge between our souls. He snarled at her, and threatened her, and howled to her.

My head aches now with the hangover of the effort between negotiating my inner and outer worlds, both of which were an assault.

Gabriel doesn't say a word as we approach my door, instead simply grasping the handle and pushing it open. But the moment I step into the darkness of the room he moves, shoving me hard towards the bed and slamming the door shut behind him.

"Go," he growls as I spin and trip over my feet in my shock, trying to push him away as he moves with me, shoving me onto the mattress and climbing over me as I fall onto my back. "Submit, Luna."

"Get off of me!" I scream, shocked and terrified, any thought of my sweet Princess persona ripped from

me.

"No," he snarls, lowering himself so that his body is pressed along the length of mine. "You will submit to me, and I will mark you now so that you know who your master is, and -"

But my wolf snarls, ripping away my shock, and I remember my lessons with Blaze. I snarl too as I wrap my hands in Gabriel's shirt and throw my whole weight into my left shoulder, rolling Gabriel over onto his own back in the same moment that I shift into my wolf. He looks up at me, shocked, when he realizes what happened, but my teeth are already at his throat.

I only have the advantage for a moment, though, before Gabriel roars and hits me, hard, with the side of

his arm, sending me flying away. Not before my teeth graze his neck - but enough that my tiny wolf body goes flying across the bed, bounces once, and then careens to the floor where I hit, hard.

I yelp, my paws scrabbling for purchase, desperate to get up and see where he is -

But suddenly the lights turn on and I scurry around the side of the bed, desperate to know who's here -

who has come to my rescue. My eyes lock on Pippa, at the door,. staring horrified with her hands over her mouth as Elias roars and storms forward, grabbing Gabriel by the back of his shirt as he lurches for

me, hauling my mate back and away from me.

"Gabriel!" Elias barks, shaking his brother roughly, making him turn.

"Get your damn hands off me, Elias!" Gabriel roars, turning his head to snarl at his brother, his fangs long and ready to pierce. "She's my fucking Luna -"

Elias, to my shock, drops Gabriel's shirt and winds his hand back, delivering a heady slap across his

brother's face. Gabriel gasps and stumbles to the side, his hand going to his face.

"Whether or not she is your mate," Elias growls, advancing again on his brother, "gives you no right to assault her. Even by Atalaxian standards you go too far."

"When she is my Luna," Gabriel snarls, standing and glaring hard at his brother, "I have a right to her body

"And she is not your Luna!" Elias shouts, taking a single solid step towards his brother and grabbing the front of his shirt, shaking him again. "You weakling, is this

vel

seriously how you would have your mate!?" He casts a hand out téwards me. "Trembling in fear!?"

I take a moment to assess myself, not very surprised to find that Elias

is right I'm trembling in every one

-

of my limbs, my little wolf paws sliding and struggling to find

purchase on the marble floor. Pippa snaps her gaze to me as well and gives a little cry of dismay, dashing across the room to me and wrapping me tight into her arms, pulling me half into her lap. I give a little wolf cry of dismay as my mind comes back to me, as I begin to realize how horrible and terribly close that was.

And that there's nothing to stop him from doing again.