Ch. 891..895: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 891-895

Chapter 0891

My heart pounds for a long moment before dad's face shifts into a wide, happy smile.

"Welcome to the family, son," dad says, holding out a hand again towards Jacks.

Jackson stares down at it for a second and I hear mom sniff next to me, working hard to hold back her tears, because she very well knows what this kind of welcome means to him. To a boy who has never had a family before.

"An honor, sir,” Jackson says after a moment of pause, his voice thick, lifting his blue eyes to Dad's green ones and smiling as he takes his hand, giving it a hearty shake. "The honor of my life, to be mated to your daughter."

"We're honored to have you, kid," Dad says, laughing and smiling, and then slipping an arm around Jackson's shoulders, turning him towards the door. "Downstairs, then! Everyone's waiting."

The two of them set off and I look at mom, a bit baffled. "It's that easy?" I whisper.

"I kind of...thought dad would flip at me being mated to anyone -"

"Oh, baby, we kind of saw it coming,” mom says with a laugh, giving me a squeeze. "Dad's had months to adjust. And considering that Jackson has saved you twice now, rather spectacularly? And that he's smart and cute and a good boy? And he's an orphan, which means we don't have to share you for holidays!? Come on. Your dad is well aware that he can't ask for more than that."

I laugh a little, leaning against my mom, incredibly happy and relieved that Jackson is being so warmly welcomed. I mean, not that I ever thought he wouldn't be, it's just...Alpha dads can be notoriously volatile when letting their daughter's care and safety pass to another man.

But mom is right - with Jackson as that other man? God, who could complain.

"Hope you're ready for a party," Mom hums, light and sing-song, giving me another squeeze, in no hurry to take her hands off me. "Everyone is here!"

"Everyone!?" I gasp.

"Oh, we couldn't keep them away," Mom says, wrinkling her nose at me.

I laugh but then shake my head, glancing down at myself. "But we're all dirty- and bloody - and I have to fill you in -"

"Oh, all of that can wait, daughter," mom says, pressing a warm kiss to my cheek. "We all want a moment to feast our eyes on you, ensure ourselves that you're alive and okay. Besides, wait till you see what Jesse did on the roof!"

I burst out laughing and follow my dad and my mate into the palace, my arm wrapped around my mom, my heart totally full of love.

A huge cheer bursts out in the room the moment we step inside and I tightly clasp Jackson's hand even as tears again come to my eyes. I laugh a little looking up at Jacks as I feel him tense and fight the urge to step back, still not used to the onslaught of love in a big family.

Fight or flight kicking in? I ask, mentally, beaming up at him. Atalaxian army you can handle, but all of Jesse's siblings are too much?

He narrows his eyes a little at me, smirking as he stands straight. But there's no time to reply as out family swarms around us, hugs going around liberally as well as shouts of joy.

I take my time holding each member

of my family close, taking special time to cry over my sweet baby Markie, and my little cousins, and my grandfather, who each tell me how much they missed me, how worried they were. Rosie, in O particular, whispers in my ear that she never thought I'd betrayed the nation, no matter what the news said.

I laugh and kiss her warmly, releasing her from my hug just in time to hear Seraphina shriek "Puppy!" and hurl herself up into Jackson's arms. He gasps,

snatching her out of the air like t

scared she was going to hurt herself argo crashing to the floor, the true fear on his face making me again burst into laughter.

 

Chapter 0892

"Hello, trouble," Cora murmurs, turning me away from the sight of her youngest child clambering over my mate like a jungle gym. "We were so worried for you!"

"We were," Roger sighs, wrapping his arms around both me and Cora at once, making me grin up at him. "But clearly we should have just chilled out and let you handle it. Honestly we were all so stressed when we could have just had a spa day, letting you and Jackson end the damn war -"

"Hey, I helped," Jesse says, and I grin as I peek over Cora's shoulder to see him standing there next to Rafe, both clearly waiting to greet us last so they can take longest. My heart swells to see them standing side-by-side, remembering that they fought last time I saw them together. But clearly they've patched things up.

