Ch. 946..950: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 946-950

Chapter 0946

Midnight stares between Jesse and I with a frown. "What?" she asks. “What's surprising about this?"

"You'd really come and take care of Marigold?" I whisper, shocked and a little thrilled. I mean, I never even thought about hiring a nanny - but then again, I haven't thought about much of anything at all in the past few minutes besides how mad I am at my dad -

"Wait, you're enrolling in Alpha Academy!?" Jesse asks, a bit awed.

"Well, if Ariel can do it, I can too," Midnight says, casting out a hand towards me. "After all, I am much tougher and more powerful than she!"

"Oh, try me, Mids," I say, dry, grinning as I unfurl my hand, a blue flame flicking to life there.

Midnight grins wickedly as shadows shoot out from her, leaping for the flame in my hand. I gasp at first when the shadows hit my flame, feeling it like a true impact, but then I grin when I see the two forces grappling with each other. I laugh, putting a bit more power in it, and my flames gobble up her shadow.

"See?" I say, cheerful, grinning at her. "I win."

"Not fair," she snarls, pouting as she crosses her arms over her chest. "You got all those Goddess perks. If it was still just your red fire I could take you out."

"I believe you," I say, flicking my fire away. "We should experiment more with it, though. Could be helpful for both of us."

Midnight looks at me with a bit of suspicion for a moment, well aware that my fire can burn away the darkness in her soul, but then she nods. I smile, genuinely warm by the trust she has in me.

"Pardon me," Jesse says, polite and sarcastic, "can we please get back to the point here? Mids, are you serious about wanting to enroll in the Academy?"

She shrugs, turning towards him. "Well, if that's where you're going, that's where I want to be. And I certainly don't want to waste my time sitting around all day, so I will want to go to lessons. Miss Ella says I can go to school, after all."

"Are you ready for school?" I ask, tilting my head to the side. "The Academy is very rigorous, Mids - and I know you're clever, but can you...do advanced math and stuff?"

"I can do plenty math," Midnight growls, turning her glare on me.

“Okay, but like, what about a basic understanding of chemistry?" I ask, tucking my hair back behind my ears, thinking that she – like me - certainly doesn't have the physique for Warrior track, so she very likely would be Espionage, like me.

And what a hell of a spy she'd be.

Or, Ambassador, but...well, my wolf rolls onto her back in my soul, laughing at the prospect.

"What's chemistry?" Midnight snaps out, still glaring.

Slowly, I smile.

Midnight's eyes narrow further. "If I knew what that word meant, I'd likely be offended by your suggestion that I didn't know anything about it. But I probably do. I'm very smart, Ariel, I can do everything."

"Well, I mean, you'd have some time to catch up," I say eagerly. "It's only March now, and enrollment isn't until September -"

"Whoa, whoa," Jesse says, sitting up a little, anxious. "Are we have we decided on this? Is this our plan?"

"Do you not want her to enroll?" I ask, bristling a little.

"You stop that," Jesse snaps, pointing a finger at my face. "You know I was always Team 'Girls in the Academy I'm just saying let's... think about this for a moment. Consider if it's what Midnight really wants amongst her plethora of options."

"Well, if you think you're just going to be springing off to the Academy and leaving me behind to sit on the palace roof for the next few months," Midnight says, sitting quite straight and proud. "That's certainly not going to happen."

Jesse nods consideringly, accepting her thoughts on this issue.

"I think it's a good plan," Midnight says, nodding like it's finished. "I'll come and

study Chemas-tree and ensure the pup doesn't die."

I bite my lip, wondering, because while it would solve one problem for me...does it create more for Jesse? And for Daphne? I mean, when I

spoke to my friend yesterday via net

videocall she was still visibly devastated about losing Jess to a fated mate. Will bringing Midnight around rub salt in the wound?

But then again...will keeping Midnight away for Daphne's sake be completely unfair to Mids?

