Ch. 926..930: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 926-930

Chapter 0926

"Adoption is always an option, Jackson," Ella says, a bit too casual, quietly cutting another piece of cheese from the block. "If you don't think you're up for being a father. We could have her placed with a very nice family -"

A rough snarl breaks from Jackson's throat and Marigold goes still, turning towards her father in surprise. He works hard to reign himself in, passing the little girl a bit of comfort down their bond, letting her know that the snarl was not for her - never for her.

Marigold hesitates for a second but then turns back to the apples, continuing to eat.

"Good answer," Ella says, flicking her eyes up to Jackson and smirking at him.

"Was that a joke?" he growls.

"No," Ella says with a happy sigh, putting the knife down and taking a sharp little bite of her cheese. "But it was a way to get you to realize that even if this is a surprise, and you may not have thought you wanted it before, that you want it now."

Ella nods towards Marigold, who Jackson can tell is listening, even if she keeps her eyes on her food.

"That's your daughter, yes?" Ella asks, pride already ringing in her voice.

"Yes, she's mine," Jackson says, his voice deep and serious.

"And...no one else's?" Ella's eyes flick up to Jackson's and he knows immediately what she means. He shakes his head, because Tasha...she's gone. He presses away, for a moment, the mental image of Marigold alone in the house with her mother's body...

Because it's just too horrible to imagine.

"Marigold is mine," Jackson murmurs, running a hand over the little girl's hair, cupping the sweet curve of the back of her head.

"Wonderful," Ella says, giving him a sweet, loving smile so deep that her eyes crinkle up at the corners. "Then you're going to have to learn how to become a dad."

Jackson sighs, long and slow, as he realizes that she's right.

But he nods once, accepting the challenge.

Then he sighs, dropping his head a little and closing his eyes. "Is this going to kill Ariel?"

"Oh, don't you worry about Ariel," Ella says, waving a hand to casually dismiss the point. "Ariel loves kids!"

"Mom," Rafe murmurs, laughing a bit

.n

as Mark comes over with a big pot of macaroni and cheese, setting it on the table before going to get some bowls and forks. "I mean think this is a bigger deal than Ariel just liking kids -" en

"Oh, our Ari is a very flexible person, Rafe. Honestly, I don't think that's a major concern."

Rafe and Jackson glance at each other, dubious, as Marigold gasps and drops her apple from her hand, her nose lifting as her eyes move right for the pot, an eager little whine sounding in her throat.

"Do you want to try this, Goldie!?” Ella asks, laughing and reaching for the wooden spoon as Mark comes back with the bowls and grins, sitting down with them.

Marigold's eyes dart away from the pot for a moment and land on Ella. A little frown takes her mouth as she points to her chest with her thumb. "Marigold." Jackson's teeth clench and his eyes slam shut as he hears, for the first time, the sound of his daughter's tiny, adorable, perfect little voice.

Well, first time if you don't count all the wailing at the start. Which he supposes he doesn't.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ella says, laughing. Jackson opens his eyes to see her beaming at his little girl, leaning close. "Would you like to try this, Marigold?"

Marigold nods once, solid, and Ella spoons out a small portion in a little white bowl, blowing on it before placing it in front of the little girl.

Marigold reaches for it with her fingers but Jackson's hand flashes out, covering hers. "It's very hot, é Marigold," he murmurs, reaching for a smatt spoon with a little cartoon duckdrawn on the handle. "Use this."

He hands it to her and Marigold takes the spoon, looking at it dubiously. But then she sighs, and clumsily begins to scoop up the noodles, blowing on them before bringing them to her mouth.

"Holy crap, Jacks," Rafe says. Jackson turns to see Rafe grinning at him. "That was...already very dad-like."

"She was going to burn her hand," Jacks murmurs, frowning and gesturing towards it.

Chapter 0927

"Dad instincts, kicking in on day one," Mark says, laughing a little, leaning back in his chair and popping a mint cookie in his mouth.