“Hey!” I say, laughing, reaching for both my brother and my cousin at once as Cora and Roger release me. Tears again stream ridiculously down my face. "Oh god, I missed you two jerks -"

"No, you didn't," Jesse murmurs, wrapping me up warm and tight. "Please, it's creepy if you were missing me while you busy were getting that pretty new mark

I gasp, scandalized, and shove him away even as I crack up laughing, smacking him liberally on the shoulder and chest. "You're such a creep! How could you even think that -"

"Two marks, right?" Rafe says, smirking at me and reaching for my bandaged wrist. "Damn, one or two weeks in Atalaxia sure turns a girl into a tramp, doesn't it

I gasp, utterly scandalized again, and start to smack at my brother in turn as he roars with laughter and wraps me up in his arms.

"Jerks," I grumble against him, not really meaning it, relishing their stupid teasing. Rafe hums his agreement, giving me a squeeze, and I sigh and shut my eyes, loving my brother a great deal.

"I'm happy for you, Ari," he murmurs, kissing my hair and taking a whiff of my new scent. "Jacks smells good on you."

“Thanks,” sigh, pushing away a bit to smile up at him. "I think so too Hey," I glance around the room "Where - where are Pippa and Elias and Benny? And Midnight?"

—

"Ben and Elias are going to come down in a bit Pippa has begged off from the party. He looks at me seriously now. "She says she's been having minor labor pains for a few days now but..." he shrugs. "I don't really know what's going on. L'don't get the feeling that that's the whole story. And Ben like...weirdly just wants to hang out with Elas. I don't know. I don't get it. Ten hours in Atalaxia and Ben is like...very dedicated to the two of them. It doesn't make any sense."

Rafe frowns and glances towards the door, clearly confused and waiting for our friend to come in.

Slowly, my face spreads into a grin as I look between Jesse and Rafe's baffled expressions.

"Seriously?" I whisper, beaming, delighted to have a secret they haven't figured out yet. "You don't know?"

"Know what?” Rafe asks, snapping his head back to frown at me. He narrows his eyes. "Wait, what do you know?"

"Oh, nothing,” I say, crossing my eyes and looking directly at Jesse. "At least no more than what you know."

Jesse narrows his eyes at me in turn. "What are you talking about?"

Jackson

"Finally," Jackson murmurs, coming up behind me and draping his arms over my shoulders, pulling me back against his chest. "It's nice having a family and everything, but do I have to hug all of them every timed see them?"

“Jacks spilled the beans,” I say, haughty, leaning back against my gorgeous mate and grinning deviously at Jesse.

"Jackson!" Jesse gasps, his eyes flying wide to stare at Jackson. "You didn't!"

 

Chapter 0893

"I – what?" Jackson sputters out, looking between all of us. "What beans?"

"I explicitly asked you not to, Jacks!" Jesse says, appalled. “As a favor to your best friend!"

"I didn't spill any beans! I didn't even have any beans!"

"I still maintain that I am his best friend," Rafe murmurs, looking smugly up at the ceiling.

"It's a turn of phrase, Jacks!" Jesse continues, ignoring Rafe and pointing an accusatory finger at Jackson. "It means you told her what I told you about the Underworld!"

Jackson gasps, satisfyingly scandalized, and steps back a little to glare at me, his hands still on my shoulders. "Ariel! I did not!"

"He told me a little bit," I say, smirking at Jesse.

"Jackson!" Jesse gasps again, smacking his hand to his chest, the picture of betrayal.

"I hate this," Jackson groans, tiling his head back in agony and closing his eyes. "Can we go back to the desert? This is so much - there are so many people here, and every other word is some kind of verbal trap - "

"That is your family, Jackson," I say, grinning at him, kind of delighting in his torture. "How dare you insinuate that they're too much -"

"Puppy, again!" Seraphina shrieks, dashing over to wrap her arms around Jackson's leg and smile up at him, her sharp little baby teeth flashing. "Carry me! Pig back ride!"

He just stares down at her, completely baffled.

"Jacks how much did you tell Ariel, because seriously – that was a secret! I've been looking forward to spilling that to her for days!"

"All right, all right," Cora says,

coming over with a whiskey and a big, big glass of white wine her hands, pressing them towards Jackson and I. "Let him go, Fifs Puppy and cousin are going to go clean up, because they're all bloody and gross," she grins between us and we laugh. "And then they're going to come back and tell us everything. Yes?"

Seraphina sighs but releases Jackson from her grip as we take our drinks and turn towards the hallway with our bedrooms.

"Don't you think this is done," I say, narrowing my eyes at Jesse. "I want to know this secret. Jackson said it made him cry."

