The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Archives

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 216-217

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0316

Rafe immediately goes into Prince–mode, continuing to pat Gran on the back while looking up at Luca and quietly mouthing “who is this?”

Luca sighs and gestures towards her. “Rafe, this is my Gran,” he says. “She’s…a big fan.”

“Oh,” Rafe says, his eyebrows going up, because of course we’ve heard a lot about Luca’s

Gran at the Academy. “Oh, with the cake!” he says, laughing a little. And then, I think to everyone’s shock, he puts his hands on Gran’s shoulders and presses her away just a tiny bit. Surprised, Gran opens her eyes and looks up into his face.

And then, in what sounds like perfect Itablio, Rafe says, per la torta. Lo amaro.”

Grazie

Gran gives a loud shout of joy and then starts to cry harder, pulling Rafe close again and tucking her face away against his stomach, crying hard into his shirt.

“Oh my god,” Linda says, hastily putting down the iced tea and reaching for her. “Mom, please

”

“No, it’s okay,” Rafe says, holding out a hand towards Linda and giving her his best Princely smile. His other hand softly strokes Gran’s back in a comforting way. “It’s fine. This… happens sometimes.”

And Linda laughs and rolls her eyes but gives a shrug, like he asked for it. Gran continues to cry softly, starting to pull herself together, as Luca looks awkwardly between all of us, and then over to his uncle.

“Rafe, Jesse,” he says with a sigh, holding a hand out towards his coach. “This is my uncle and my coach, Bruce Grant. Bruce, this is ”

But Bruce just waves a hand at him, clearly indicating that he knows who they are, and Luca hangs his head. He doesn’t look at me anymore even though I stare up into his face.

And it’s all the confirmation I need.

I slowly loosen my arms from around Luca’s waist and take a step away from him, staring at the guilt in the lines of his posture, the sorrow. And then I turn my eyes to Bruce.

“So,” I say, slowly, softly. “You did it.”

he says, crossing

Bruce holds my gaze, his mothin, determined line. “Yes, miss Ariel,‘ his arms as he leans back against a sideboard, at once casual and defensive. “Yes, I did it. I told the press about your relationship with my nephew. And I’d do it again.”

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Rafe glares, hard, at Bruce Grant, but he continues to stroke Gran’s back, clearly unwilling to push her away when she’s still overwhelmed. But this just makes space for Jesse to shine.

“Are you kidding me?” Jesse growls, stepping forward loom over Bruce, who is an inch or two shorter than him. Bruce doesn’t flinch away, instead simply.looking at Jesse with a steady frown. “You had absolutely no right to spread that information to the press. God damn it, you selfish asshole, did you sell it!?”

“Of course I sold it,” Bruce snaps back, glaring at Jesse, not backing down. “I sold it in

all the profits when to him.”

Luca’s name

THES

Rafe gasps, and so does Jesse, and I look up at Luca with sadness in my eyes. Because I’m starting to put it together now- that Bruce did this without Luca’s permission.

But still. Luca is the one reaping all the benefits, isn’t he?

How much did he sell it for? I whisper, directly into Luca’s mind.

Luca shifts his eyes to me, his face grim.

Tell me, I command.

折

Luca drops his eyes. There was a bidding war, he says, his voice echoing in my mind as Jesse and Bruce start to go at it, shouting at each other.

And? I ask, prodding him to continue.

And the final sum was…north of 1.5 million, Luca says, a sigh slipping through his lips.

My eyes flare wide because….because that is one hell of a sum. And while I very much want Luca to have it – especially considering that I have never once in my life wanted for money

But…his uncle made that money selling a story about me, didn’t he? And now it’s all in Luca’s pocket.

God, this is complicated. More complicated than I ever thought it would be.

Honestly, I didn’t know that a story about who I’m mated to could be worth so much. should have had a say in it. That money – it could have gone to aid something, done

something that Luca and I agreed on together.

But now it’s just…his. His uncle took that opportunity from us and seized it all for him.

And the realization that Luca pays his uncle’s salary does not pass me by either.

– but I‘

“You can expect a lawsuit from this,” Rafe says, drawing my attention back to the room as

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he speaks for the first time. Gran has loosened herself from his waist now and is wiping at her face, bustling around the room and straightening pillows before dashing back to the kitchen, probably getting more refreshments.

Chapter 0317

Passively, some part of me is very grateful that Gran speaks a different language from us – I want her to remember this as a nice day, not as the horrible afternoon it already is.

“You can bring along any lawsuit you want,” Bruce says, giving a casual shrug as he meets

Rafe’s eye.

“I didn’t do anything illegal. Can’t sue me for libel, I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”

“You sold a story that wasn’t yours,” Rafe points out, taking an aggressive step towards him.

“Luca’s story too, not just your girl’s, just because she’s high class

“Watch yourself,” Jesse snaps, stepping forward to glare at Bruce.

((

“All right,” Grant says, slowly raising his hands and silently admitting that he’s crossed a line. “You got me there, that was a step too far towards disrespect. But Luca passed me power of attorney for all decisions regarding his public image years ago,” he says, gesturing

over at his nephew.

Luca’s face goes a bit pale as he realizes that this is true, his mouth falling open.

“And,” Grant says, “all I said was that Luca was mated to Princess Ariel. It was a story about him, about his life. I have every right to do that.”

Rafe takes a deep breath and I see the thoughts passing over his face. He frowns because he’s a bit out of his league here when it comes to these sorts of laws. “I’m not sure we’re too worried about the specifics,” Rafe says evenly, dismissing Bruce’s point. “What it comes down to, sir, is that you made an enemy of a very powerful man today, not to mention his entire family. I’m not sure you’ll find moving in this world very easy while Dominic Sinclair looks at you with disapproval.”

“Well,” Bruce says with a sigh, lifting his chin a bit while he meets Rafe’s gaze, clearly holding his stance. “I’ve operated long enough in this world without Dominic Sinclair looking my way at all. So, we’ll have to see how the future goes, whether or not the King approves of me.” Bruce shifts his eyes to Luca now, who is still looking at him, devastated. ” I did what I did for my boy here. And if I go down having put a significant sum in his pocket, and setting him on the right path for his future?” He nods once, steady. “I’ll take it.”

and needing to

My heart hurts now, as I finally figure it out, as I look between Bruce and Luca and remember everything Bruce said last night about Luca having a short career, make what money he can now before someone younger and stronger comes to replace him.

And even though I wouldn’t have done it myself…I get it.

Bruce Grant is a man who is fighting for his nephew, his family, to have everything in a new world in which their immigrant family has clearly struggled to build a life.

And even if I can dislike that I am the one at whose expense this was earned…I can’t hate Bruce for it. Becausę I would fight just as hard for my family in his position. 1

“Why did you do it?” The words fall from my mouth before I can even think about whether

it’s wise for me to ask them.

Everyone in the room turns towards me, and everyone looks grim.

“I did it,” Grant says, holding my gaze, his voice gentler now, I think grateful to have the chance to spell out his reasonings. “Because image–wise, Luca needs a boost. The boxing he’s got – I’m not worried about that. But he’s built too much of his public image up around being a git and a playboy – party animal, womanizer, whatever you want to call it.”

Bruce waves a dismissive hand and Luca hangs his head. I have to work very hard not to move to my mate’s side right now; to

omfort him when he hears the man he cares about so much say such nasty things about his image.

“So?” I ask, keeping my focus on him. “What does being mated to me have to do with that?”

“You, miss,” Bruce says, leaning forward and staring directly into my eyes. “Are like buttermilk. Sweet, clean, and pure. And when the world sees the way he looks at you? How dedicated he is, how in love?” he shakes his head. “One single move, and this boy’s image problems are fixed. You saved him.”

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 211-215

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0311

I nod, getting it now, unlacing my fingers from behind his neck and starting to run them again through his hair, liking Jackson more now than I have before, which is…saying

–

Chapter 0312

“Oh, come on,” Jackson says, keeping his spot on the window seat and spreading out his hands, the seriousness of his gesture ruined a bit by the fact that he’s holding a raspberry pastry. “Do any of you honestly think that my presence at the Grant family home is going to help anything today?”

“It’s going to help Ariel,” Jesse says, eyebrows raised, pointing at me. My own eyebrows go

because…I mean, is it?

“Ariel can handle herself,” Jackson sighs, rolling his eyes a little bit and dropping his hands to his knees. “I mean, I get being over–protective in the Academy where people are trying to beat the shit out of her

“You included,” Jesse says, crossing his arms and glaring at my mate.

Jackson just returns his glare and keeps going. “But, Ariel is smart and capable she doesn’t need her big brute mate coming along when she’s got her big brute brother and big brute cousin at her side. Besides, you know my being there is just going to set Luca off. It’s not worth it.”

I beam a little at my mate, because even if he is declining to come and defend my honor, he’s doing it because he thinks that I’m perfectly capable of defending myself. And there’s something really nice in that – in Jackson’s utter faith in me.

I send a grateful, warm little pulse down our bond, letting him know that I love that he sees me that way, and Jackson turns to give me a little wink before returning his gaze to Rafe and Jesse.

“Nah, I think he’s right,” Rafe says, turning to Jesse. “Jackson’s great backup, and he’s on Ari’s side, but in this case…it might be too much backup. Showing up to a knife fight with a rocket launcher. We want to keep this quiet, even if we do want to get to the bottom of it. Ariel’s two mates getting into a brawl before Luca’s fight isn’t going to help anyone.” i

Jesse scowls but puts his hands up, willing to be outvoted. But then he turns his head to Jacks. “So, what are you going to do all morning, then?”

“I don’t know,” Jacks says, giving a shrug, looking between the three of us. “Ella said something about…shoes.”

“Shoes?” I ask, bursting into a grin, dead pleased.

“Yeah,” he says with a confused frown, even though he doesn’t seem bothered by it. Then he looks down at himself and gestures casually with his hand towards his new clothes. “She did all of…this…yesterday.”

“Ohhhh,” Jesse says, grinning now as Jackson looks back up at us. “So that’s where the glow- up came from- Auntie Ells.”

“What’s a glow up?” Jackson asks, frowning.

I can’t help my laughter as I grin at my mate. “Wait, so…mom took you shopping?”

“She brought the shopping here,” he says, frowning a little at the memory. “She came and

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takes a moment. Jesse talks a lot, and he says it all fast. “Aren’t I your best friend?”

“Oh, no, that’s Jackson now,” Jesse says, his face falling into mock apologetic lines as he points over at my mate. Rafe’s jaw drops open in pretend shock as he presses a hand to his heart, making me laugh. “Yes, we came to new terms on a cliff outside the Academy the night Ariel told everyone she has two mates. It was a very traumatic experience, but very bonding.”

“All right, all right,” Jackson sighs, releasing me from his arms and putting his hands up like he gives in and just wants it all to end. I laugh and move over slightly, sitting next to him in the window seat instead of in his lap. “What’s going on, anyway?”

“We come bearing breakfast,” Jesse says with a broad grin, moving forward and handing Jackson and I each a pastry.

“And also, a ride,” Rafe adds, crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his head back towards the door. “Car’s waiting outside to take us to Luca’s house. Time to go give him a piece of our collective mind.”

I beam at my brother and my cousin, thrilled that they knew that this is precisely what I’d want to do next, and that put this in order so that I didn’t have to bother with the details. I take a bite of my pastry and jump to my feet. “Great!” I say, wiping crumbs from my lips. ” Let’s go! I want to get to the bottom of this.”

Rafe nods to me and then turns his eyes to Jackson. “You coming, McClintock?”

I look back eagerly at Jackson, but my face falls when I see him hesitate.

“Well…” Jackson says, a little awkward, running a hand through his hair. “You’re kidding me, right!?” Jesse sputters out.

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something. He’s right, though he doesn’t have some of the more annoying and disgusting habits of our culture’s masculinity. He just never learned them.

“I don’t want you to think that I’m dismissing this,” Jackson murmurs, lifting a hand to softly stroke my cheek. “I respect that you’re a public figure – and I’m proud of you for that. I think you take it seriously, and I…I like that. So, if this hurts you, and you’re mad about it, then I’m mad about it. But…if you’re worried that I’m wounded by this?”

Jackson just shrugs, like bullshit like this can’t even touch him.

And I grin, and pull him closer, and press a simple kiss to his mouth.

“You’re amazing, Jacks,” I say, shaking my head in awe a little. “You’re so lovely.”

“Do you want me to be madder about this?” he asks, genuine and earnest. “Because I can be angrier, if that’s what you want.” And then he forces his face into more rigid lines, growling again, and I laugh as I feel the rumble of it in his chest. “This stupid…magazine!” he grumbles, taking it from my hands and tossing it to the floor, clearly trying to figure out how to perform an appropriate level of

rage for my sake. “I’ll…beat up that reporter! I’ll…punch. Luca!”

I burst into laughter now, taking his cheeks between my hands and shaking my head, urging him to stop.

Jackson laughs too and then shrugs. “Actually, I won’t punch Luca,” he murmurs, smiling down at me. “Because…I mean, I really want him to win tonight, and I’m really strong and would seriously mess him up. So. If you want me to punch him, I’ll have to save it for tomorrow.”

“Don’t punch him,” I murmur, sighing happily, absolutely adoring my big tough Alpha. ” But thank you for offering, baby, it’s very sweet.”

A little shiver passes through Jackson when I call him baby, and he looks away from me, think hoping I didn’t notice. But I did, and I grin.

“Baby,” I murmur, turning his face back to me, and he groans and brings his mouth to mine, kissing me swiftly and burying a hand in my hair, absolutely sweeping me away.

We both sigh in disappointment when the door opens.

“Oh, gross,” Jesse says, and I turn to see him standing stoop–shouldered in the doorway, a pastry in each hand. “Rafe, my best friend is kissing my cousin! And it’s gross.”

“Oh, shut up, Jesse,” Rafe says, shoving him into the room and closing the door behind them. “It’s not like I haven’t had to watch you make out with people like, a million times.”

“Yes, but this time it’s Ariel, and I am the one having to do the seeing, and it’s very terrible, Rafe, honestly – I might need a nap – I have to recover from this shock –”

“Wait,” Rafe says, frowning at Jesse and processing what he said before – which sometimes

takes a moment. Jesse talks a lot, and he says it all fast. “Aren’t I your best friend?”

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“All right, all right,” Jackson sighs, releasing me from his arms and putting his hands up like

gives in and just wants it all to end. I laugh and move over slightly, sitting next to him in the window seat instead of in his lap. “What’s going on, anyway?”

“We come bearing breakfast,” Jesse says with a broad grin, moving forward and handing Jackson and I each a pastry.

Rafe nods to me and then turns his eyes to Jackson. “You coming, McClintock?”