"Why don't we...take a few days to think on this," Jesse says, his face unusually serious, nodding to both of us. "It's a good idea but I don't think it does a great deal of harm to...consider all sides of the equation."

“Okay,” Midnight says with a shrug.

She lifts her eyes to me. "Does

Jackson even want to return to school now that he has a pup? The book says that some mothers

do

not want to return to their jobs once they have a baby so they can

concentrate on rearing it properly."

 

Chapter 0947

I smile at her, charmed again. "I don't know. Maybe I should have asked before I flipped out, hmm?"

"Probably," she says with a shrug, taking another long sip of her drink as she carefully considers me. "Do you want a puppy, Ariel? Because if it's your mate's puppy, it's going to be around and stuff. You might not like that. I would hate that."

I laugh a little, leaning back against one hand and taking a long sip from my wine as I consider the question. "I think...that yes, I do want her. I want her very much. She's part of Jackson, and that's beautiful to me, and I'm sure as time passes I'll learn that she's beautiful unto herself as well. I'm excited to get to know Marigold as she grows up - that's one of the delights of having a pup, I think. Getting to see who they become, loving them as they grow."

Midnight just stares at me like I'm crazy. "Do you want like...more pups after this one? Like eighteen?"

I laugh and shrug. "Maybe not eighteen. But...yeah, sure, I always imagined that some day I'd have kids. Maybe not in my early twenties, and maybe not starting with a mysterious four-year-old child dropped on my doorstep. But certainly I will want more children someday." I smile a little at the thought - of a passel of pups that are half me and half Jacks.

My heart warms and my wolf lets out an excited little yip.

"Gross," Midnight says on a sigh, bursting the bubble of my happy fantasy and making me break out in laughter. She smiles at me, though, like she supports my dream even if it is not her own. "I am very glad that Jesse and I do not want pups."

"Oh, I want pups," Jesse says, making both of us spin our heads towards him.

"What!?" Midnight breathes, horrified.

"Like Ariel said," Jesse says with a casual shrug, "timeline is important here. I do not want kids anytime soon. But someday, way down the line? A couple of kids to keep me laughing?" He shrugs. "My dad did it in his forties. I could see giving myself twenty more years of debauchery before I allow myself to be domesticated."

I grin at Jesse, pleased by this. He's just...so good with kids, so wonderful with his siblings - in some ways imagining him forever childless is a great shame. But one look at Midnight lets me know that...she is not at all on the same page.

"Jesse, I am never having pups," Midnight whispers.

"I respect that," Jesse says, raising his glass to her, quite serious.

The yurt goes quiet and I look between this pair, honestly wondering where they're going to end up. Because twenty years is a long time and either of them could change their minds. But if they don't?

Where...where does that leave them?

We spend a little more time together up in the yurt, Jesse smoothly changing the subject to something idle and easy. We sip at our drinks and talk casually, but as I look aroun@it's very clear that we're each in our own heads, worrying over our own problems, trying to figure out our own independent futures.

I turn towards the door of the yurt an hour or two later, recognizing Mark's voice.

"Ariel?"

"Hey, Markie!" I call.

The yurt's flap is pushed aside and Mark gives us a small smile. "May I, Midnight?"

"You may, Mark Sinclair," Midnight says, quite magnanimous.

Mark grins and steps in, fixing his eyes on me. "I think you should come down. They've been talking and I don't think dad's ready to give in but...Jacks, I think, is missing you."

"Oh heavens," I say on a sigh, guilt rushing in me. "I haven't been a very supportive mate, have I?"

"Nobody's mad about you taking a minute for yourself, Ari," Mark says as I push to my feet. Jesse does too, collecting our glasses and

murmuring his farewells to Midnight,

swn yes!.ne

promising to come up

later.

"That's very nice of you to say, Markie," I say, stepping close and wrapping an arm around his waist, smiling up at him. “But I've taken more than a minute and I need to beg forgiveness."

"Oh, I'm sure he'll give you hell for it and refuse to accept your apology," Mark says, sarcastic, rolling his eyes.