Jackson sighs, thinking he's getting a bit too much credit for that. He turns his eyes back to Ella. "How do I do this?"

"Oh, it's not so bad when they're little like this," Ella says with a sigh, leaning forward to study Marigold. "She's what...four?"

Marigold's eyes flick up and she gives Ella a single steady nod before returning her gaze to her noodles, eating with gusto.

As one, all of the adults at the table break into a smile at that.

"God, she's like...a teeny tiny Jacks," Mark murmurs, leaning closer. Marigold ignores him but Rafe nods in agreement.

"So serious," Rafe says, laughing a little. "And intent on her food."

Jacks smirks, studying the girl, realizing that that's at least a little true, and thinking again that...well, that she looks like him. Sweeter, and softer, and - obviously tiny. But the stern set of her mouth, and her broad forehead onto which her hair flops, all dark and messy...

God, but she's...his little mini.

And he never, ever knew before how...damned cute that could be.

"Four-year-olds are easy," Ella says quietly, studying Jackson alongside the girl. "They're potty-trained, so you don't have to deal with any of that mess. And they can talk and tell you what they need, beyond using the bond. Is your bond..."

Ella's words fade but Jackson lifts his head and gives her a single nod. She smiles softly, trying very hard to keep the fluttering joy in her heart from showing on her face.

"Well, really, then your job is to just...care for her, Jacks. Keep her clean, feed her, educate her. Talk to her, make sure she's loved and engaged and getting a good start in life. And we'll help you," she says, giving a simple shrug.

Jackson looks up at Ella in surprise at this offer. Mark nods eagerly too, already on board, spooning some more macaroni and cheese into Marigold's bowl.

"Of course we will, Jacks," Rafe says, popping a cracker in his mouth before patting his friend on the back. "You're my brother now, right? Which makes this little one my niece." He grins, leaning over on the table and bending low so that his eyes are even with Marigold's. "I always wondered when I'd get one of those. Never thought this is how it would happen."

Marigold narrows her eyes a bit at Rafe, still unsure about this big man grinning at her like that, even as she continues to eat her supper. Rafe bursts out laughing, sitting up straight, utterly charmed.

"Well," Ella says with a sigh, crossing

her arms over her chest as she studies the little girl. "Regarding the niece question, I think a great deal of that depends on Ariel."

"What depends on me?" a cheerful voice calls from the door.

Jackson goes still, his eyes opening wide as he panics. Ella, Mark, and Rafe

likewise go rigid, turning towards the door.

"What's going on?" Ariel asks,

smiling around the room as she steps in. "I've been looking for you guys everywhere - Jesse's upstairs with a bunch of bags, he can't find you either, and he won't tell me what's going on."

Her eyes finally settle on the little girl, who continues to concentrate on her food,

and Ariel laughs a little, moving towards her.

"Who is thi-"

But then the child's scent hits her.

And Ariel stops in her tracks, her mouth falling open as she stares down at the top of the little girl's head.

The little girl whose genetic lineage is...undeniable.

The room goes very silent, Ariel staring at Marigold, everyone else staring at the Princess, at her bloodless face, at the absolute horror in her expression.

Marigold puts her spoon down and turns, frowning up at the beautiful woman whose lovely rose-gold hair spills over her shoulders. Marigold swallows hard, glancing around, not

knowing why everyone is being so quiet.

Then, not knowing what else to do, she lifts her hand and again points to her

chest, looking up into the Princess's eyes.

"Marigold," the little girl whispers.

Ariel stays perfectly still, just staring at her mate's daughter.

Unable to move or think or feel anything but shock.

 

Chapter 0928

For a moment my wolf likewise stands frozen with shock in my soul as we both just stare at the little girl in front of us.

But then my wolf breaks into a terrible howl, starting to dart back and forth in my soul, panicked.