I look back eagerly at Jackson, but my face falls when I see him hesitate.

“Well…” Jackson says, a little awkward, running a hand through his hair. “You’re kidding me, right!?” Jesse sputters out.

Chapter 0313

‘Have fun with mom,” I say, straightening up. “She’s nice to you, right?”

“She’s so nice to me.” He replies, eyes wide, like he can’t believe how nice mom is to him. But we all know her, and so we just smile again, pleased to see him feeling cozy and cared for.

“Okay, we’ll be back as soon as we can,” Rafe says, turning towards the door. “And then we’ll try to come rescue you before mom picks out your 80(th) pair of shoes.”

“That’s impossible…” Jackson murmurs with a frown, standing to follow us out the door and go find mom. “80 pairs of shoes…no one has that many.”

“So, you haven’t shown him your closet yet?” Jesse asks, grinning at me.

“I am a lady, Jesse,” I say, waving goodbye to Jacks as he turns back towards the breakfast room, “Jackson has seen no part of my room, let alone my closet. A princess must keep her

secrets.”

“Oh, yeah right,” Jesse laughs, striding forward with me and Rafe towards the front of the palace, where the car they’ve arranged is waiting. “You have simply lacked the opportunity.” “Yeah well,” I murmur, pitching my voice low so Rafe doesn’t hear me as well. “If I did get him in my room, I wouldn’t be showing him my shoes.”

Jesse bursts into laugher but then turns it into a gag, pretending to be horrified and disgusted at the idea, which just makes me laugh more. Rafe gives us a little glare as we reach the car, wondering what’s going on, but we just wave him off and he shrugs, deciding that he’s better off not knowing.

When we all climb into the car, though, things turn a little bit more serious as we all mutually turn our minds back to the problem at hand. I’m a little bit grateful, if I’m being honest, for the distraction that a bit of laughter brought me – it’s been kind of an intense morning. But now that we’re driving the short distance to Luca’s house, I set my mind on what’s really important: getting to the bottom of who released this information, and what the

consequences should be.

Because if it really was Luca – I mean, I’m going to be devastated.

But how, honestly, should I react?

Should I…break up with him? Refuse to go to the fight? But no, even if I’ll be horribly hurt, both of those options seem just…way too extreme.

My wolf turns anxiously inside me at the idea of breaking up with Luca, about what that would do to our heart. But what, really, would my option be? Because…even if he’s my mate, I couldn’t let him walk all over me like that.

But did he even do it? And if he didn’t, who did?

I’m still puzzling over it and by their quiet, Jesse and Rafe are too – when we pull up to Luca’s house. Rafe curses under his breath when he sees that there are a couple of press vans spread out along the street, clearly covering Luca’s activities before his big match tonight.

And, perhaps, looking out for a royal sighting.

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Which we’re absolutely about to give them.

“All right,” Jesse says on a sigh, looking between Rafe and me. “Nothing we haven’t done before. Just into the house as fast as possible, right?”

–

“What, are we just going to barge in without knocking?” Rafe asks, his face clearly letting us know that this isn’t a great idea.

But I see Luca’s mom at the door peering out at it, looking closely at the black town car with tinted windows that’s stopped outside her front door, and then I see her turn to call to someone inside.

“It’s not going to be a problem,” I say, reaching over Rafe to open his door and giving him a hearty push, urging him to get out. “Go now. Let’s get inside.”

–

Rafe follows my lead, getting out of the car and putting out a hand to help me, which I take. Then, together – Jesse a few steps behind – we stride towards the house.

By the time we get to the front steps, shouts from the press vans let us know that we’ve been spotted. They shout our names, trying to get us to turn so they can get a shot. We quicken our pace.

But before we can get to the door and slip inside, Luca’s already pushing through it, his face desperate.

“Ariel!” he shouts, already shaking his head, reaching for me. Before I can stop him, he crosses the porch to me, taking my face in his hands, staring down into my eyes. “Ariel I am so sorry – I did not do this

–

“Not the time or the place, Grant,” Rafe growls, using the bulk of his body to block us from the sight of the press behind us, which are currently running towards the house to see if they can get a shot of our encounter. Jesse strides forward, clasping a hand on Luca’s shoulder to get his attention.

Unwilling, Luca drags his eyes from my shocked face to look at Jesse.

“Inside,” Jesse growls, fierce, giving him a hard shove “Unless you’re trying to get more. publicity out of my cousin?”

Luca blushes a deep, ashamed red and steps away from me.

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Chapter 0314

I watch Luca’s face change as he realizes that he’s causing a scene, and that this does indeed look like a press setup. Luca coming running out of the house to clasp my face in his hands, when he could have easily just let us come inside?

–

Yeah, it really does loo

to everyone here the press included, probably like he deliberately came outside so that the press could get a shot of us on the front porch.

But no one else can feel Luca’s emotions like I do right now he’s devastated, completely out of control of how he’s feeling. Which, I mean, really could affect his choices, right?

“I’m sorry,” Luca mutters, his eyes back on me now as he drops my face and stumbles back towards his screen door, yanking it open. “Please yes, come inside-

We do, and I duck my head, staying close to Rafe’s side, hoping that the paparazzi didn’t get anything that they could use. I mean, it’s not like anything bad happened – but if pictures of me on Luca’s porch this morning come out with Rafe and Jesse by my side? Who knows where social media is going to take it.

The speculations, I’m sure, are already wild.

Jesse closes the door behind him and shakes his head at Luca, clearly pissed off. “What the hell was that all about?” he asks, gesturing towards the press.

They’ve been here all day!” Luca explains, shooting out a hand, I think desperate to be believed. I watch him closely, and honestly I don’t think that he’s acting- not at all. He seems to me to be really upset. I take a step towards him, wanting to comfort my mate, but Rafe. reaches out to touch my arm just slightly asking me, silently, to hold back for a minute.

I hesitate, but do as Rafe asks, letting my brother take charge. “You’re not an idiot, Luca,” Rafe says, his voice low, his eyes narrowed. “You’re a celebrity – you know how press works. You know not to go running out on the front porch unless you want them to see it. So, what the hell was that? What the hell is all of this?”

Rafe crosses his arms, getting angrier at Luca as the moments pass.

I look between my brother and my mate, thinking again that this whole thing doesn’t look great for Luca.

And my heart sinks because…I mean, honestly, I think this whole time I didn’t really believe that he broke the story. But…did he?

“Come on,” a voice rings out from behind Luca, and I peer around him a bit to see his mom standing there, her face very serious, her arms crossed over her chest. “They can still see you,” she says, lifting her chin to where press are gathered around the porch, aiming their cameras through the large window in the front door. I mean, I doubt they’re getting anything they can use, but Linda is right – they can see us.

“Why don’t you all come into the living room, where there’s a bit more privacy?” Linda gestures towards the room before walking into it, clearly suggesting we follow.

Luca sighs, shaking his head and gritting his teeth, realizing that he’s doing this all wrong.” But then he turns, gesturing to where his mother is waiting. “Yes, of course, please come

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inside,” he says, falling back on the manners which I’m sure his mom drilled into him as a child.

Rafe and Jesse glance at each other but then move, following Linda into the living room. I go last, glancing at the window and all the hungry press outside, wondering how the hell we’re going to get out of here.

Inside the living room I see Luca murmuring his introductions between the Crown Prince, the Duke, and his mom, but the whole time his eyes are searching for me. I just cross my arms and wait for him to finish, my face not giving anything away.

Linda smiles politely at Rafe and Jesse, shaking their hands, before sighing and recrossing her arms. “Well, I’m not going to insult you by pretending that I don’t know why you’re here, and why you’re upset.” She gives Luca a little glare that makes my stomach drop – because, I mean, if his own mom is mad at him….

“We didn’t mean to disturb you, ma’am,” Rafe says, nodding apologetically. “But –”

“No, you’re very welcome here,” she says, holding up a hand to stop him as she turns away. I’ll let you talk and will bring you some iced tea.” With that she leaves the room, leaving the three of us to turn back to Luca.

“I didn’t do it,” Luca says immediately, holding out his hands towards us.

My heart instantly lightens and I grit my teeth, wanting so terribly badly to believe him.

“I promise,” he says, locking eyes with me now and shaking his head slowly back and forth.” Ariel, I didn’t know that the story got leaked – I swear it, I didn’t tell anyone, and I was completely shocked this morning when the reporter asked me if you were my mate

Chapter 0315

“You were shocked?” Jesse asks, stepping forward, wanting more details.

“Yes!” Luca says, almost shouting in his need to be believed. “She was asking me about the match, and life at the Academy, and then she just dropped the question about my mate in there casual as hell! I think she knew I was going to be shocked – wanted to surprise me! And if you read the way it’s written in the article that I blushed, and stumbled over my words that was all me having no idea that this was coming!”

Rafe and Jesse just glare, not buying it – not yet.

“Do you think I don’t know how much this fucks things up for her!?” Luca says, gesturing towards me now and then looking into my face, ignoring my brother and my cousin now, knowing that this is deep down about us. “Ariel,” he says, stepping forward, though Rafe puts out a hand to stop him from getting to me – knowing that my judgment is compromised by physical touch with my mates.

Luca glares at Rafe for a second but then gives in, dropping his hand and looking at me again. “Ariel, I would never do that to you,” he says, pressing his hands to his heart and willing me to believe him. “I know that this is not my story alone that you have a right to hold your secrets, and that you live a very private life on purpose! You have to believe me.

And as Luca stares at me with his big brown eyes, passing all his love and earnestness and truth down the bond to me – I believe him. I do, instantly. There’s just…no room for deception here he’s too raw, too open.

–

“Okay,” I say, my voice breaking a little as I step forward, reaching for him. Rafe drops hist hand and Luca groans aloud as I dart to him, wrapping my arms around his waist as he gathers me close. “Okay, Luca,” I whisper. “I believe you.”

Jesse sighs, believing my belief in Luca, but still not finished here. “Why didn’t you deny it, Luca?” he snaps, still mad. “That would have fixed a lot

“You can’t lie to the press, Jesse,” Luca says, frowning at him. I loosen my arms around him a little so that I can look to see Jesse’s expression, but I don’t let Luca go. “The best you can say is no comment, but you can’t lie if it ever comes out one day that Ariel is my mate then they have me on record as a liar, and you can’t get away from that

“Well then why didn’t you say no comment?” Rafe asks, folding his arms and still frowning at my mate, I think pleased to know that our friend didn’t betray us but still unhappy with the whole situation.

“I basically did!” Luca says, his voice raising again in self–defense. “I just said a lot of noncommittal things about how Ariel’s a lovely girl and how my love life is private – I thought that was all better than a cheeky, blushy ‘no comment,‘ which just sounds staged!”

“It makes sense, Rafe,” I say softly, wanting to come to my mate’s defense. Because if he didn’t do this, then he’s on our side and doesn’t deserve to be interrogated anymore. But if he didn’t do it…

I see the same question forming on Rafe’s tongue, but before he can ask it, there’s a soft cry from the kitchen and then the door bursts open, a blur of grey and blue dashing through it.

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“Principe!”

The tiny figure dashes immediately for Rafe, shouting his name in desperate tones, sounding almost as if she’s crying. And then suddenly Luca’s Gran has her arms around Rafe’s waist, squeezing him tight as she shouts his name and his title over and over, her eyes pressed shut with little tears at the corners.

Rafe stumbles back, a little shocked, and Luca groans, reaching for her, but I hold him back, letting her have her hug. Jesse grins, a little delighted, and Rafe glances around at us for a second before lowering his arms and patting Gran warmly on the back.

“Principe Rafe!” Gran cries, clearly having the best moment of her life. “Mio preferito!”

I have a very, very hard time keeping the smile from my face as I watch her meet her idol.

But my smile falls immediately as Luca’s mom comes back into the room with a tray of iced tea, followed closely by his uncle.

And Luca’s uncle looks stern as hell, and ready for battle.

Which can only mean…one thing.

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 207-210

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0307

“Ariel, darling,” mom says, reaching out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Tell me, sweetheart, how are you feeling about this?”

I look up at my mom, trying to sort through my feelings, trying to figure it out. Because on one hand… I mean, he is my mate – it’s just the truth, and it was going to come out sometime. And why should Luca have to deny who his mate is, or hide it, when the press asked him? If it were any other mating bond, just between two people, I’m not sure it would be as big of a deal.

But…I mean, that’s not our situation at all, is it?

Passively, I look down at the article, reading enough to gather that it is a laudatory piece. The press is, apparently, thrilled that I’m mated to Luca Grant – it marks us officially as the cutest new couple in the celebrity world and suggests that everyone’s rooting for our future. Especially today, with Luca in the spotlight and so much at stake, everyone is thrilled to have the Princess at his side while he fights for our national pride against the enemy.

But…even if it’s good…it’s not what I wanted. Not right now anyway

“I…would have liked to be asked,” I say quietly, raising my eyes to look up into my mom’s eyes and then around the table at my sympathetic family. “It’s not a small thing to tell the world that someone’s your mate, especially when you’re already someone in the public eye. I should have been asked. I should have had…some control over it, at least been part of the interview.”

Rafe and Jesse stand coldly, still pissed and not even willing to be as fair as I’m trying to be in this moment. But Ben nods warmly towards me, and Daphne presses her mouth into a commiserating line, her expression letting me know that she understands and feels for me.

I look to the other side of the table, where Markie looks worried and Juniper stares at me evenly, like this is nothing I can’t handle/Uncle Roger gathers Cora to his side and looks at me with sympathy, like he understands how important a mating bond is, and how intrinsic honesty is between those who share it.

And as I look around at my family and friends, all so eager to support me in my own way, I feel so incredibly bolstered. Like I can certainly handle this, as Junie’s expression suggests. like it’s really not the end of the world, even if it felt that way a minute ago.

I’m even almost smiling as I turn back to my mom.

agree completely, baby,” mom murmurs, again wrapping me in a hug as I turn my attention back to her and dad.

“It’s a betrayal,” dad says, meeting my eyes over my mom’s shoulder and giving me a steady nod. “We’re not going to stand for it, Ariel. You deserve better than this. You’re absolutely right – you should have had a say in whether or not this article came out today. It’s unacceptable that you did not.

Dad’s words are sharp and precise, but beneath them I take in his real meaning: that Luca’s in big trouble with the most powerful Alpha in the nation right now, and that he’d better watch out. Champion or not, my dad is going to have some words for him, if not more.

I press my eyes shut, taking a deep breath and letting my mom hug me tighter. Because I hate

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that Luca’s in hot water with my family now he’s my mate, and obviously I want everyone to get along.

But, well…if he did this?

Doesn’t he deserve it?