I laugh and call my goodbyes to Mids, following my little brother out of the yurt and back into the palace, our cousin only a few steps behind.

 

Chapter 0948

When Jesse, Mark, and I arrive back in the living room, I give my father a steady nod of acknowledgement before I move immediately for Jacks.

He reaches for me with one arm, the other stretched out next to Marigold, holding a handful of beads up for her and Seraphina as they sit on the couch, stringing necklaces for each other. I spare a happy little glance at the two of them before tucking myself in close on Jackson's side, wrapping an arm around his waist and looking up into his face.

"Hi," I whisper. “Jacks, I'm so sorry I left like that -"

"It's fine, Ariel," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my hair and pulling me in close against him. A great swell of warmth and love grows in my chest, passed down the bond from Jackson. "You were upset, you needed a minute. It's always fine. Where did you go?"

"To the yurt," I say, looking up at him, still a bit guilty. "I think Midnight is my therapist now."

He laughs, warm and lovely and rumbling. "She's going to charge you an arm and a leg."

"Yes, once Midnight learns about the concept of money, I think we're all screwed," I say on a sigh. "How was it down here?"

"Fine," he says, giving a shrug, I think going far too easy on me because he loves me. "There was some...debate. I didn't participate much."

"You can, you know,” I say, raising my eyes to his. “You don't just have to be grateful. You can tell people what you want." I frown a bit, studying him. "But, do you know what you want?"

"I do not, love," Jackson says with a soft smile, stroking his hand over my hair. “Like we said last night, I need.....a bit of time to think it through."

"Okay," I whisper, nodding, determined to give him all the time and support he needs.

"Ariel?" my father says, coming over, his hands deep in his pockets. I look up to see him looking at me quiet seriously, a frown on his lips. "A moment, please?"

"Of course, dad," I say on a little sigh, patting first Jackson's arm and then Marigold's head as I stand up. The little girl gives me a happy smile before turning her head back to her task, clearly delighted both with her new toys and her new friend.

Dad nods towards the windows and I go and stand with him there, crossing my arms across my chest. He opens his mouth on a deep inhale, but I beat him to it.

"I'm sorry, dad," I say, hunching my shoulders a bit. Dad pauses and slowly closes his mouth. "I was...angry, and temperamental,

-

and... petulant. I'm not backing down from my point I do think you should let Jackson and I stay enrolled in Alpha Academy even if we do bring Marigold along. But..." I glance over at him. "I failed to ask what he wants. And I wish I had taken the time to express myself better. More... patiently." I grimace as I end kind of lamely, looking up at my dad, hoping he gets it.

He smiles softly, stepping closer and running a hand over my hair. "Apology accepted, Ariel. And I apologize, too, for giving a blanket 'no' without thinking on it. I haven't made any decisions yet, and I need to consider all angles, but...you were right in your point that sticking t

I

rutes we made up twenty years ago simply because they're what's

always been done is a flawed way to manage a school, let alone a nation."

I press my mouth into a thin line for a moment before I pitch forward, wrapping my arms around my dad and giving him a big hug. He laughs in surprise before putting his arms around me in turn, tucking me close to his chest. I close my eyes briefly as Flean against him, incredibly grateful to have a dad who, despite being so powerful, truly listens to me.

"I love you, dad," I whisper.

"Love you too, baby," he murmurs, petting my hair. "We'll think about it over the next few days, all right? And we'll come up with the best decision for everyone."

"Okay."

We stay that way for a long moment, until a little knock comes at the door. I lift my head up, peering towards it with a frown, wondering if it's Elias or Ben with news about Pippa. Honestly, she must be close to having her baby by now.

But when Mark opens the door and grimaces in embarrassment, I stand up straight in surprise.

“Hello,” Hank says, looking into and around the room. "Oh wow, you're all here —“

A tiny growl sounds from the couch and I stand straight, dropping my arms from

my dad, my eyes moving immediately to where Marigold leans close to Jackson, snarling like a cornered animal.