I come back to myself, gasping in a long breath of air before I start to pant, my eyes flicking between the little girl and my mate – immediately seeing the

resemblance there - the fucking uncanny resemblance between this little girl and her dad.

Her dad.

Her fucking dad, who looks just like her, from whom she inherited that steady gaze, those gorgeous blue eyes...

My hands curl in and out of fits as I try, quite desperately, to avoid a meltdown.

Because...what the fuck is happening?

Where...where did this kid come from!? And why is she in my house!?

"You..." I whisper, my eyes moving to Jackson now. "You...you have a...baby..."

"Not baby," Marigold says and I snap my eyes back to her, awed to hear her speak because when she does she's so...she's just so fucking real. "Marigold."

I huff out a little laugh, appalled and shocked and...fascinated.

Because...is that her name?

"You...have a Marigold," I whisper, my eyes slowly moving back to Jackson, who just stares at me, devastated.

"Ariel," he says, his voice croaking out of his throat as he gets to his feet, reaching for me. "Please, this just happened -"

"It so did not!" I say, laughing hysterically, gesturing towards her. "She's like - eight!"

"Four!" Marigold corrects, frowning at me.

I again snap my eyes back to her, shocked.

"Allll right," my mom says, slowly getting up out of her chair and reaching for the little girl. "Rafe, you grab some cookies for dessert, and the three of us," she says, pointing between herself and Rafe and Mark, "are going to take Marigold upstairs to get her ready for bed!"

I squeak with shock because...is she sleeping over!?

What the fuck is happening right now!?

"You two talk," mom says, settling the little girl on her hip and looking sternly between Jackson and me. "And be kind to each other, okay?"

I stare into my mother's eyes for a moment before my gaze drifts down to the little girl. And then I turn, watching as the four of them move out of the kitchen. A soft whine breaks from Jackson's throat and I spin towards him, realizing that -

That he doesn't want the little girl to go.

Because it's his fucking daughter - and he wants to be with her so he can protect her -

My entire body starts to tremble. "Jackson?" I whisper, shaking all over. "What... what's happening?"

He turns his head to me and gasps, reaching for me at once. "Ariel," he says, grabbing me by the arm, pulling me roughly to him and wrapping me up against his chest. "I'm so, so sorry -"

I continue to shake, gasping little huffy breaths, completely shocked at this bizarre turn of my reality. I mean, is this even happening? Is this even real?

"Who is that little girl?" I whisper.

Jackson sighs, and I feel his chin on top of my head as he tucks me in close. "She's my kid, Ariel. I'm sorry - I didn't know - Cristof surprised me, he brought here here like an

—

hour ago I haven't even had time to process it myself -"

My mind turns fast as I begin to put the pieces together. Cristof.

Cristof had the child.

Which means she came from the Community.

Which means...

My mind flashes back to a conversation that feels like forever ago, but that was probably just a few months. Of being curled up with Jackson, and him telling me about his life, and his history -

Telling me about a girl who was kind to him, whose...

Whose favorite color was yellow.

I stare up into my mate's face, still utterly shocked. "Tasha," I whisper.

Jackson swallows and clenches his jaw, looking at me with a great deal of sadness in his eyes, feeling every single one of my complex emotions through the bond as they flit through me. My wolf howls desperately and begins to dash away, running needing something to do with her body so she doesn't go insane. Jackson's wolf takes off after her, desperate to be by her side, but she just keeps running - panicked and terrified.

"Tasha," I say again, gulping. "That's that's Tasha's child -"

"My child," Jackson says, taking my face in his palms. "Mine and Tasha's, yes."

"Well, where the fuck is she!?" I ask,

stumbling back, looking around the kitchen like I'm going to find her hiding behind the huge industrial fridge or something. Which - honestly-considering I just walked into the kitchen to find my mate's daughter having dinner with my mom and brothers, doesn't sound so incredibly insane right now!