As I tuck my head down against my mom’s neck, soaking in her comfort as she strokes my back and I try to figure out how I feel, I hear the breakfast room door creak open. The room again goes quiet, and I lift my head, kind of dreading this.

But my jaw drops.

–

Because…I mean, I knew who it was going to be – or at least had a really good idea and I know that a hard conversation is coming.

But I had no idea Jackson was going to look like that.

Chapter 0308

He’s standing there holding the breakfast room door open with one broad hand, frowning around at all of us, looking like a god damn model. Somehow, he got his hands on a really nice pair of jeans, and a blue button–down shirt that looks like it was made for him, rolled up to his elbows. His look is all very simple, which suits him, but it’s very clearly expensive and tailored. And it suits his body completely, making him look…honestly, almost a little unreal, unnaturally perfect.

But the real coup is his hair. Jackson has always had a longish, shaggy mess of hair that really worked for his brutal, controlled–ferocity sort of vibe. But some genius has transformed that into a style, cropping Jackson’s hair closer on the sides and trimming the ends so that they’re more even. Now his hair falls into his face in a soft curtain of silky brown, and he just looks…

God, he looks like I want to jump him right now.

But if Jackson notices the effect his new appearance has on me, he doesn’t let me see it, instead quickly surveying the room and realizing that something is wrong.

When his eyes fall on me, and he sees the trace of devastation left on my face, and puts together that something happened to me?

His response is immediate.

“What is it,” he growls, slamming the door shut and striding into the room so that he stands. across the table from me, leaning far across the wood to lock his eyes with me, smacking his hand down against the surface. “Who did this to you? Are you all right? What happened?”

Jackson absolutely ignores everyone else in the room and a swell of joy and pride rises in me, pride for my big scary Alpha mate who is ready to tear the world apart because something made me sad.

“I’m okay,” I say, putting a hand out on the table like he’s doing, not reaching for him but wanting to be closer. “I promise, Jacks, I’m okay.”

Incrementally Jackson relaxes, standing taller and starting to look around the room. I do the same, a little entertained by the shock on almost everyone’s faces. But some people aren’t shocked, or don’t show it. My eyes move first to Rafe, Jesse, and my dad, who look stern and pleased, like this is precisely the reaction they were expecting from him.

And then to my mom, who I see is bursting with pride for Jackson as well, not at all startled by a huge man storming around and slamming his hand on tables, demanding answers. That’s just a normal Tuesday morning for her, after all.

And then to Cora who is…perhaps a little too appreciative of Jackson’s glow–up to be shocked by anything else.

“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Jackson asks, his voice tense as he clearly works to balance his desire to intercede and make it all better with his need to be polite.

I sigh and untangle myself from my mom, standing and rolling one of the magazines up so Jackson can’t see the cover not just yet.

–

“Come on, Jacks,” I say, moving around the table towards him and gesturing towards the

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door. “Let’s go somewhere quiet – I’ll explain.”

“Wait no, don’t go!” Jesse gasps. “I want to see this!”

Juniper bursts into laughter at Jesse, who she always finds much funnier than any of her actual siblings.

“This is not for your entertainment, Jess,” Rafe snaps under his breath, turning to glare at

our cousin.

Jesse slumps down into his chair, frowning up at Rafe. “Everything is for my entertainment.” I ignore them as I reach Jackson, looping my hand around his elbow and looking up into his gorgeous face for a long moment, willing him to relax, to see that I’m all right and that this is manageable. Feeling these emotions down our bond, Jackson sighs and his shoulders loosen.

I take a moment to glance to my parents. My dad looks at me sternly but nods, just a tiny movement, to let me know that he trusts me to handle this with my mate. And my mom just beams at the two of us, her hands clasped delightedly beneath her chin. I can’t help smiling at her mom, she’s just so pure.

“Come on,” I say softly to Jackson, tugging on his arm. “Let’s go somewhere and have a

chat.”

Chapter 0309

He nods to me, and we duck out of the room.

I take Jackson down a few doors to dad’s study. Not his office, where he does all of his big work but a peaceful room where he goes to relax and think, or to have little intimate chats with his closest advisors, or mom, or Rafe, or me. Or Markie and June now, I suppose, now that they’re all grown up too.

I can’t help but smile when Jackson walks into the room like he owns it, like he’s been there a thousand times. It’s not that he’s being conceited – Jackson just doesn’t care to look around and admire the furnishings or dad’s books. He only cares about me – this room could be filled with rubbish, for all he would notice. Jackson moves instantly to the window seat, sitting and opening his arms, a clear invitation for me to come close.

I press the door shut and go to him, exhaling in relief when he pulls me to his chest and then up into his lap, helping me to curl comfortably against him in the circle of his arms. When I’m nestled in tight, his voice rumbles out, deep and reassuring. “Tell me.

And so I do. I hold up the magazine so that he can see it, telling him all of the details of what it contains – about someone spilling about how Luca and I are mated, and the press running with it, and printing all sorts of images that confirm it. Jackson listens closely, letting me talk, only glaring a little bit at the picture of me kissing Luca. I have to fight my smile when I see him do that, and I quickly turn the page to get away from it.

When it’s all finished, Jackson nods quietly, thinking it through. “So, do you think Luca did. it? Told the press?”

“I don’t know,” I murmur, leaning into Jackson’s warmth. “It isn’t…something I think is beyond him.”

“What do you mean?” Jackson asks, confused and a little horrified. And as I look up at him, I realize it’s because he’d never do something like this- it wouldn’t even enter his head. So he doesn’t get the motive not at all.

“Luca…likes being a celebrity, Jacks,” I say quietly, staring up into his face. “And that’s not a bad thing Jesse likes it too, and Rafe and I don’t mind it. But Luca actively cultivates it- he’s talked to the press about his romantic relationships before. And considering how positive this article is…Luca telling the press this big news the day of his big fight? It…I can see how it would be tempting. The ratings for the fight will probably go sky high.”

“But he knew it would upset you,” Jackson says, frowning.

I stare up at him, and pur hand out flat on his chest, wanting to be close when I clarify things for him. “Jacks, Luca knew it would upset you.

“What?” he breathes, screwing up his face in confusion.

“Think about it,” I say, sitting up a little straighter, wanting to ensure that he understands. ” If Luca did this, then he knows that I’m going to be mad at it – but he knows that I’ll eventually forgive him, This isn’t the sort of thing I’d leave him over not in the long run, not with how…important he is to me.”

Jackson’s face goes a little dark when he hears me say that, but he doesn’t say anything,

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listening closely.

“But Jacks,” I continue, lifting a hand to cup his cheek, “in doing this, Luca also basically made it impossible for you to claim me publicly as your mate.”

Jackson’s expression doesn’t change – he still just frowns in confusion.

“Whoever did this made it so that the two of us – me and you, Jacks? We can’t be seen in public together romantically – you can’t hold my hand, or kiss me, or pick me up, or give any indication that we’re romantically involved. At all. Not where anyone with a camera could

catch us.”

“What!?” Jackson breathes, his eyes going wide as the gravity of the whole situation sets in.

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Chapter 0310

“I’m a public figure too,” I explain to Jackson, incredibly sorry, “and…my reputation, unfortunately, matters. If Luca has confirmed to the entire nation that I’m his mate, and then I’m stepping out with this super hot Alpha, kissing him in the streets? The press is going to tear me to pieces – call me unfaithful, say that I’ve betrayed Luca. No one will believe me that I have two mates – everyone will say that I’m a liar. And…I mean, as a political figure…I can’t be seen as a liar.‘

“Oh,” Jackson says, his eyes unfocusing as he looks away from me and starts to process this. “So…he claimed you first. So that I couldn’t.‘

“If he did it,” I say softly, needing that to be stated. Because, well, while it doesn’t look precisely good for Luca right now…I’m not willing to damn him without confronting him first and getting the truth from his own lips.

Still, Luca isn’t my priority in this moment.

are you!

about this,” I murmur, softly running my fingers through Jackson’s newly cropped hair, loving the way that it feels against my skin. I feel so much calmer than I did even half an hour ago

and it’s not only that I got a chance to process everything, but also because Jackson is here, holding me, being steady and warm as he always is.

He turns his head to me, frowning consideringly. “How do you want me to feel about it?” I scoff and smack him lightly on the shoulder. “I want you to feel how you feel!” Jackson laughs a little, his pretty blue eyes crinkling. “Okay, I just…I mean, I want to support you, Ariel. And I think that if he did this then it was an absolutely horrible thing to do – you should be livid. You’re right- it’s not up to one person in a pair to make unilateral decisions regarding these kinds of announcements. He took that from you.

I nod, grateful for his support, but I smack him again. “You’re dodging the question.” He laughs at me, smiling, and I can’t help but grin back “How do you feel, Jacks?”

“Don’t be mad at me,” he murmurs, leaning forward and gently pressing his forehead to mine. “But Ariel…for me? I…I don’t really care.”

that

“What!?” I squeak, and Jackson grins, pulling me tighter, liking that sound. And I lift my arms, wrapping them around his neck as I shake my head at him. “Jackson, this was a blow to you! He took a shot, he made a move to actively counter your claim on me! That’s bullshit!”

“He took a shot,” Jackson murmurs, “but it didn’t land, Ariel. I just…I’m not wounded by this. It’s not something that’s important to me.”

“Please explain,” I sigh, leaning back a little and letting my fingers lace together behind his neck. “I don’t get it. How does this not piss you off?”

Jackson takes a deep breath, thinking for a moment before he speaks, trying to put words to his emotions, which I know is sometimes foreign to him. “If Luca did this, then he did it at least partially to piss me off, thinking that I’d get jealous. But I’m just not jealous of this sort of thing.”

He shifts his eyes back to me, looking a little worried that he won’t express himself clearly. I

+ BONUS

nod to him, encouraging.

“I have a very visceral reaction, Ariel,” he murmurs, “when I see Luca touch you. That’s difficult for me. And I did…” he growls a little, the sound rumbling in his chest, and I can’t help but smile, “I did not like that picture of you and him on the porch, in the magazine.”

I bite my lip, a little pleased, but he moves on.

“But this more…abstract jealousy? Where like, he has a claim on you, and it matters because other people know about it? And that’s supposed to bother me?” Jackson shakes his head, clearly indicating that he thinks it’s nonsense. “I don’t think that’s a natural response, Ariel I think that’s a very cultural thing – having to like, announce to the world that this woman is your woman, and getting all pissed off when someone else looks at her the wrong way.”

I look at him curiously, needing more.

Jackson sighs a little, wanting to be clear. “I don’t….care if anyone else knows that I’m your mate, Ariel. Don’t take that the wrong way but what other people think and feel about our relationship? It doesn’t matter to me the only thing that matters is you being here, in my arms, where you belong.”

He says this last bit with an edge of a growl on his words and I grin at this, pleased.

“I didn’t grow up here,” Jackson continues, looking at me steadily. “I didn’t…learn how to be jealous like that how to get mad and possessive because some other guy announces to the nation that you’re his girl, when I know you’re mine. I think it’s kind of…dumb.”

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 205-206

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0305

–

I got home a little too late to see anyone. I mean, Rafe was probably awake somewhere, but I didn’t really feel like going to find him, so instead I simply cracked open the door to my parent’s room and called softly inside to let them know that I was home – groggy affirmations greeted me from both, which made me smile. I left Rafe’s special cake on the coffee table with a little note of explanation, laughing a little, and then I went to bed.

I wake up late, and immediately looked for Daphne, but then I sigh when I remembered that mom moved her to her own bedroom last night. Scowling, I pull myself out of bed and dress casually for breakfast, wishing she was here so I could tell her what happened with Luca’s uncle last night and get her perspective. Daphne’s really even–headed – she’d definitely give me good advice on how to handle this.

My stomach growls as I yawn and pull a hairbrush through my hair, so when I finally set out for breakfast I’m definitely eager to get there.

But when I push open the door to the breakfast room…

Instantly, I know that something’s wrong. The room goes from hushed, angry whispers to absolute silence as heads turn and see me standing at the door.

“What,” I say, freezing with my hand on the door, my eyes going wide. “What’s wrong?” Rafe, Ben, and Jesse sit at one end of the table, Daphne between them, all huddled over a copy of a magazine. Juniper lounges at the other end of the table, sighing like she’s so bored by all of it, and Markie freezes stock still at the sideboard, where he is loading up probably his third plate of bacon and eggs for breakfast, staring anxiously my way. Cora and Roger stand with him, but Cora just grimaces when I come in and Roger looks at me with a great deal of pity. that makes me feel even worse – because if even Roger isn’t teasing me!?

God, something really is wrong.

Frantic, I move my gaze to my parents, who are sitting at the center of the table right in front of me. “Come in, Ariel,” my mom says on a heavy sigh, putting down her own copy of the same magazine that Rafe and my friends are looking at. When I glance around the table again, I see another copy at Markie’s seat, and one more in front of Juniper.

“What?” I ask, worried. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing, baby,” mom murmurs, standing up and starting to come around the table towards me as my dad stays stoically in his seat, his arms crossed, looking pissed as hell. “It’s obviously not nothing,” I reply, my voice getting higher as I become more frantic. I look around the room suddenly, realizing that Jackson isn’t here. I gasp, and stumble back a step, starting to freak out. “Where is Jacks? Did he – he didn’t – where –”

“Ari!” Mom says, finally reaching me and taking me by the shoulders and looking me in the eye. “Jackson is fine, he’s just late for breakfast, like you. Probably figuring out how to put on a pair of jeans – it’s all a very new world for him. Okay? Just…come in, darling, close the door. We’ll talk about it as a family.”

A huge sigh of relief rushes from my lungs at my mom’s assurance that Jackson is fine, just late and struggling with fashion. Because she wouldn’t lie to me she wouldn’t say that he

+TS BONUS

was okay if she knew he wasn’t.

Still, something is happening, and with the whole way the room is looking at me right now, it’s obviously got something to do with me.

“Mom?” I ask, my voice tight with worry as she guides me around the table to the seat next to her, where Cora brings me a cup of tea with milk and sugar. “What’s what’s going on?”

SUWA

“Sweetheart,” my mom says, sitting down next to me, and taking both of my hands in hers. Now, I don’t want you to freak out – ”

“Oh, just tell her, Ella,” Cora sighs, putting her hands on her hips and rolling her eyes as she stands straight. “You’re making it all worse with all this coddling.”

“I am not!” mom protests, her jaw falling open as she gapes up at her sister.

“You totally are! You –”

Jesse comes to my rescue, standing and tossing a copy of the magazine halfway down the length of the table so that it smacks right in front of me. It’s upside down so I don’t catch all the details, but my eyes go wide when I see my own face on one half of the cover, beaming.