Rafe and Jesse gasp, pretending to be scandalized by this, making me laugh.

"Almost cry," Jackson grumbles,

glaring a warning at the two of them

before wrapping an arm around my waist and tugging me close to him. istan

"Damn it, Ariel, why do you always

have to cause so much -"Content

“Trouble?" I ask, grinning up into his face and then bursting into laughter when

Jackson realizes that he walked right into that.

"Yes, trouble," he sighs as we pass

into the relative dark and calm of the hallway. He pauses, dipping his head, and I stand on my toes and pressa kiss to his mouth. "Always so much damn trouble with you."

"Oh, you like me troublesome," I murmur, biting my lip and snaking an arm around his waist.

He pauses for a moment, considering. "Yes," he sighs, defeated and starting off

down the hall again, taking me with him. "Yes, I suppose I do."

I laugh and lean against him, happy and warm and safe and delighted.

"Do you think I could get something to eat?" he murmurs.

"Yes, baby," I sigh, leaning happily against him. "We'll have them send up a whole

feast while you take a shower."

Jackson hums, excitement running through him, making me laugh.

 

Chapter 0894

When Jackson and I come out of my room a little while later, in fresh soft clothes and all cleaned up, the party is in full swing. I laugh to see my family so heartily celebrating my homecoming, and my newly mated status, and Jackson's addition to the family, and the end of the war.

But still, my wolf howls a little when it becomes immediately apparent that one little thunder cloud isn't here, lurking in the corner and glaring around at everyone, pretending not to have any fun at all.

I sigh, leaning against Jacks and taking a long sip of my wine. He tightens his arm around my shoulder, looking down at me. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I say on a soft sigh, my eyes still moving over my wonderful, happy family. "Just...missing Junie. Wishing she was here."

He hums his understanding and tightens his arm, sending a great deal of warmth and love and support down the bond. I smile up at him, truly appreciating that he doesn't try to convince me not to be sad or worried for her. He just hears me, and understands, and wants to comfort in whatever way he can.

"Hey, I love you," I say softly, my face breaking into a smile as I gaze up at him.

His own face breaks instantly from serious repose to happiness, such a drastic change that shifts his whole face from...well, frankly from terrifying to lovely. He grins at me, stroking a hand long over my still-damp hair.

"I love you too, tiny," he says on a happy sigh. "Very much. Now come on, let's go tell everyone the King of Atalaxia is dead."

"You don't think they know?" I ask, my eyes wide.

"It wasn't on any of those tabloids," he murmurs, ushering me into the room. "Who knows what the hell is going on. Let's go find out."

We join the warm, well-lubricated party and, to my great joy, four newcomers soon join us two of whom I was expecting and two who are very much a surprise to me. I give Elias and Benny warm hugs and kisses, asking after Pippa - who truly is feeling her pregnancy at this point - before moving very quickly to the other two, curious about their presence. Jackson stays with Elias and Ben, wanting more details.

“Hi, Dr. Hank!” I say, laughing a little as I stand on my toes to hug the doctor, who is indeed quite tall for a human. “It's so nice to see you! I didn't know you were here!"

"Lucky coincidence, highness," Hank says, returning my hug and giving me a warm smile. "I'm so, so glad you were able to return safe." He steps back from me and turns a little, gesturing towards the young woman behind him who...

Well. Who certainly brings Juniper's thunder-cloud energy, if perhaps with a slightly spicier vibe.

"You remember my daughter, Yes? Mary-"

"Maryam, of course!" I say, laughing and rushing forward to wrap Maryam in a hug.

"Whoa," she says, laughing and stumbling back a step, hesitating before giving me a very slight hug in return and patting me on my back. "Enthusiastic as ever, Ariel. It's nice to see you, I guess."

I laugh a little, pulling away, a bit confused about this taciturn greeting from my childhood friend but...well, we haven't seen each other in a long time, have we?

"How've you been?" I ask, beaming at her, a bit wide-eyed. God, Maryam sure did grow up well, didn't she? She was always a bit of a plain kid,- but now? With that tall, willowy figure that somehow also manages to have curves, and those dark, heavy-lashed eyes, and all that gorgeous hair flowing halfway down her back? Damn, is she a model now? I feel like I should be seeing her on the cover of every magazine.

"I'm fine," she says, dry, giving a shrug. "Here under duress and protest."