 

Chapter 0949

Jackson tenses, snarling too, tucking his daughter a bit behind him as Hank's eyes go wide, staring at the little girl.

"What's going on here?" Jackson growls. "How do you -"

"What is going on?" a voice says. "Dad, let me through -"

Maryam steps forward then, peering into the room with a frown, scowling when her eyes land on Jackson and his extended canines.

But then a little gasping shout of joy sounds and all of our mouths fall open as Marigold pops out from behind Jackson, jumps out from behind the couch, and makes a dash for Maryam.

"Oh my god!" Maryam says with a delighted laugh, reaching for Marigold as the little girl leaps for her. Maryam snatches Marigold up into her arms, turning her in a delighted circle. "Bunny rabbit! What on earth are you doing here!?"

Marigold laughs with joy, beaming up at this woman who she...so clearly knows. I watch in awe as Marigold rests her head on Maryam's shoulder and says a single, happy word. "Maryam!"

"No seriously," Maryam says, her face falling with worry and fear as she glances back at her dad and then narrows her eyes as she glares around at all of us. "What is this child doing here? How did she get here?"

"Maryam," Jackson says, slowly standing to his full, intimidating height. "How on earth do you know my child?"

"Your child," she spits out, laughing in derision - but then she goes still, staring at Jackson and then down at the little girl, and then back and forth at least three more times. "Oh my...oh my god..."

"Um, clearly...some clarifications need to be made," mom says, hurrying to shut the door and give Hank a warm pat on the shoulder as he stares around, clearly shocked and in a bit of awe. "How...how does everyone know each other?"

"Apologies," Hank murmurs, stepping forward, a little awkward. His eyes rest on Marigold and Maryam as he comes to stands next to them. Marigold again bares her teeth, snarling at the doctor, a clear warning to keep away. "As you've clearly all put together, I know this child. I've treated her twice in pop-up clinics outside of the Community. Once for a cough, and once for her vaccines."

Marigold snarls at the word, narrowing her eyes.

el?

"Yes," Maryam says, fonder and gentler than ve seen her before, laughing a little as she grins down at Jackson's daughter. "Bunny did not like her injections, and dad's reputation has suffered for it. But the two of us get on like a house on fire, don't we, Bunbun?"

"But Maryam," Hank says with a sigh, resting his forehead in his hand before looking up at Jacks, guilt all over his face. "Maryam helped me, on both occasions as part of a humanitarian aid force, distributing food to the patients."

"Apples," Marigold whispers, blissful.

"I'm so sorry, Jackson," Hank says, stepping towards him. "Her mother must have used a false name - which makes a great deal of sense, in retrospect - there was no way for me to know -"

"It's fine," Jackson says, his voice flat, his eyes trained on his daughter in Maryam's arms. His hands twitch, clearly resisting the urge to snatch her back.

Maryam, intuiting this, crosses the room, pressing a kiss to Marigold's cheek before she passes the little girl to Jackson's arms. Jackson visibly relaxes, smiling down at his daughter as she rests her head on his shoulder.

"Why...why do you keep calling her Bunny?" Rafe asks, stepping forward, curious.

"Because that's her name," Maryam snaps, rolling her eyes at him. I smirk a little, thinking that no matter what Rafe had said, Maryam was going to throw it back at him like a damned bullet.

"Her name is Marigold," Rafe growls, his voice a low grumble.

My grin widens as I see my ever-calm brother start to lose his temper at the drop

of a hat. Damn, but this Maryam really knows just how to get under his skin. I

laugh a little, thinking it might be good for him.

"Well, she didn't tell me that, did

she?” Maryam snaps, glaring at Rafe

and then turning to smile at

Marigold again. "I think Bunny suits her, anyway. She's just a little fluffy bunny, with these cheeks." Maryam grins, giving Marigold's cheeks a squeeze, making her laugh.