“Someone spilled the beans, Ari,” Jesse says, crossing his arms and glaring at me not at

of course, but angry and looking me steadily in the eyes. “About you being mated to Luca.”

me,

Chapter 0306

“What!?” I gasp, grabbing the magazine and lifting it up, reading the headline and realizing that the other half of the cover is, of course, a picture of Luca in his boxer’s getup – which, essentially, just means sweaty and shirtless. And, of course, he looks stupidly good with his boxing gloves up by his face, his expression all tough and gritty and determined.

But I tear my eyes away from the picture of my handsome mate to read the headline splashed across both of us.

“CONFIRMED: LUCA GRANT MATED TO PRINCESS ARIEL.”

“Ohhh my god,” I murmur, my fingers tightening against the cover in my shock. Because, I mean, it’s not a secret within our inner circles that Luca and I are mated – but this is not public knowledge, and certainly not something my parents would have wanted me to announce so openly and so early on in my relationship.

–

—

And, especially, since I have you know a second mate that’s going to complicate all of this this is not at all a good thing for me.

But who did this?

I mean, I know that my family knows, and that Luca told his mom and his uncle, but to everyone else he introduced me to last night – he always said girlfriend, never mate. Because that’s incredibly personal, and considering who I am, and what my position is within this world…

God, spilling this to the press? It’s a huge betrayal.

My fingers hesitate, a little, as I begin to flick through the pages of the magazine, because I am suddenly quite terrified that I know who leaked this…

Someone who…who quite likes the attention of the press. And is incredibly proud to be mated to me. Someone who wants everyone to know that we’re mated, especially since there’s another claim on my affections that he’s quite eager to dismiss.

And suddenly I can’t. I can’t read the article. I sigh, and press the magazine shut in my hands like that could keep my secret inside.

I just…can’t get the confirmation, if it’s there at all, that Luca did this. I don’t know what I’ll do if that turns out to be the truth.

A little unsteady, I look up at my mother. “Mom?” I whisper, not really knowing what I’m asking, staring at her with all of my horror in my eyes.

“Oh, sweetie,” she says, her words sounding like her heart is breaking, and she reaches for me in an instant, wrapping me up in a hug and pulling me half off my chair, half onto hers.

“Did he do it?” I whisper, horrified, not wanting an answer.

“The article is unclear, sugar,” she replies, her voice grave. “He…he didn’t deny it, when he was asked by the reporter.”

I sit up straight, surprised and confused, wanting to see her face. “But then, who…”

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“It reads that ‘a source close to Luca Grant‘ confirmed that you two are mates,” dad says, and mom leans back a little so that I can look into my father’s stern face. He’s not mad at me, obviously, but I can tell that he’s keeping his temper on quite a tight leash.

“And then Luca was interviewed at his gym early this morning,” Rafe adds from across the table. I look over to see him standing, his hands in his pockets, his face sorry for me. Next to him, Ben and Daphne look exactly the same. Jesse just looks pissed as hell, and starts across the room to pour himself a cup of coffee that he probably doesn’t need, just wanting something to do. As he does, Markie slips back into his seat next to Juniper, watching everything with wide–eyed attention.

June looks at me with more empathy than I’d expect. But, then again, she is my sister. Maybe I don’t give her more credit.

“Well,” I say with a sigh, reaching for the magazine again. “what does the interview say?”

“The interviewer blankly told him that she was told that he is mated to you, and asked if he would confirm it,” Jesse says, his words clipped as he sloshes creamer into his coffee before turning to me, his cup tight in his hands. “Apparently Luca blushed and was very charmingly evasive, but he smiled and didn’t deny it.”

“Which we all know is tantamount to confirmation,” Rafe says, his voice dry and disappointed.

I groan a little, looking down at the magazine in my hands, devastated by this betrayal. I start to flick through the pages now, noting the pictures that they captured – pictures of Luca and me holding hands at the train station. Luca and me leaving his gym yesterday. Luca and me kissing on his front porch last night.

I gasp at this last one because while paparazzi might easily have caught the other two this one?

–

It’s just too intimate like the photographer knew just where to stand to get this shot.

Like someone tipped them off.

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 201-204

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0301

At Luca’s house, the company is really the thing that shines. His cousins and family are just so funny – they’re also a little bit mean to each other, in a teasing, familial insult is lined with love and is so damn funny that I’m laughing until my sides ache.

way, but

every

And of course, my sides aching makes it difficult to get down all of the food that’s pressed in my hands. But considering how delicious it is, I definitely prevail in my quest to eat absolutely everything. God, I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten so much or so well. There’s plate after plate of pasta, and meat, and seafood and then the sweets! Cookies, and little slices. of coffee–soaked pastries, and gran’s coffee cake, served with coffee addition, considering how many tiny glasses of clear liquor I’ve been passed and drank. I’ve never had it before, but it’s delicious, and tastes like licorice.

BAN

which is a good

“Ugh, how are you not fat,” I groan, leaning against Luca on the couch as one of his cousins takes what is probably my ninth plate away. Luca grins and slips an arm around my shoulders.

“I know, it’s the greatest disappointment of Gran’s life that she can’t fatten me up,” he murmurs, smiling around the room at the family he so clearly loves, who shout and joke and play with each other. “If it were up to her I’d be like…a little beachball, unable to get up off this couch, just hers to keep and pet and love and feed, as she likes to do.”

My eyes drift to the little fat dog that sits on the back of the couch behind Luca in what is clearly his habitual spot, his tongue lolling happily out of his mouth and his legs sticking out comfortably from his belly. “You mean like Valentino, over there?” I point at the adorable old pup and Luca bursts into laugher.

“Yes,” he says, nodding and tightening his arm around me, “just like Valentino, her favorite

son.”

I smile up at Luca, buzzing with happiness, completely charmed by all of this. “I like your family,” I whisper. “They’re really great.”

“Your family now too,” he murmurs, dropping his head a bit to press a kiss to my mouth. ” The girls are all really excited. They want me to leave you alone with them so they can have a good gossip with you but I told them not tonight.”

“I can do that tonight!” I say, sitting up, eager, and looking around. “I miss girlfriends. Where are they all? I’ll go now.”

Luca just laughs and lifts his chin towards the clock on the wall. “Little late for that,

1/2

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Princess,” he says with a sigh. “It’s midnight.”

“It is?” I gasp, my eyes going wide as I follow his gaze. I shake my head, awed, because I can’t believe it’s that late. And then I gasp again, spinning back to Luca. “Oh no, you should go to bed! Luca!” I put my hands on his chest, desperately sorry to have kept him up has a huge day tomorrow! He should already be asleep!

“Don’t,” Luca whispers, smiling and shaking his head, bringing his face close enough that our noses nearly brush. “This was way better than sleep. I loved having you here, Ariel, it was so important to me.” He lifts a hand to brush his knuckles down the length of my cheek and I can’t help leaning forward to kiss him. I do my best to keep it chaste I’m in his family’s house after all – but…well, it’s difficult, isn’t it?

–

Luca – he’s just so amazing, and confident and handsome and sweet. I can’t get enough.

He kisses me back for a long moment and then sighs as he breaks it, slipping his hand into mine.

“I should go,” I whisper.

“Want me to come back to the palace with you?” he asks quietly, a little hesitant and as he asks I realize that part of Luca very much wants me to ask him to come back, even if it’s not what would be best for his fight tomorrow.

“No, sweetheart,” I say, shaking my head with a smile as I push back a little of the hair that’s fallen into his face. “You let your Gran tuck you in tonight. Tomorrow we’ll have more fun, after you win.”

Luca bursts into a grin at my confidence, and then he nods, because he knows that I’m right. But as he stands, offering a hand to pull me up with him, I know in my heart that if I did ask him to come to the palace with me tonight…he would have done it. And I’m not really sure what to do with that level of power over the nation’s champion.

Chapter 0302

We walk slowly to the front porch, murmuring our plans for tomorrow. His family lets me go with a few calls of goodbye, but without much fuss. I’m warmed by this by the casual goodbye of family members who know they’ll see you soon, and so don’t need to make a big deal out of it. As we step onto the front porch though, Luca’s grandmother calls him back, saying something in swift Itablio.

Luca sighs, hesitating but stepping away from me. “She wants you to take a slice of cake to Rafe – is that all right? I know it’s ridiculous, but

((

“Of course I will,” I say, laughing and pushing him towards her. “I’ll call Captain Conner – you get the cake.” Luca nods, smiling his dazzling smile at me, and then he steps back into the house with his Gran. I make a quick call to Conner, who let’s me know he’s just around the corner and will bring the car up.

I sigh happily, looking down the dark street, but I jump slightly when a shadow detaches itself from the corner of the porch and steps forward towards me. “Did you enjoy yourself tonight, miss Ariel?”

I press a hand to my heart, laughing a little at how skittish I am when I see that it’s just Luca’s uncle, who was out here enjoying a quiet cigarette. “Yes,” I say, nodding when I get some of my equanimity back. “Your family is lovely – thank you so much for making me

feel so warm and welcome.‘

})

“You are very welcome here,” Bruce says, nodding evenly to me, and I can tell that he means it by the serious way he says it. “You’re family now, and I’m glad we’ve let you know that. Even if I didn’t think the party was a good idea.”

My face falls a little. “You didn’t?”

–

Bruce glances at me for a moment, perhaps takes in my crestfallen expression. “It’s nothing

about

you, miss you’ve been nothing but a lady tonight, and I’m grateful for it. Some of the girls that boy brought home,” he shakes his head contemplatively here, “…they were a mess. But you did very well. Still – I told him to hold off introducing you until after the fight to just concentrate on what needed to be done. But he insisted.” Bruce shrugs, like Luca’s a problem he can’t quite solve and has resigned himself to that fate. “And his mother and his gran indulged him, like they always do.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head and feeling guilty – because as lovely as tonight was, perhaps Bruce is right. Luca should already be in bed, he should be thinking about the fight tomorrow, not me. It is a big deal to be boxing against the Atalaxian champion and…well.

by M

1/2

+15 BONUS

This party could have waited, couldn’t it?

“I should have thought of that,” I murmur, dropping my head to look at the wood of the porch.

“Well, perhaps you should have,” Bruce murmurs, and I raise my head to look at him, my eyebrows raised. Because I meant it – I should have thought of Luca’s responsibilities, should have encouraged him to delay the party. But…I didn’t really expect Bruce to agree with me.

He looks at me evenly now, assessing me, his mouth pressed to a thin line.

“Do you mind, miss?” he says quietly, seriously. “If I say something true to you, might not want to hear?”

that

you

Anxious, but wanting to know, I nod.

Bruce nods quickly and then looks away into the dark. “Luca is a talented boy – ambitious, hardworking, and he’s got a left hook like I’ve never seen. But his emotions run high- and he lets them. He’s got a temper, which I’m sure you’ve seen

((

He glances at me and I eagerly nod my confirmation, which makes him smirk fondly and shake his head.

–

“The temper’s just the start of it, though. He lets his emotions run him, sometimes, gets his damn heart into something and can’t quit it even when it’s not good for him. Or he quits something good because he got his feelings hurt. That’s why I say he’s been a damned fool with women dates them all, loves some who treat him like crap, breaks up with others over the pettiest nonsense. But he lets it run him, lets it wreck him. He likes the intensity of it, I think – and that love for thrill and passion makes him a good boxer but…” he sighs, shaking his head, lost a bit in his thoughts. “It’s not always wonderful for his career.”

I turn my head to the side, suddenly confused because…

Is Luca’s uncle suggesting, right now, that him being mated to me is bad for Luca’s career!?

Chapter 0303

I’m quiet for a moment, thinking of the ways that Bruce’s assessment of his nephew – who is so much more of a son to him – line up with my own experiences with my mate. It’s true that Luca is emotional, though I’m not sure I’d have thought of him that way before now.

Luca’s willful, and bossy, and controlling

and he can be a little petty when things go his way, like when he didn’t talk to me after he found out, in the dream state, that I’m a girl. But I guess I never attributed all of that to Luca being hot–blooded, as it were. Of being someone who feels things so strongly that he has trouble controlling his intense reactions to them.

I turn my head for a moment, a little lost in my thoughts, because…well, because I think I’ve been thinking lately that Jackson is the more emotional of my two mates, deep down.

But secretly, is it Luca? Does he have an entire well of emotion that he likes to keep veiled under a thousand confident smiles and jokes?

God, how did I miss that?

“I hope we can rely on you,” Bruce says quietly, again drawing my attention back to him. ” To…help Luca.”

“Of course you can, “I say instantly, meaning it utterly as I link my hands earnestly behind my back.

–

“Yes,” Bruce murmurs thoughtfully, studying me. “I can see that you’re a good girl, Ariel and I mean that. You’re a nice young lady, you clearly care about my boy you want to do right by him. And I appreciate and admire that for you. But…Luca has his own career, and his life, that I’m not sure lines up completely with yours.”

My eyes go wide, because…what?

–

“Again, I don’t think it’s anything you’ve done,” he says, drifting his hand through the air between us in an ameliorating way. “I just…well, you’re a Princess, aren’t you? And you’ve got mixed up in this Academy,

St as he has. I told him not to do that not to go joining the military, but he liked the idea of being a hero, of serving his nation.” Bruce rolls his eyes a little here. “But he didn’t really care about Moon Valley – what he liked was the fact that the magazines called him a hero. He didn’t really – ”

“I’m sorry,” I say, interrupting a little and starting to get frustrated because – well, because I’m kind of getting the impression that I’m being a little insulted, frankly. “What does this have to do with me being good for him?”

1/2

+15 BONUS

“I’m sorry, you’re right – I’m tired,” Bruce says, sighing and dropping his head, collecting his thoughts. “What I mean to say is that…Luca has responsibilities.” He lifts his head now, meeting my eyes. “He bought this house for his grandmother and his mother, which was a good thing to do. He bought that gym, too, and he pays for all of those boys to train there got them all off the street. He gives them a monthly stipend, too, so they can afford to not work – to just train.”

I go quite still because…I did not know that Luca did that.

Bruce nods, seeing my understanding now. “Luca’s made money, and he’s been successful, but his career has an end–date. He’s young and he’s strong now, but he’s not going to be forever. There’s always someone younger and stronger coming up the ranks. So Luca needs to win the prize fights while he can, and invest the money wisely so that he can continue to support the women who raised him, and continue to give back to his community. Which is why I don’t like him throwing a party for you the night before the biggest fight of his life.” I step back a little, feeling like I’ve been slapped. Because I didn’t ask for this party but…

€

Chapter 0304

Well. I didn’t think about it either, did I?

I set my jaw, offended and guilty all at once.