 

Chapter 0929

"Ariel!" Jackson snaps, more panicked than angry, grabbing my arm and holding me tight like he's afraid I'm going to run like my wolf is. "Tasha is - she's dead, all right?"

I whip my head back to him, my eyes wide, a moan climbing up my throat

because -

Oh my god.

Oh my god -

That little girl, all alone in the world - her mother dead -

Tears fill my eyes. "Jackson," I beg, shaking my head at him, stepping closer, reaching up for him. He understands, bending down and picking me up in his arms, holding me close. I wrap my arms around his neck and lean hard against him, wanting as much contact as possible, wanting to feel the steady reality of him. "Please, you have to tell me everything," I beg. "Right now. Very fast. I - I need to know everything you know -"

Jackson murmurs that he will and then sinks back into his chair, taking me with him, and proceeds to tell me everything that happened tonight - everything he knows.

Over the next half hour, Jackson spills everything to me. My wolf stops running and turns to his, and they curl up together, both anxious and worried but... together, united. And I open the bond, and keep it open, wanting to hear and feel everything that he wants to share. The emotions just...spill down it, so much so that I feel like I'm drowning in them at times, like there's no space for my own feelings. But I hold steady for him, knowing that even if this was an insane shock for me...

That my sweetheart mate is taking it so, so much harder.

He tells me of seeing Cristof out by the car, and of everything that passed between them. And then he continues, speculating on what some of the things Cristof said could have meant. That Tasha must have run while pregnant, that she probably tried to raise Marigold alone, but didn't have the resources. He wonders, worried, what it must have been like for Marigold to sit for days alone wherever they lived while her mother...

I take a deep, shuddering breath, tucking my face against his chest, feeling

horrible. Horrible for that little girl, and horribly ashamed of myself.

Because even if this is so much more intense for Jackson I...

I can't help it.

I'm just so fucking jealous.

Jealous that he has a little girl and that she's not mine, that someone else got to carry and raise his pup, that someone else's daughter looks like my Jackson - has his eyes, has his steady gaze.

That that was supposed to be my little girl - the one I didn't even know I fucking wanted until she showed up in my kitchen and I found out that she belongs to someone else!

I tuck all the jealousy away as best I can - but I bite my lip, hating myself a great deal that I can't just...be kind. And be here for Jackson, who just found out that he's a fucking dad -

"Hey," Jackson says, a bit sharp.

I look up into his face in surprise.

"What...what's going on in there?" Jackson asks, his eyes searching my face like he's trying to read my mind. "Why are you...mad at yourself?"

“Because I'm being a jerk," I moan, letting myself slump against him.

He goes still and then laughs, the sound hesitant and a little hysterical, putting his hands on my arms and making me sit up. "What are you talking about? Ariel, you're being so nice to me -"

"No, I'm not! I'm being so selfish!"

"Ariel!" he gives me a little shake. "I don't - I don't get this, tiny. Please, help me understand."

"See, even the fact that you feel like you have to check in on me right now," I say, sighing and looking into his gorgeous eyes. "Like you're. worried about me. You just found out you have a baby! I should be taking care of you!"

5

"It's a shock for you too," Jackson murmurs, stroking a hand long over my hair. "I mean, you didn't...sign up for this. For being mated to

someone who has a child with I ne

someone else. I would understand

if

He hesitates, his words trailing off, grief overtaking his features as he scrubs a

palm down the length of his face.

I go still. "Are you – do you...Jackson,” I snarl, grabbing his shirt in my fists. "Are

you fucking dumping me because you have a kid!?"

His eyes flash open and he looks a

me, shocked inwardly his wolf snarls, possessive, snatching myĕ wolf close to his body and pressing his teeth to the mark in her neck. My wolf whines, terrified at the thought that we could lose him.

Over this - that we could lose him over this!