"Please," Hank says, his voice breaking on the word a bit. We all turn to him, surprised by the worry on his face. "Maryam and I are leaving for the North in an hour - and I have to ask...the...the child's mother?"

Hank's face falls as our silence tells him all he needs to know.

 

Chapter 0950

"Oh...oh my god," Maryam says, taking a step back, shock all over her face. She presses a hand to her heart, shaking her head. "She's...gone? That's...that's so fucking awful..."

"You knew her?" I ask, stepping close to Jackson's side and glancing at Marigold, wondering if she should be listening to this.

"She was..." Maryam bites her lip, glancing between me, and Jacks, and the baby — clearly intuiting the whole complicated situation. “She was a really lovely person, Ariel. Really determined, and tough, and strong. And she - she really loved this

one -"

Tears prick Maryam's eyes as she reaches for Marigold, stroking a hand over her hair. And then Maryam turns away, I think not wanting the little girl to see her cry.

"Young women in the North are dying nearly every day for want of medical care," Hank says, his voice grave. Stern, he turns to my father, straightening his shoulders. "I've said it before, Dominic, but I hope you'll listen to me now that the issue has landed on your doorstep. Now that the war with Atalaxia is finished, if you do not turn the entire force of your attention towards the ills of your Northern lands, it will be neglect akin to atrocity."

"And I for one will never forgive you for it," Maryam adds, her voice thick with grief but no less strong for the emotion. I glance at her again, thinking that she's certainly got enough grit to be Queen. Maybe my grandmother knew precisely what she was doing in selecting her as Rafe's mate.

Even if Maryam herself doesn't see it yet.

"I think you're right, Hank," dad says, his voice low and serious. "And if you can delay your trip for an afternoon, we'll convene a council right now and see how we can get started on precisely that work."

I glance up at Jackson by my side, worried for him, wanting his perspective on this. But he just looks back at me stony-faced and shifts his eyes to his little girl, guilt rushing through every bit of him – because he didn't know, couldn't get there fast enough to save her mom.

"I'd like to be part of this, if I may," Rafe asks, stepping forward, quite serious. "Me too," Jesse adds, doing the same.

"Oh, of course you do," Maryam scoffs, rolling her eyes.

Rafe turns to her, wide-eyed, his temper again slipping. "What, now I can't help? I know a lot, Maryam -"

"Oh, you only suddenly want to help because you have some kind of weird crush on me -"

Rafe scoffs. "I so do not!"

"Then where was all of this attention for the people of the North," Maryam shoots back, snapping her hands to her hips, "before we met and your stupid wolf-thing declared me its mate?"

"I was in Atalaxia," Rafe grows, shooting out a hand towards the east. "Fighting a war -"

"Whatever," Maryam sighs, rolling her eyes, making me burst into a ridiculous grin.

"Whatever!?" Rafe sputters, appalled.

"Okay, children!" Mom says, her voice sing-song as she steps between Rafe and Maryam, grinning just like me. "Let's cool down now! We all want to help the Community and think our time is better spent getting to work."

I laugh a little at my mom's cool management of the situation before glancing at Rafe, who scowls, and Maryam, who studies him

quite

smug. Then I turn my eyes up to Jacks, who, as I may have predicted, is already looking down at me.

"You want to be in on these conversations?" I whisper.

"Yes," he says, slow, quite grave. "Yes, Ariel. I very much do."

"Good,” I say, leaning against him and reaching out a hand to pet over Marigold's hair. "I do too."

The little girl smiles at me and I smile right back.

In my soul my wolf raises her snout to the sky, howling with her eagerness to do something to help our people.

Dad moves quickly then, murmuring softly to Roger and Cora as he takes out his phone, clearly contacting his advisors and calling them to an emergency Committee. The room bustles with action - mom helping Seraphina clear up the beads, Mark, Jesse and Rafe moving to stand with dad to see how they can help. But my wolf is very satisfied when Hank tucks his hands behind his back and walks over to us, because Jackson deserves some answers.