“I’m sorry,” Bruce says, shaking his head as he sees my expression. “It’s just…I think it would be good for Luca, and helpful, if you really understood his situation, and his world. You need to help him make the right choices. He’s a good boy – and I can see he loves you. But he’s someone who lets his emotions run away with him. He needs a bit of guidance to make the right choices and you can help with that.”

—

“I will help him,” I say, steady, meaning it. “In whatever way I can.”

“I hope we can count on you for that,” Bruce says, holding my gaze, giving me a steady nod.

Luca comes out of the house before I can respond, a plate of coffee cake wrapped in tinfoil in his hands, a big smile on his face. At the same moment, car pulls around the corner, headlights flashing.

Luca smiles at his uncle, who nods and walks back to his corner of the porch, before coming to slip an arm around me, frowning at the car. “I was hoping for a moment for a quiet goodbye,” he says, sighing.

“That’s okay,” I say, smiling up at my mate and standing on my toes as I take the plate from his hand, begging silently for a kiss. Luca grins and then obliges me, kissing me softly and pulling me close for a moment as Conner’s car pulls to the front of the house.

“Thank you for coming,” he says. “This was amazing. Everything I wanted it to be.”

“It really was,” I say, honestly meaning it and unable to help my smile. “But you will get some sleep, yes? And tomorrow I’ll see you at the fight.”

“You’ll be there?” he asks, a little desperate, almost as if he’s worried that I won’t.

“I promise!” I say, laughing and grinning up at him. “I can’t wait. It’s going to be amazing. I’ll be right in the Royal box – right up front. You won’t be able to miss me.”

“Good,” he says, tugging me close one more time and planting a kiss on my forehead before starting to walk me to the car.

Bruce calls a goodnight after me, and I give him a little wave, but as Luca gives me a final kiss goodnight and tucks me away in the car, I can’t stop my mind from wandering over everything Bruce said about Luca, and his life, and his responsibilities, and my role in it all.

1/2

+15 BONUS

Because it really does make me wonder…am I the best thing for Luca right now? Can I really support his career? Or…is dating a Princess going to be a huge distraction for him?

I sigh, sinking back into the seat, disturbed by it all. I want, more than anything, for Luca to have the best life he can to have a wonderful career, to support his family, to continue doing this work he never even told me about to help boys that must be so like he was when he was an angry teenager.

But how do I do that?

“Did you have fun?” Conner asks, glancing over at me.

“I did,” I return, tucking my thoughts away and giving him a friendly smile. “It was an amazing night.”

“Did you bring me some cake?” he asks, raising an eyebrow and nodding to the plate in my lap.

“Oh no,

“I say quite seriously, “this cake is for Prince Rafe. Exclusively.”

Conner bursts into laughter, and I begin to tell the story of Luca’s Gran and her Royal favorite, who is clearly not me.

And as we drive…I can’t help but worry that the same might be true of Luca’s uncle as well.

2/2

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 199-200

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

hapter 0299

“No,” I laugh, wrinkling my nose at him and smacking him playfully on the chest. “I don’t want to give you any encouragement.‘

Luca growls, snatching me closer, willing me to tell what I’m thinking. And I can’t help it I just laugh and lean back against his

whisper, blushing a little because I’arm. “I kind of like it when you’re bossy with me,” I

not sure I even knew I liked that. And I’m sure I

wouldn’t like it with anyone else, not at all.

But with Luca?

He just groans, his eyes fluttering half sh…

tugging me closer and taking a long languid sniff of my scent. “I’ll boss you around all you want, Princess,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “I’ll even

“Not in real life,” I say, pointing my finger into his face and narrowing my eyes. “Just in bed. Or…locker room. As it were.‘

”

Luca grins, and nods once, and snaps his teeth just millimeters from the edge of my finger, making me jump and laugh again.

But then we both jump, and then go still, at the pounding at Luca’s locker room door.

“Your grandmother is waiting for you, Luca!” his uncle’s voice shouts from the other side.

And I gasp and press my hands to my mouth because

forgot.

Ampeely lost entire track of the world o

my god, because I completely of this room, if I’m being honest.

“Yup,” Luca says, glancing up at the clock with a grimace. “We’d better go.” Hastily he stands up, setting me on my wobbly feet, and I frantically spin for the mirror, wanting to make sure I at least look like I haven’t been making out my boyfriend in his private the locker room.

with

“Coming!” Luca calls when his uncle knocks again. Then Luca moves to the little pile of clothes that we knocked to the floor a few minutes ago,

Ling his undershirt and pulling

it over his head. He turns to me and grins as the shirt pulls over his face, ruffling his wet hair.

And everything is just so perfect in this moment I can’t help but grin right back at my mate before I turn to the mirror and fix my hair. Because I’m a

my mate’s family. And the least I can do is be presentableincess, after all, about to meet

A huge cheer erupts when we walk into Luca’s house, hand–in–hand, and I gasp, completely

+15 BONUS

undone by it.

“Sorry,” Luca says, giving me a grimace even though he can’t stop smiling. “I told them that not everyone could come and meet you today – just the essentials. But I guess they… didn’t listen.”

I flick my eyes up at him, grinning like crazy, but there’s no time to respond before Luca’s family swarms forward, reaching out their hands to me, eager to make me welcome. So, I just pass all of my feelings down our bond, letting him know that I love it, and I feel so warm and loved already, and I’m thrilled to meet all of them

–

every single one.

Luca introduces me as his girlfriend, telling me a lot of names I unfortunately won’t remember as I shake hands with his family members, saying my hellos and giving everyone my best Princess smile. But then I find myself facing a woman who holds both hands out to me, a beautiful smile on her face. I take her hands in mine, and as I look up into her warm brown

eyes, and take in her own set of perfect dimples, I know instantly that it’s Luca’s mom. “Welcome, Ariel,” she says, beaming at me. “It’s so nice to meet you –”

“It’s so nice to meet you too!” I say, eager, walking with her as she leads me forward – but we don’t get far before a very tiny, very eager little woman steps towards us, both of her hands out, smiling so hard that her eyes are two little half moons on her face. “La Principessa!” she shouts, thrilled, and then before I know it I’m wrapped up in her arms.

I laugh, hugging her back, letting her rock me back and forth. Behind me, I hear Luca laugh goodheartedly.

“Ariel, this is my grandmother,” he says, and I turn my head to smile at him before pulling away from the old woman a little bit and beaming down into her face. She shakes her head at me like she can’t believe I’m real. But then she blinks and looks around behind me. She

murmurs something in words I don’t understand, and I turn with real surprise when Luca responds in the same language.

Chapter 0300

I stare at him, shocked, and Luca just grins at me. “Do you – do you speak Itablio?” I ask.

“I mean, just a little,” he says with a shrug as his family moves eagerly around us, setting out food and drinks, turning on music.

“Of course he speaks Itablio, it’s his native tongue!” his mother says, laughing and coming to press a fizzy orange drink into my hand.

“It is?” I gasp, still staring at Luca. He just laughs and looks away, maybe a little bashful. “Where!” his Gran says suddenly, pulling my attention back to her. “Where…Rafe!”

“What?” I ask, baffled but bursting into a grin.

“Where…Rafe!” she repeats, looking around the room eagerly.

Luca’s mom laughs and slips an arm around her mother’s shoulder, grinning and speaking quietly to her in their language. I look to Luca, curious.

“Yeah,” Luca says, stepping closer and running a coy hand through his hair. “I kind of forgot to mention that Gran is…kind of obsessed with the royal family.” He lifts his chin towards the corner of the room, and I turn to see a picture of my mom on the wall, looking saintly and smiling beatifically, holding a little baby Rafe in her arms, their cheeks pressed together. A candle burns beneath the painting, and it’s clear that it’s very well cared for.

My mouth drops open in shock and delight.

“Rafe is her favorite,” Luca continues, and I burst out laughing, turning my face back up to his. “She is going to be bummed when she found out that it’s just the Princess today, and not her precious Prince.”

“Principe Rafe!” Gran says again, clapping her hands. “He so…handsome!” Luca’s mom laughs, picking up the end of our conversation.

“Don’t listen to Luca,” she says to me, rolling her eyes at her son. “Gran is, of course, thrilled to meet you, Ariel. We all are.” She opens her arms to me now, and I go to her, letting her wrap me up in her arms too. “I always prayed he had a mate,” Luca’s mom whispers to me, holding me tight, and a true warmth rushes through me at her words. “I didn’t realize he’d be lucky enough to get you.”

She pulls back a little, and cups my cheek in her palm, her eyes filled with tears.

+15 BONUS

“Mommm,” Luca groans, reaching for me. “I’ve been telling her that our family is fun

She laughs, pulling away and shaking her head. “You’re right, you’re right!” she says.

“Call

me Linda, Ariel – and please, yes, eat! Drink! Have fun! You’re partying with the Grant’s now, and Luca is right – we are a good time.”

–

Over the next few hours, I learn that this is absolutely true. Luca’s family instantly makes everything easy, pulling me into the cozy, well–worn living room and sweeping me up in their conversation like I’ve been there a hundred times like I’ve always been there, honestly. I mean, they ask me about my life as Princess, of course, but his family works hard to ensure that I am instantly comfortable in Luca’s home, immediately included in all of the jokes. As time slips by I don’t all feel the revered Princess – which I don’t like, anyway, if I’m being honest but instead like Luca’s new girlfriend, accepted and loved.

Or at least, I’m feeling quite accepted and loved by everyone in the room except Luca’s uncle, who stands in the corner nursing a beer and frowning, staring into space. He doesn’t make it clear that I’m the source of his dissatisfaction, but he doesn’t look at me.

And the way he scowls down at his drink and refuses any food my gut. What possible reason have I given him to not like me?

man, but anxiety twists in

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 198

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0298

And when I do, Luca’s right there, holding me tight.

I tilt my head up, looking into his eyes, and he cups my cheek in his hand, looking seriously down into

face.

“You win,” I murmur, and he bursts into laughter as I tuck my head under his chin, and press my flushed cheek against his chest, and try to catch my breath.

Luca gives me a moment, rocking me back and forth, until I think he can feel me come back to myself more completely. He kisses me softly on the side of the head. “You okay?” he murmurs, curious and a little concerned.

I raise my head to glare at him a little, and then pass all of my emotions down our bond to him so I don’t have to both

putting it all into words. He grins as he feels them – figures out that it felt amazing, and overpowering, and delicious, and wonderful, and scary. All at once.

I just sigh and murmur that I’m fine, shaking my head at the understatement.

Luca tightens his arms around me and, and I can feel his own joy pulsing through him. “Wait till you see what I can do with my tongue,” he murmurs.

My head whips up, my eyes a little wide, because if that wasn’t the full extent of it…

Luca just laughs, and traces the shape of my bottom lip with his thumb, and shakes his head,

staring at me like he could never look at me long enough. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, making me smile. “And very sexy.”

This just makes me blush, and laugh, and look away from him a little bit, down at the floor, because that I find hard to believe.

“What?” he says, brushing his hand along my jaw and turning my head to look back up at him. “You don’t think so?”

“Luca,” I groan, tucking myself closer to him and looking away, blushing a bit. Because, I mean, I’ve gotten used to the idea that I’m pretty, but sexy!? No, Daphne’s sexy, with her curves and her smirks. But me? I’m just cute at best.

“What?” he protests, laughing again.

But I shake my head, sighing and looking up at him. “I just went to pieces in front of you in under two minutes, and made the most ridiculous assortment of obscene sounds, and you want me to believe I was sexy!?”

“Really sexy obscene sounds,” he murmurs, nudging me playfully with his nose, and I groan and cover my face with his hands. “I’m serious, Ariel!” he says, laughing more and tightening his arms around me, making me listen to him. “I could very happily spend a few happy days

in bed with you, making you make those noises.”

laid

“Oh my god,” I moan, laughing a little against his chest, but…not hating the idea. Not at all.

“I am not at all kidding,” he murmurs, but I’m immediately more at ease. Luca, he really does know me – knows what I like, knows what will make me laugh, knows what I need emotionally and, clearly, physically.

+15 BONUS

I sigh happily, dropping my hands and looking into his eyes, believing him just a little bit. Because, I mean, the emotions that are coming down the bond to me match what he’s saying he was very turned on by it all. Luca simply nods, smiling at me, and I wind my arms around

–

his neck. “And when do I get a chance to wring some embarrassing sounds out of you?”

“Oh, five to six years,” he murmurs, grinning and giving me a quick kiss, “after I’ve had a chance to lick every inch of you over and over again.” He quickly dips his head then, demonstrating his meaning by giving me a long, languid lick up the length of my neck, making me shudder all over. I laugh, unable to help it, every nerve in my body still tender from what he just did to me. I swat him away, and he complies.

Luca’s face drops into more serious lines as he contemplates me. “I’m sorry,

” he says, looking into my eyes. “If that was…too much, with the bet and…pressing you up against the lockers. You’re just very sexy when you’re all worked up, and I have trouble not…stoking the fire.”

“No,” I whisper, tightening my arms around him and pulling him a little closer. “I liked it too. I kind of…” I hesitate, biting my lip.

“What?” he prods, smiling his pleasure.

Today’s Bonus Offer

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 197

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0297

I moan again, hard, as Luca touches me, his hand moving slowly lower, sliding his fingers against the slick skin he finds there. Subtly, moving without even thinking about it, I shift my feet further apart, wanting him to touch me deeper, wanting more.

“Good girl,” Luca murmurs, his voice a purr in my ear. I shift my eyes upwards towards him, my vision hazy, not understanding because – because what’s good

because what’s good – what did I –

But Luca just shakes his head and kisses me again, passing words down our bond. Don’t think, he instructs, his voice a tender purr. Just feel.

And so I do as he says – I give myself over to the sensations as Luca gently strokes me, his fingers nimble as he expertly finds just the precise spot where I want him to press. And then, slowly, he begins to stroke and tease me there, his movements a steady rhythm that builds something in me – a heat, and a need, and a desperate flame that seeks to burn to destroy everything in its path and wipe everything out with it.

–

I tear my mouth to the side, unable to handle the intensity of it, his name a breath on my lips. He shifts again then, moving his hand away from that spot, and the building intensity inside of me wanes in a way that makes me gasp in protest, my eyes opening, seeking his, wanting to know why

Luca just smiles at me, and shakes his head, and shifts his hand lower so that his fingers press at my entrance. His thumb takes their place higher up, turning in slow circles that make me shiver.

But now that I feel him there, at my entrance, his fingers teasing, just barely pressing in it’s all I want. My hips buck forward on their own, urging him onward, wanting him to feel him fill me. But Luca just pulls back, denying me what I want. I groan, and shiver, and stare up at him, not understanding, my mind absolutely blank with anything but want for him. at him, not understanding, my m

My entire body now is tense with wanting it, my knees shaking, because I’m close – I’m so close – and he’s deliberately holding back now. I shake my head at him, not understanding, my panting moans coming with almost every breath.