"Our beloved Maryam got

suspended from her college for the rest of the semester," Hank says, wrapping an arm around his

daughter's shoulders, mock proud. “She's taking the time to think about batancing her priorities alongside her temper."

"It wasn't temper that got me kicked out," Maryam says, leaning a little against her dad but keeping her eyes on me, her mouth quirking. "It was the institution's inability to admit their complicity with genocide and pro-wolf politics at the expense of their human students."

She gives a casual shrug as my eyebrows go up in surprise. But then my face breaks into a huge smile because as cold and critical as Maryam is...I don't know!

I just like her immediately.

After all, one rule breaker tends to quite like another.

 

Chapter 0895

"Cool!” I say, tucking my hands behind my back. “I left school for a little bit too. To like. Fight in the war and stuff."

"I know," she says, sighing and looking away like she hates to give me a compliment. “I think it's...really cool that you infiltrated an all-male academy and kicked the assess of all the Alphas in there and also in Atalaxia. That was really badass, Ariel."

"Thanks!" I say, perky, grinning at her.

She turns her face back to me, the corner of her mouth pulling up into a smile she can't help. I wrinkle my nose at her and nod towards the room, inviting Maryam and Hank further inside.

The mood in the room stays high even as the conversation turns a bit, then, to more serious matters. The children, as they frequently do when they're bored with us talking about politics and "adult stuff," shift into their pup bodies and chase each other around the room, nipping and wrestling a little in the corners. I laugh as I watch them, not missing the fact that while Hank looks perfectly at ease with this, Maryam – sitting in the corner of the couch - watches with wide-eyed surprise.

Rafe settles next to her, offering her a drink that she just rolls her eyes at. He sighs and drinks it himself all in one go.

I snuggle close to Jackson's side on a little loveseat, filling my family and friends in on all the details of my experiences in Atalaxia, which takes quite some time. Jesse, Ben, Jacks, and Elias jump in on the story too, elaborating with their perspective on the experiences. Dad and Roger listen closely to the close of the story, their glances at each other letting us know that they suspected that the King was dead but that they hadn't had confirmation of it yet.

"Um," I say, a little awkward, glancing down at my wrist. "Has there been any communication from...the royal family there?" I glance at Elias here, who likewise looks at my dad. "From Prince...um, from King Gabriel?"

"No," dad says on a sigh, holding my gaze and then looking over at Elias. "Our army has the castle under siege but even without Gabriel's magical ability to create a barrier they're pretty effectively locked down."

"Why don't you just break in, guns blazing?" Jesse murmurs, sitting on the floor and leaning back against the armchair on which our moms sit, wedged in together. I smirk at Jesse, recognizing the languid way in which he's talking, thinking that he's sure enjoying his whiskey after so much yurt-life deprivation.

"Because," Roger says, smirking at his son. "We're not actually attempting to destroy Atalaxia or take it over, 'We don't want to make it a part of Moon Valley, as was Atalaxia's plan for Moon Valley f they won the war." He glances at Elias here, who awkwardly hangs his head. Ben puts a warm and assuring hand on his back, making me smile.

"So, what are you trying to do?" Maryam snaps out. "Just...violence for violence's sake?"

"Yes," Jesse replies, baring his teeth at her for the fun of it. "We wolves just need blood gallons of it every day -"

He stops and laughs when his mother scowls and smacks him over the head with the flat of her palm.

"We have plans," my dad says, looking at Maryam with a soft smile, "to work with Atalaxia's new King to establish better relations between our two peoples so that our nations can be mutually supportive in the future."

"And the humanitarian crisis there?" Maryam asks, arching an eyebrow at the King, not backing off an inch. Rafe sits weirdly straight at her side, not looking at her, but every inch of him attuned to the conversation. I frown as my eyes pass over him because...why is he being so serious?

"We're working very hard to solve that," my mom says, her voice soft and pleased. All heads turn to her. "We're sending crisis troops in now to help anyone who wishes to leave Atalaxia to do just that. But the ideologies under which Atalaxia exists are well entrenched, we can't simply force people to see rights and culture the way that we do. They have to want to change."

Maryam twists her lips to the side and nods, accepting this answer and the complexities it implies. She sinks contemplatively back into her pillows. Rafe, to

my surprise, lets out a long relieved breath and takes another long sip of his drink - the one he's refilled twice now.

My frown deepens as I study my brother because...honestly, why on earth is Rafe being so weird?