Chapter 0930

"Ariel!" Jackson sputters, "fucking - no! I am not breaking up with you - I'm saying that if you don't to be with me I would understand - that it would break my fucking heart but this is not your responsibility -"

I cry out in protest, grabbing him closer to me, whipping an arm around his neck and clinging to him. "No!" I snarl, desperate and afraid at even the thought of this. "You're – you're fucking mine, Jackson! Mine! I'm never letting you go, you idiot, you -"

He clings to me too, holding me so close I can barely breathe, and I realize quite suddenly that we're both just afraid right now. Afraid that this big change - this development – this Marigold – is going to push us away from each other. I take long deep breaths, forcing my mind to slow. My wolf turns over in my soul, baring her belly to Jackson's wolf, submitting to him entirely, letting him know that she's his -

His completely, forever.

Jackson's wolf just flops down next to her on the ground, letting out a long sigh and stretching his nose over her neck, resting his face against her. He lets out a long, wolfish grumble and my wolf whines and turns to him. Both rest then, tension leaving them alongside our fear.

"Hey," I say, a bit shaky, releasing my hold on Jacks a bit, grimacing when I realize that my claws came out a bit and poked holes in his shirt. He takes a deep breath and leans his forehead against mine. "We're - I think we're both just really freaked out, right?"

"Yeah," he says on the exhale. "Fair to say that I am...completely freaked out."

"But we're in this together," I whisper, nodding, believing it utterly. "I don't know... what that looks like, or what shape this takes but, you and me?" I say, nudging my nose with his, making him look at me, making him see the dedication in every inch of me. "Together."

"Are you sure?" Jackson whispers.

"I'm sure," I murmur, pulling back a little so I can study his face, my eyes moving slowly over every single beloved feature. "You're...um. You're keeping her? You're going to raise her?"

Jackson holds my gaze and slowly nods. "She's mine, Ariel."

"Okay,” I say, nodding, my heart beginning to pound a little frantically. "Then... yeah, if that's what you're doing, then that's what I'm doing. I'm on board, Jacks."

"Ariel, I -" he sputters, I think deeply shaken by the steadiness in me, in my offer. "This is a huge ask, Ariel – a child, my child - this is going to change everything in my life -"

"In our lives," I growl, possessive and sure. "What twists life brings to you it brings

to me too, Jackson - that's what I want. I want to do this together. Unless...you don't want...that?"

I mean, is that even a possibility? That Jackson wants his daughter all to himself? That he wouldn't want me involved?

"No, I want you involved,” he

whispers, nodding, holding my gaze,

sensing my thoughts that are so vividly tied to my emotions right now. "But...your life is your own Arief You didn't make any choices that lead to this "

"Neither did you!"

"I did," Jackson says, a bit of a growl in his voice. "Even if I didn't know...what would happen, when I...with Tasha..."

My wolf growls a little at the mention of their time together and I swat a mental hand at her even as Jackson's wolf snuggles closer in support.

Still, Jackson continues, shaking his head. "I'm not turning away from this. I am shocked - and I don't know what's going to happen – but that's my daughter. And I'm not going to walk away from her. Ever."

"You're a good man, Jacks," I whisper, lifting a hand to stroke over his cheek.

"But this responsibility isn't yours," he whispers, shaking his head. "Unless...you wanted it to be. And really, really wanted it to be."

?.ne

"I want it to be," I whisper, even if inside I have doubts. Doubts about what it's going to be like to raise a child at Jackson's side, how I'm going to deal with the jealousy whether it's best for her, how it's going to change our lives...

But I mean, are they even doubts? Or do I just not have answers? Because

maybe...maybe there are answers to these questions. And maybe those answers aren't bad ones.

Maybe this is a good thing.

Babies - little girls - little girls who look like Jacks -

They have to be a blessing, right?

"I want it to be my responsibility," I whisper again, surer this time - surer that it's not just wanting to support Jacks. That this, really, is something I can begin to commit to. That I'm strong enough to stand and help my mate as well as this little girl.