Luca smiles at me, delicious and wicked, and he drops the hand that’s pinning my wrist to the lockers above me. He wraps that hand in the hair that grows at the base of my neck instead, pulling gently, just enough to make me moan so loud at the intensity of it that I’m not sure the entire gym outside doesn’t hear.

די

Not that I care. Not that I care about anything right now, except

“Beg me,” he breathes into my ear, before his tongue licks me, just once, across my earlobe and then down the length of my neck. “Beg me for it, Ariel.”

I resist for just a moment, but then god – fuck – I give in.

“Please,” I groan, eager to obey, eager to give him anything he wants, if he’ll just… “Please, Luca,” I say again, shaking my head, hardly able to bear it.

My mate instantly obeys, turning my head back to his and capturing my mouth with his lips as his hand shifts lower, as two of his fingers press inside of me, as his thumb flicks harder against that point at the crest of me that makes me shiver and gasp. Luca’s fingers pulse once,

+15 BONUS

twice, and then they curl deliciously forward

The moan that tumbles from my mouth is intense as I spill over, as whatever dam within me. breaks and the sensation races through my body. Luca holds me tight, kissing me through it as. his fingers continue to curl in that way that shatters me, that sends sparks through my blood, that feels like a living flame consuming me from the inside out. I groan, and shudder, shaking against him as little sobs break from my lips. I barely notice, can barely describe it, but somehow it feels like wind rushes through the room – raising the hair off my sweaty neck, carrying sparks with it.

And then it subsides, and I’m panting, and Luca’s got one arm tight around my back, the other withdrawing from me and slipping around to the back of my leg as I gasp against him, my knees going weak, completely unable to hold myself up anymore.

But Luca’s there, shushing softly to me, holding me tight. He quickly steps back to sit down on the bench and takes me with him, gathering me up into his lap as I go to puddy in his arms, resting my head against him as the feeling echoes through me, pounding and then fading, less and less, until I can breathe again, until I can come back to myself.

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 193-196

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0293

Luca, true to his word, showers quickly, continuing to tell me about his morning and how his uncle kicked the crap out of him, not impressed at all by anything that he learned at the Academy and taking the day to drill back into him all of his old techniques.

“I mean,” Luca says, turning off the shower. “He’s not wrong I’ve got to remember the basics that I’ve had drilled into me for years, or else I’ll get sloppy. But I did learn some stuff at the Academy, and I’m a little frustrated that he won’t even let me think of incorporating it into any of my strategy.”

“Uh–huh,” I say, completely distracted, sitting prim and straight on the little bench before Luca’s small set of lockers, my hands on my knees, staring at the flimsy curtain, thinking hard about what’s behind it.

I remember, suddenly, the first time that I saw Luca n*ked – in the locker room, while I was waiting to take my own shower, and I had gone

Watching the water slip down his skin, over his

ely still, just…staring at him.

fill his mouth with it, and then let it spill out over his line

God, god.

rip the curt

Watched him tilt his head back and

Suddenly all I want to do is leap forward and back, and grab him

But Luca beats me to it.

I jump as he rips the curtain back, and my eyes go wide because…

God damn it – crap – crap but he’s gorgeous.

Luca – he’s a celebrity heartthrob for a reason, and as I stare at him,

at him, a white towel slung low over his hips, running a hand through his hair that’s darker now that it’s all wet…I know precisely why he’s almost always included in the top 10 of any “Most Eligible” list.

He’s just…beautiful.

My eyes drift down his b*dy, flicking over his wide, muscled shoulders, toned from

years of determination and training, of hours and hours in the gym, working towards his singular goal of being the best at his art. Over his pecs and his insane abs that ripple like a damn washboard, all the way down to the sharp V of his hips, to where it disappears into his towel.

When my eyes move back up to Luca’s face – his perfect, too–handsome, even pretty face I see him smirking at me, clearly intuiting my admiration and enjoying the hell out of my shell–shocked expression, probably feeling every inch of my insane desire down

our bond.

1/2

+15 BONUS

“Oh whatever,” I huff, crossing my arms as I blush, a little embarrassed to be caught out in my lust while he’s apparently perfectly composed. “You’re into me too!”

“Damn right I am,” he murmurs, taking a step forward towards me that makes something burn low in my stomach, makes me go loose and tense all at once. But to my shock, Luca just continues smirking at me for a moment before he shifts his attention to the lockers behind me, reaching for one and apparently completely ignoring me.

I can’t help the indignant squeak that slips from my lips as Luca opens the locker and starts to rifle inside, pulling out some clothes and stacking them on the bench next to me. I just stare, open–mouthed, at my mate- who is apparently very, very willing to ignore my desire for him right now.

Suddenly very miffed, I snap my mouth shut and glare at him, tightening my arms across my ch*st and sending every single one of my emotions down the bond so that he knows precisely how offended, and frustrated, and well, yes, a little hurt – I am, so that there’s no chance he can ignore it anymore.

To my shock, Luca just laughs lightly, a dark and ironic sound, pressing his eyes shut as he turns away from me and pulls on his underwear beneath the towel, and then lets that drop to the ground, and then starts on his pants. I have to admit, I’m a little distracted by the sight, but not enough to overlook the fact that my mate is very able to just ignore me now, when we’re alone in our non–dream bodies for like, the first time ever.

Chapter 0294

“Ariel,” Luca sighs, shaking his head and smiling as he turns back to me, buttoning his pants. “It’s not going to happen like this.”

“What’s not going to happen!?” I ask, tossing out a hand.

“It’s…” Luca says, his emphasis on the word, and his raised eyebrow making it very clear what he means, “not going to happen like this.”

I jump to my feet in protest, my hands fisted at my side. “Luca!” I hiss, angry. “I mean, you don’t get to decide that for both of us! There are two of us here!”

He sighs a little through his nose, frustrated, and then lightning–fast he reaches for me, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me tight against

num, running his fingers through my

hair and wrapping them lightly around the back of my n*ck before I have time to even think, to process what’s going on.

“Do you seriously want to lose your virginity in a locker room, Ariel?” he murmurs, smirking down at me, shaking his head and staring into my eyes with his pretty brown ones. “With my uncle, and your b*dyguard, and a passel of teenage boys on the other side of that wall?” He nods slightly to his left, towards the door.

“Um,” I say, my eyes shifting to the side, because I didn’t think about it that way. But even as I know that’s not what I want, my hands move to his waist. And then I watch Luca shudder, and press his eyes shut as I flatten my palms against his ribs and run my hands up over his back, pulling him tighter against me even as I rest

ghght against him.

And that’s how I know that Luca isn’t nearly as resistant to me as he was pretending to be just a minute ago. And I smile.

“Come on, Luca,” I whisper, soft and teasing. “Just…k*ss me. Just a little k*ss.”

He groans, and his hands tighten – just incrementally – before suddenly he twists and spins me, and presses me back against the lockers. I gasp when my shoulders clang against the metal, but it’s not that it hurts – not at all, Luca’s very careful with me – but the sound of it, and the surprise –

I stare up at my mate, wide–eyed.

“Is this what you want, Ariel?” he murmurs, moving the hand curved around the back of my n*ck up so that he cradles my head, using his half–n*ked b*dy to press me back against the cold metal of the lockers.

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415 BONUS

At the same time, he slides his other hand down the length of my b*dy until it rests against my thigh. And then he slowly starts to bunch the fabric of my dress there, so that it raises up my leg, inch by inch.

“Do you want me to take you right here, right now?” He lowers his face a little and my breath hitches as I stare up at him, my heart starting to pound. “Because if that’s what you want…god knows I don’t have enough willpower to resist if you ask me – really ask me.”

I stare up at him, my breath coming in fast little pants now, completely at a loss for what to

say.

“Tell me what you want, Ariel,” Luca whispers, his face serious, before he presses a lingering k*ss to my lips.

And in that moment I realize that…I have absolutely no idea what I really want.

Chapter 0295

My wolf absolutely howls inside of me, telling me to do ridiculous things as she always does. Kiss him! Jump on top of him, wrap your legs around his waist, he likes that! See if you can get his pants off – he just put them on-

But I shake my head, willfully trying to ignore her, because the sensible part of me knows that Luca is right that this is not how I want this to happen.

–

“See?” he says, smirking at me, a little smug as he pulls himself away a little bit, pausing his hand’s work to get my dress up over my hip. “I didn’t think so.”

“Hey!” I snarl, offended – because, I mean, I didn’t make my decision yet!

Yes! My wolf shouts, encouraging me forward. Grab him! Make him kiss us again! Take the stupid dress off! Why did we let Daphne pick such a complicated dress – we should have worn something with snaps

“What?” Luca says, pausing and coming just an inch closer, teasing me now. “Come on, Ariel – let’s wait until after the match – then I can actually take you to bed, a real bed –”

“Why do you always think you get to tell me what I want?” I ask, frowning up at him, starting to get a little pissed now if I’m being honest. Because I mean, he actually is right. The first time I do this I do want to be in a bed, and relaxed, and not worrying if someone is going to come through the door.

But damn it, why did he know that first?

“Because,” Luca murmurs, stepping close to me again and pressing a kiss to my cheek and then to my neck a soft, lingering one that makes my eyelids flutter. “You’re my mate and because I know you Ariel.”

God, the way his mouth moves over my skin – it’s torture, and he knows it. My hands tighten against the skin of his back, my nails digging just slightly into him, and his skin shivers all over.

“I know what you want,” he whispers, raising his head and looking into my eyes again before pressing a soft kiss to my mouth. “And…well, I know what you can handle.” He hesitates here, just for a second. “I’m…more experienced in this than you.”

―

My mouth drops open now, a little appalled. “Luca!” I gasp, whipping my hand around and smacking him in the chest – not hard, but with a satisfying smack that lets him know that I’m mad. Are you seriously saying that I – that I can’t handle you!?”

+15 BONUS

His face breaks into a smile and a little growl rumbles in his chest. “I know you can’t handle me, Ariel,” he murmurs, his voice dipping lower in a way that – god, that makes the heat in .me grow more steadily. “Not yet, at least. We need to get your body used to this a little more before we start doing adventurous things like a quickie in a locker room. You’re trying to run before you can walk ”

I huff now, genuinely angry, and shove harder against his chest, fully pissed now. “That is so rude, Luca,” I snarl, lifting my chin up to glare at him. “Just because you’re so slutty that you’ve had more experience than me –”

steps closer,

Luca laughs, genuinely pleased, his eyes crinkling. But he doesn’t step back- even, bunching my dress up more, slipping his hand beneath the hem of it and sliding his palm steadily upwards until his hand cups my ass, his palm moving over the lacy edge of my panties.

I gasp again, my eyes going wide, any protests falling dead on my tongue.

“So, this is really what you want? What you can handle?” he murmurs, his eyes shining,” tightening his hand a little, squeezing my ass in a way that makes my head fall back, just a little, a puff of desperate breath slipping between my lips. “You won’t let me show you the ropes slowly? Want to just…jump into the deep end?”

“You’re mixing your metaphors,” I growl, my brain fuzzing, talking nonsense because I’m having trouble concentrating with the way his fingers are moving over my underwear, trending inwards, towards…

“It’s too easy,” he murmurs, shaking his head, taunting me. “Honestly, Ariel, you should let me take it slow. You won’t be able to handle it.”

“Wha…what?” I murmur, my eyes half shut as he presses himself closer to me, as I feel his chest press hard against my breasts.

“If you let me touch you, Ariel,” he whispers, “when you’re all worked up like this? I’m going to make you come in about…thirty seconds.”

My eyes fly open, appalled at his arrogance, his gall.

He smiles, greedy, dipping his head closer and taking a sniff of me, like he can smell my anger, like he likes it. “Seriously, gorgeous,” he says with a sigh, even though he doesn’t move his body away, keeps his hand right where it is on my ass, his other still cradling my neck. “We can take our time later, make it right.”

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Chapter 0296

I just narrow my eyes, still pissed. Because I mean – I’ve done stuff by myself before- and never, ever have I finished that fast.

Damn, but he thinks highly of himself in these regards.

“You’re exaggerating to get what you want,” I growl, even though it turns into a gasp when Luca tightens his hand on my neck, holding me still as he lets his other hand inch closer to the center of me. “There’s no way you could ever make me come in thirty seconds.”

Luca turns his head to the side a little, considering. “Probably right about that,” he murmurs, nodding.

I smirk, smug.

“More like…two minutes.”

My jaw drops before I snap it shut, livid. “You arrogant little –”

He laughs, low and pleased, liking me all worked up and feisty like this. “Wanna bet, Princess?” His mouth is so close that I can feel is breath on my lips.

I go still, staring at him, realizing that he’s offering…

Luca’s smile deepens. “If I win,” he says softly, “I get a weekend with you. All to myself. Before we go back to the Academy.”

Yes! My wolf howls, dancing around inside of me, her paws skittering delightedly in my soul. Sweeten the pot! Give him money! Give him your crown that’s worth something, right? Give him the PALACE!

Floose a shaky breath as Luca’s fingers start to trace circles around edges of my panties, dipping inwards, slow and distracting and maddening and wonderful.

“And if I win?” I whisper.

“Whatever you want,” he murmurs, lowering his mouth to brush against mine. “A blank cheque. Anything.”

He pulls back for a second, looking deep into my eyes, and I consider just incrementally – that this might be stupid. But god, the way he’s looking at ne, the way he smells –

God, fuck, I don’t care my wolf wins, I give in

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+15 BONUS

“Fine,” I say, giving a half–hearted little shrug, still trying to play it cool even though I can barely think. “Do your worst, Grant.”

“So, it’s a bet? A weekend, against a blank cheque that you’re absolutely never going to cash?”

“Why wouldn’t I cash it?” I ask, frowning, confused.

“Because you’re never going to win,” he says, laughing a little, grinning at me.

“It’s a bet,” I growl, pissed again, newly determined

But there’s no time to think on it, because faster than I can wrap my mind around anything new Luca closes the final few inches between us and fastens his mouth to mine like he can’t

wait another second.

The kiss absolutely sweeps through me and I forget any determination that I had as Luca parts my lips with his, as his tongue presses against mine, as he licks me and presses me hard back against the lockers. I’m panting already, my heartrate so high I can feel it

g in my ears.

As Luca lines every inch of his torso up with mine, I can feel that he wants me too – can feel it in the way that he pants into my mouth, in the intensity with which he clings to me, in the hardness of his cock, which is pressed between us, thick and ready. I slide my hand down towards it, wanting to –

“Absolutely not,” he growls, snatching my hand away and pinning it to the locker above my head with the hand that was around my neck a moment ago. “You’re not distracting me with that, Ariel – not when I’m on a time limit.”

But I just

an, and

press my body closer to him, grinding my hips forward – wanting him, wanting my mate, wanting to feel his body, every piece of it –

“No,” he murmurs, shaking his head at me. “This is about you.”

And then he moves his hand from my backside, sliding it around towards my stomach. Luca shifts his body to make room, still pinning one of my hands above my head. My other hand smacks flat against the lockers behind me like they’re some sort of anchor to the world as I concentrate on his touch, on the way his hand moves all the way around so that it’s pressed flat against my navel, his fingers pointing down towards the floor.

And then, as I pant, my eyes half shut, my focus on his face, Luca slides his hand lower and slips it into my panties.

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 185-192

The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0285

A tiny groan escapes Jackson’s lips as he pulls me tighter, moving his mouth slowly over mine, cupping my face in his wide palm as he kisses me breathless. Things move fast, as they always do with us, and it feels like hardly a moment has passed before my hand wraps in the fabric of his t–shirt, pulling him closer so that his body is leveraged over mine.

Jackson complies, bending me backwards in his arms as he’s done before, kissing me deeply and taking control, dominating me in a way that feels natural, instinctual to us. Immediately I cede him power, wanting him to be in charge. Jackson moves his hand away from my face, sliding it over my shoulders and down my back until he takes a firm grip on my ass, using his leverage there to press me closer against him.

When I feel the hard length of him pressing, ready, into my hip, I lose control a bit – lose my mind, if I’m being frank. A moan slips from me as I kiss Jackson harder, more fervently, tightening my arms around his neck and using my weight to pull him further on top of me.

Because right now, I want to be laid out on my back, and I want Jackson’s weight on me, and I want to slip my hand down between us and feel him in my palm – I want

“Oooookay,” my mom’s voice says, tired but not without humor, from the direction of the door. I freeze, my eyes flying open to see Jackson staring down at me, shocked.

Slowly, we both turn towards her voice.

“I mean,” mom says, leaning against the open door frame and grinning at both of us like the sneaky cat she is, “I’m very pleased to see that my daughter has in fact inherited some of my passionate tendencies and is doing me proud here

–

((

“Mommmmm,” I groan, covering my blushing face with my hands, completely mortified and letting my entire weight rest in Jackson’s hands. Jackson just laughs, sitting up as best he can and pulling me up with him.

“But!” mom continues, and I slip my hands down from my face to see that she’s grinning even more now. “It’s time for bed, chickens. Clean all this up, and then let’s go. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

I sigh, still embarrassed, but I just shake my head in disappointment because…well, because it was just getting good, isn’t it? But Jackson and I pull ourselves together, and quickly clean up the blankets and the pillows. I’m about to dump our mostly undrunk wine down the sink when mom protests, hurrying over to tuck it into the fridge for later, scolding me for being wasteful.

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+15 BONUS

I just smile at her, reaching out and wrapping her in a hug as Jackson tucks the last of the blankets away in the shed, I think going deliberately slow so that he has a moment to…pull himself together, as it were.

“Are you mad at me?” I whisper, holding her tight.

“No, baby,” mom replies, laughing a little. “You’re a young woman who just found her mate

–

– I’d worry something was wrong with your relationship, honestly, if you weren’t sneaking off to steal a few hours with him. But,” she pulls back a little to look me in the Tomorrow we’re going to have a serious chat about birth control, okay?”

eye. ”

I blush bright pink at this, looking down and biting my lip, but mom just laughs cheerfully and I glance back up at her. And then I smile back, because I know she understands, and that she isn’t trying to make me feel shameful about it. It’s just practical, yes?

Because I have a very, very difficult time controlling myself around Jackson, and had mom not shown up at the door tonight…well, some things might have happened. Things with some very natural consequences for which I am very sure I am not ready.

So, it’s a chat that I think I need and very much want to have.

My mom gives me a wink as Jackson comes to stand with us. “I’m sorry, your Highness,” he says, his face very serious. “I don’t want you to think I was…rude, or disobedient, or breaking your rules.”

Mom just laughs, a little delighted, and steps forward to pat Jackson’s cheek. “It’s fine, Jackson, you’re young and sleep seems very unimportant when you’re young. But please – I’ll only be mad if you keep calling me Highness. It’s Ella.”

“Ella,” he says, smiling at both of us as he tries out the name. He nods once, I think deciding

that he likes it.

“All right, now go,” mom says, giving me a little shove and gesturing towards the door. Because I need to sleep, even if you don’t, and I’m not going to get any if I keep having to herd my children back to their beds.”

Chapter 0286

“Children!?” I gasp, “who else is out?” I peer back over my shoulder at my mom as I head down the stairs.

“None of your business,” mom says, very lofty, giving me a secretive smirk. “I’m not going to rat on my own children, after all.”

“Is it Rafe!?” I ask, eager and a little scandalized, glancing back at Jackson too, who listens

with interest.

“Not my meatball!” mom says, laughing and continuing to escort us down. “My perfect little meatball, who’s never done anything wrong in his entire life!?”

“It was Rafe,” Jackson murmurs to me with a wink, pressing a hand to the small of my back as we get to the bottom of the stairs and mom walks ahead. “Your mom put me in his room, like she put Daphne in yours, but he snuck out even before I did.”

“Rafe,” I sigh, shaking my head. “God, I wonder where he went…”

I look up at Jackson curiously, wondering if he knows.

But, dead serious, Jackson just shakes his head at me. “Even if I knew,” he says, his voice low with the gravity of his charge, “I wouldn’t tell. I have been sworn to secrecy, and I take my charge quite seriously.”

I scowl at him, mumbling discontentedly about how mates aren’t supposed to have secrets from each other, but he just laughs like that’s quite rich coming from me.

And I laugh too, realizing that he’s right.

But when I get back into my room, and cast my eyes over Daphne, I see that she’s wearing a little pair of pink slippers that she certainly wasn’t wearing when I left the room.

And that her eyes are pressed shut…a little tighter than I think they need to be for a girl deep in sleep.

But I don’t say anything, letting my friend keep her secrets. I just climb into bed, pulling my blankets up with a contented sigh, and let sleep find me.

All of my determination to let Daphne keep her secrets ends, however, the moment she wakes up. “Sooo,” she says, still

still groggy, waking up and rubbing her eye as she grins at me.”

Someone was a bad little princess last night, sneaking out!”

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+15 BONUS

My mouth falls open for a second at her gall, but I snap it shut with a grin.

“Oh really, Daph,” I say, flipping around on my bed so that I’m laying flat on my stomach as I grin at her. I perch my chin on my hand. “Do you really want to have a chat about who was bad, and who snuck out, with a certain someone’s brother?”

Her jaw drops but then she bursts into laughter and flops back on her pillow, covering her face. “Wait, how did you know!? I got back before you!”

“I know everything,” I say, exaggerating obviously but enjoying the way that she shakes her head in complete disbelief. “Sooo, Jackson and I took the roof. Where did Rafe take you?”

“The kitchens,” she sighs, dropping her hands and smiling at me. “We sat on the counter and had cake. It was…very cute.”

“Did you kiss?” I ask, eager, my eyebrows going up.

She laughs and shakes her head. “No, Ari, it wasn’t like that. It was just…” she sighs and covers her face with her hands again. “It was very sweet.”

“Is that all the detail I’m going to get?” I ask, twisting my mouth in disappointment.

“It’s your brother, Ari!” she says, laughing and turning her face back to me.

“I know, I need dirt to blackmail him with,” I say, grinning and throwing a pillow at her before jumping out of bed. I move to my wardrobe, picking some clothes out for the day and letting Daphne keep her secrets if she wants to. It’s her love life, after all

to share.

she doesn’t have

But even as I sort through the dresses and clothes that hang before me – mom has clearly been updating my wardrobe, even in my absence – I let my mind wander. Rafe and Daphne, wow…I mean, are they becoming a thing?

Or is it just…flirting?

Are they just friends? Do they want to be more?

“Ohhh, wear this green one,” Daphne says, appearing at my side and reaching into the wardrobe, pulling out a stunning but simple dress. “You’re going to Luca’s, right? This has very ‘meeting the mom‘ vibes.”

I laugh but nod, taking it from her hands, grateful for my friend’s impeccable taste. “It’s perfect,” I say, wrapping her in a quick hug before hurrying off to the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed.

2/3

ou my ldle

today, and it’s time to get started.

Chapter 0287

Daphne and I chat amiably on the way to breakfast, her telling me all the things she wants to see in the city, me giving my own recommendations. But when we turn into the breakfast room, I go a little still to see that it’s just my dad sitting at the head of the table, having a quiet cup of coffee while he scrolls through some document on his tablet.

He looks up when we come in. Daphne freezes awkwardly beside me as dad stands up, giving us both a wide smile.

“Daphne,” he says, giving her a little bow that makes her blush. “As much as I’d love to have breakfast with you as well, Ella’s set up a little something for you and the boys down the hall.” He gestures to the hallway behind her. “I think my daughter and I need a little moment alone to have a chat.”

My eyes go a little wide because…well, I mean, I don’t think I’ve done anything to be in

trouble…

But did mom tell dad I snuck out with Jackson last night!?

Does it even count as sneaking out if you don’t leave your house!?

“Okay!” Daphne says, her voice a little squeaky as she scurries out into the hall. She looks back at me anxiously, though, not knowing where to go.

“Three doors down on the left,” I whisper, grinning at her and nodding, knowing that’s the only other room mom would use to serve breakfast. Daphne grins at me and mouths “good luck” before heading down the hall.

“The door, Ariel,” dad says, his voice stern, and I take a deep breath as I press it shut and move to the seat at his side, which is already set for breakfast, a cup of coffee waiting for me. “A bit late,” he says, glancing at the clock as I seat myself. I glance at it too, and nod, realizing that this is more of a brunch or a lunch than a proper breakfast.

“We were all tired,” I say, giving my dad my best innocent–Princess smile, “after our long journey home.”

Dad just laughs a little, shaking his head, and seeing him smile allows my shoulders to unwind. “Don’t be so anxious, Ariel,” he murmurs as one of the cooks comes into the room with a plate of food for me. “You’re not in trouble.”

The chef sets a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of me, my favorite breakfast since I was a little girl. I smile my thanks at the chef, who murmurs that she’s glad to see me safe

1/2

home before discreetly disappearing form the room. As I begin to eat, I turn my attention back to my dad.

“If I’m not in trouble,” I say, scooping some of the eggs onto my toast and making a little sandwich for myself by folding the slice of toast in half, “then…why the one–on–one?”

“Because,” he says, settling back in his chair with his coffee in his hand, studying me. “I thought we should talk. About this two–mate stuff.”

I grin at dad, anxious again because – well, because dad and I don’t really talk about romantic stuff. But when I see him clear his throat and flick his gaze away, I realize that he feels just as awkward as I do. And my anxiety subsides, replaced by love for him.

“I could kill Roger,” dad sighs, a growl rumbling in his chest as he looks down into his coffee. “For not telling me about this sooner.”

“Aunt Cora says you would have locked me up,” I say, taking a bite of my eggs and toast.

“Still might,” he says, flicking his eyes up to me. I squawk a little, horrified at the idea, and then cough a bit as toast crumbs get stuck in my throat. Dad laughs, leaning forward to pat me on the back. “Or I’ll just let your mates watch you eat,” he murmurs, “that should be enough to make them run for the hills.”

“They’ve already seen it,” I mutter, mouth still full, as I reach for my glass of water and take a sip, swallowing. Then I turn my eyes back to my dad. “They were able to get over it.”

–

“Brave men,” he murmurs, smirking at me, and I smirk back, and then everything feels… quite suddenly right again. Dad and I we’ve always had a very special bond. And even if it is strange to talk about boys, I know that he’s got my best interests in his heart. And as we smile at each other, I know he’s realizing the same thing.

“It’s not that I don’t want you to have these relationships, Ariel,” dad sighs, leaning forward and talking to me more naturally now. “I just…it’s going to be hard on you, isn’t it? And I’ve got that dad thing where I just want things to be for

easy

kids my

right.”

–

want it to be all

“Well, was it hard on you?” I ask, reaching for my coffee and taking a sip. “Aunt Cora told me that you have a little…experience here with the two–mate thing.”

Chapter 0288

–

“It wasn’t…hard,” dad says, leaning back in his chair and thinking about it. “But it was different. It wasn’t like yours I met your mother long after I met Lydia, and we had enough trouble figuring out that your mom was a wolf before we ever figured out that she was my mate. I think that had I met them at the same time…” he hesitates and then

grimaces at me. “I think it would have been…insane. Mostly because they would have torn each other to pieces.”

“Yeah,” I say, grimacing too as I lean back in my chair. “We had…a bit of that.”

“No!” dad says, grinning at me and leaning forward, clearly wanting to hear more. I smile at my dad, because as much as he pretends he’s so serious, he loves gossip as much as the rest of us. And so I launch into the story, telling him about the night that Jacks and Luca found out about each other, and how they shifted, and how Jesse and Rafe had to intercede, and how Ben knocked me out of the way and probably saved me from some serious harm.

“Wow,” dad says when it’s all done, looking a little pale as he runs a hand through his hair. ” You were…lucky, Ariel. That could have been way worse. And I like this Ben character even

more than I did before.”

“Yes, Ben’s a gem, “I say, smiling. “But Jesse and Rafe have been amazing,” I continue, keeping my voice soft. “They really helped me to negotiate the whole thing, and calm Luca and Jack

down, and helped me advocate for myself when emotions were running high. very lucky to have them.”

Dad nods, thinking it through, and then we proceed to have a very long breakfast in which he asks for more details about my bonds with Luca and Jackson – nothing intimate, just the basics of how they feel, any abilities that come along with it, the politics of having to manage them.

And then, to my surprise, he tells me the long story of his first mate. Of how she had been engaged to Uncle Roger, and the torture of discovering that she was his mate when he reached his majority, and how she made it worse for years by insisting that he keep it a secret until Grandpa Henry finally decided to declare dad his heir, not Roger. And then Lydia had shocked everyone by revealing her mating bond with my dad and leaving Roger for his younger brother.

“Wow,” I say, kind of shocked. “She sounds…not nice.”

“Lydia was…complicated,” dad says on a sigh, lifting his eyes to mine. “And it wouldn’t have bothered her, at all, that people didn’t think she was nice. She cared much more about

1/2

being powerful, and refined, and in control. She was a whirlwind of a woman get caught up in, not at all concerned with the destruction she left in her wake.”

very easy to

I go quiet for a little, studying my dad, wondering how someone like that could be his mate. Because mom…mom is the opposite of all of that. And dad and she match so well.

((

“I was a different man when I was younger, Ariel,” dad says evenly, intuiting the direction of my thoughts and telling me the truth even though I can see it pains him a little to do so. I was…angry, and desperate for Lydia after so many years pining for her. And Grandpa Henry was…a different man too. He was still mourning the loss of mom and his political position.” Dad sighs, shaking his head. “It almost killed Roger and my relationship – we only got back on track after Cora and your mom came on the scene. They changed our entire world for the

better.”

I smile a little, liking that part of the story. “So, how did you change?” I ask quietly, really wanting to know. “How did you becoming…someone who matches mom, instead of Lydia?”

“Grief,” he says, quite honestly, meeting my eyes. “It was a dark time, realizing that Lydia wasn’t the right match for me. Rejecting her – it almost killed me, Ariel. And I mean that quite literally – almost killed me in a physical way. The claim that a fated mate has on you, body and soul,” he sighs, looking down. “It is no small thing to reject them. It took me years

I think the crucible of that pain…allowed me to become the man who was

to recover.

worthy of your mom.”

He looks up again, studying me. I look back at him quite seriously.

“Does that make sense?” he asks, his voice quiet.

Slowly, I nod. But I don’t say anything.

“What is it, daughter?” dad asks, leaning forward and taking my hand. Because he can tell something is wrong.

And then, my voice soft in my fear, I tell him about Luca and Jackson’s decision – their

轉难

request that I eventually choose one of them, and not just have them both. Because now that I know, at least second–hand, what it’s like to reject your mate?

God, could I even do it?

Chapter 0289

My dad sits quietly by me as I finish telling him what Jackson and Luca have asked of me, I wipe a few stray tears from my eyes. Dad is strong and stoic as I speak – the rock in my life that I always need him to be, letting me feel my pain and sitting quietly by me as I do. And when it passes, he’s still there, holding my hand.

“What do you think?” I ask, my voice a little shaky, wanting to know.

He sighs. “Well, I’m not surprised,” he says, tilting his head to the side. “The

possessiveness I feel towards your mother – there was a moment when we thought she had a second mate too, and I…completely flipped out –”

“What!?” I gasp, shocked. Why – why are there all these things about my parents‘ past that I had no idea about!?

Dad laughs a little, squeezing my hand. “I ripped the door basically off its hinges, went tearing through the Palace looking for him, fully intending to murder him, scared poor Conner nearly to death.” He laughs again, like it’s a fond memory, as I stare at him with wide eyes.

“But he wasn’t her mate?”

“No,” dad says, shaking his head. “Just…a misunderstanding. We checked with the Goddess, who confirmed things.”

My eyes go wider. “How does one check with the Goddess!?”

“Cora can do it,” dad says, waving a passive hand before reaching for his coffee. “Just summon her up – the rest of us can’t see her, but…”

He goes still for a second, staring into space and collecting his thoughts, as I just gape at him. Aunt Cora can just summon the Goddess? God, and I thought it was impressive that she

could control the weather.

“Actually,” dad says, turning his green eyes back on me and gently taking his hand from mine while he takes a sip of his coffee, sensing that my sadness has passed fully now. “You should consider asking Cora to call the Goddess for you, or see if you can do it –”

“If I can do it!?” I gasp, appalled.

“You’re a little demigoddess too, Ariel,” dad says, grinning over his coffee at me. “I mean, we avoided saying that to you as much as we could when you were a kid because we didn’t want you getting a big head about it. But being the grandchild of a goddess – the first girl,

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too? It…might have some perks.”

I just stare at him, completely baffled, before I blink myself out of my shock and concentrate on his words. “Wait, so, why would we summon the Goddess? To ask what?”

“To ask if you need to choose between Jackson and Luca,” dad says, nodding slowly to me. I mean, I’m not saying that you should break your word to your mates. But, I think it’s worth realizing that if the Goddess gave you two mates, she probably had a reason for it. After all, she gave me Lydia, I think, so that my loving her, and then rejecting her, would make me become the man who was worthy of being her daughter’s mate.‘

my dad really is I grin at dad now, seeing where this is going, and very warmed to think that the best

that if anyone on earth deserves mom, who is so amazing, only he can fit the bill. So, maybe his first mate really was part of the Goddess’s plan – that she made him go through a trial by fire to create the only man who was good enough for my mom.

“So,” I say quietly, “you think I should talk to her?”

Dad nods slowly. “And I think Jackson and Luca should be there. Just to…get things on the same page. I think she has her reasons,” dad continues contemplatively, “and she gave you two mates at once for one of those reasons. If you ask, she may tell you why, or give you advice on how to proceed.”

I exhale a deep breath and look down at my plate of food, suddenly not hungry anymore as I contemplate the fact that I’m adding “summon a goddess” to my list of things to do.

My dad laughs a little, gently, turning my attention back to him. “Don’t let it scare you,

fond and Ariel,” he says, his voice a little growly as he leans forward and smiles at me, loving and warm. “If anyone can handle this, it’s my brave girl.”

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Chapter 0290

I burst into a grin and then I’m out of my chair, reaching for my dad, who pulls me into a warm bear hug as he laughs. I hug him back, likewise laughing, so grateful that he always knows the right thing to say. “Thanks, dad,” I murmur, tucking my face down against his

neck.

“I love you, baby trouble,” he murmurs, holding me tight. “Don’t let those stupid boys walk all over you. You’re a Princess and a Sinclair, after all. You’re in charge.”

“I won’t,” I promise, sighing happily. And as my dad releases me and gives me a little shove towards the door, telling me to get a move on with my day because I’ve got in–laws to meet, I’m grateful again that I’ve got absolutely the best dad in the world.

As I move towards the door and smile at him, he smiles right back.

And I know that he feels just the same about me.

“Love

you, dad!” I call, grinning as I push the door open.

“Love you more, baby,” he says, heaving a happy sigh.

I’m not at all surprised when I find Captain Conner waiting outside the door to the breakfast room. He pushes himself up off the wall when he sees me, his eyes crinkling with his smile. ” Ready to go, Princess?”

“Yup!” I say, grinning up at my old friend. Conner – he feels like so much more than a bodyguard. I’ve known him my whole life, and I know that mom and dad basically consider him family at this point. “Dad was just telling me about how he scared the hell out of you one night when he thought mom had another mate and he hunted him down with the intent

to kill.”

“Oh, that old story?” Conner says easily, raising an eyebrow at me that makes me burst into laughter.

“How can you talk about it like it’s so simple!?”

“It was a long time ago, Princess,” Conner says with a grin, gesturing down the hall and then walking at my side as we get started.

“What other stories about my parents do you know,” I ask as we walk, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Oh, what I know about your parents could fill a book. A couple of them, actually,” he says,

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giving me a wink. “Did they ever tell you about the time they lived in a bunker for a few months because they were being assailed by Priests of the Dark God?”

“What!?” I nearly shriek, laughing in my shock.

“Oh yeah,” Conner says, nodding and grinning as we make our way down to the garages beneath the palace, where a town car is waiting to take us to Luca’s gym. “Buckle up, Princess,” he says, gesturing towards the car. “I’ll tell you on the way. This one’s a good

one.”

By the time we get to the gym, I’m absolutely gaping at Conner, who is clearly enjoying himself with the telling. “Wait,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief, “mom’s estranged uncle was trying to kidnap Rafe and take the throne for himself!? But that’s…that’s insane!”

“It was a wild time, kiddo,” Conner says, unbuckling his belt as he puts the car in park. I nod like that’s one hell of an understatement, and he smiles at me. “You ready for this?” he says, raising his chin towards the gym.

“Um,” I say, looking over towards it, a little anxious now. Because for the first time, I’m walking into Luca’s turf, which I’m very aware is a world filled with big tough Alphas who are all trained to beat each other up. And while I guess that’s not very different from the Academy…I’m walking into it as a girl now, aren’t I? And a princess. And Luca’s mate.

I bite my lip, looking back at Conner. “Will you come in with me?” I whisper, wanting our family’s old friend by my side.

“Of course I will,” he says, bursting into a grin. “Besides, I’ve been wanting to get a look into the Grant Gym for a long time now! This will be fun.”

Captain Conner gives me a wink, and together we get out of the car and head inside.

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Chapter 0291

Luca’s gym is…loud.

My eyes go wide as Conner and I step inside, as I take in the dozens of people all working out. There three boxing rings spread out across the long room, and then at least fifteen large punching bags hang from the ceiling in the area to my left. Weaving in between them are a group of teenage boys, each concentrating hard as they punch the bag in front of them, being cheerfully yelled at by the man who is clearly their coach. Loud, heavy music pulses through the air, and no one turns to me as I come in.

Despite the fact that each of the rings is occupied with boxers sparring with each other or working with their coaches, my eyes go immediately to the middle one. Because I know Luca’s form when I see it, and he’s there, working alone with an older bald man who barks out orders as Luca punches the pads on his hands.

A smile breaks out on my face and I glance up at Conner, who’s looking down at me. He gives me another wink and then raises his chin towards Luca, clearly suggesting that I move boldly forward. So I do, remembering my dad’s words that I’m a Princess and a Sinclair, and that I was invited here today. Even if I do find this place intimidating as hell, there’s nothing here I can’t handle.

Luca concentrates hard in the ring as Conner and I walk over to it, coming to stand quietly ringside and watch him finish his exercise. Neither he nor his coach give any indication that they realize that I’m here, the coach continuing to shout commands and suggestions for Luca. At each one Luca changes something slightly, standing straighter, or hitting harder, or ducking more quickly.

reason,

I’m amazed, again, at how fast he is. I mean, I know that Luca is the national champion for a but god he’s impressive. Luca’s hands move so fast that they’re nearly a blur to my vision and I can tell by the way that his coach’s hands snap back that each of his punches land with one hell of an impact.

I smile as my eyes move over my mate, taking in his tanned, sweaty skin, the lines of his torso as they disappear in to his cute boxing shorts. I raise my eyes to admire the line of his jaw, clenched in his determination, and the way the muscles shift in his powerful shoulders as he delivers punch after punch.

God, but he’s hot.

And mine, the fact of which is its own personal thrill.

+15 BONUS

My smile deepens, and Luca flinches, a little bit, glancing to the side where I’m standing.

When he does, his coach reaches out and cuffs him, hard, over the head.

I gasp, but Luca just laughs as he stumbles to the side. “Okay, okay,” he says, rubbing at his head and grinning at his coach. “You got me there – I was distracted.”

“Better not get distracted tomorrow night,” the coach mutters, gruff, clearly not happy about the fact that Luca lost his concentration. Then he flicks his eyes to me. “She’ll be

there, you know. I won’t have her ringside.”

“She’s not gonna be ringside, she’ll be in the box,” Luca mutters, waving a hand

dismissively at his coach before turning fully to me, a wide grin taking over his face as he comes to lean on the ropes of the boxing ring. “Hey!” he says, his eyes crinkling in delight as he sees me. “I’m so glad you’re here! Just let me finish this workout and I’ll – ”

“You’re done, you’re done,” the coach sighs, pulling the pads off his hands as he shakes his head. “You’re tired, and you’re not going to get any work done with her here anyway.”

Luca grins at the coach before passively holding out his glove, palm up. The coach comes forward, reaching for Luca’s boxing glove and helping him with the laces on his wrist. ” Ariel, this is my uncle, Bruce Grant,” he says, nodding to me and then to the burly man who I can now see has a passing resemblance to Luca, though far gruffer.

Chapter 0292

My eyebrows go up, because Luca’s told me about his uncle – the man who raised him, kept him out of trouble, turned him into the champion he is today.

“Uncle,” Luca says, grinning at the older man and slipping his hand out of the first glove, starting on the second himself now that the first is gone. “This is Ariel Sin-”

“I know who she is,” Bruce says, gruff. Then he lifts his eyes to me, giving an awkward little bow. “Your highness,” he murmurs, clearly not happy about saying my honorific but doing it anyway. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re welcome here, and to our family. We’re honored to have you, and glad Luca finally met a mate so he’ll stop being such a damn ass with women.“–

My eyebrows go up because…well, I wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome from this gruff man. I clench my teeth to keep from laughing, giving a solemn nod to Bruce as Luca bursts into laughter.

“I’m not an ass with women,” he sighs, shaking the sweat from his hair and handing the second boxing glove to his uncle. “I’m just ”

—

“A damn ass,” his uncle says, cuffing Luca over the head again, softer this time, with a tiny smile on his lips. “Now go get a shower, so you can be presentable for your mother and your grandmother. Miss Ariel,” he says, shifting his eyes back to me and giving me a nod, “I’ll look forward to seeing you again at home.”

Bruce walks to the other side of the ring as Luca climbs out from between the

ropes, hopping down to the floor. My mate reaches for me as he nods his hello to Conner, wanting to give me a sweaty hug, but I squeak and swat at him. “You’re all sweaty!” I protest. “And I have to meet your mom!”

Luca just laughs again and I beam at him, completely swept away by this very attractive, very sweaty Alpha as he runs a hand through his wet hair, slicking it back. “Fine, fine,” he sighs, shaking his head a little and spraying me with sweat in a way that makes me shriek again but which…well, which I don’t hate. I mean, I like my mate all sweaty after a workout, I guess. Especially when he looks like that, all shirtless and muscular, smelling deliciously of boy and apricots and sunshine.

“Come on,” Luca says, nodding towards the locker room and clearly inviting me to go with him. “I’ll be fast. Mom and Gran are waiting, after all.”

Conner nods to me, murmuring that he wants to look over the gym, and I follow Luca

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+15 BONUS

towards the locker room. He leads me inside and I’m surprised to see that it’s tiny – just one shower, and some towels, and a little set of lockers.

“This is just mine,” Luca says, shooting me a grin as he quickly pulls off his shoes and socks before stepping into the little shower stall, pulling the curtain shut. “Being the champ has its perks.”

་་1

guess so,” I say, a little impressed as I sit on the little wooden bench in front of the lockers and listen as Luca turns the water on. As steam starts to rise above the curtain bar, Luca’s hand reaches out from behind the curtain, dropping his sweaty shorts on the ground outside.

He starts talking, then, telling me about his day and how his mom and uncle reacted when he revealed to them that he has a mate, and that his mate is the princess. But if I’m being honest, I barely hear him.

Because I am suddenly very aware that my super–hot mate is naked on the other side of a flimsy curtain, water running all over his sore, muscled body.

And that we are…absolutely all alone in this private locker room.

And I’ve got no big brother and cousin out there protecting my chastity for once.

I mean…what is a girl to do?

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Category: The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

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