The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I gulp as we approach Luca’s lower bunk because I am completely out of my element never, ever been in a boy’s bed before except, obviously, a member of my family –

—

I’ve

But Luca, to my relief, gestures me towards the head of his bed before sitting down on the other end, lounging back against the metal footboard with one leg bent at the knee, his arm wrapped casually around it. I grimace a little inwardly to see that his left boot is sole–down on his blankets. Slowly I lower myself onto the bed, perching on the edge, my eyes unblinking as I watch him.

“Make yourself comfortable, Shrimp,” he says, raising his chin and indicating that I should relax. “I’m not going to bite.”

My wolf gasps. Do you think we could get him to do that? He could give us his mark!

Mentally I smack her on the nose and she gives a little yelp, but it does nothing to defer her excitement.

Slowly I do as Luca bids, leaning back against his pillow a little and curling my bare feet beneath me. I don’t say anything though, letting him start the conversation.

He grins at me, lifting his other leg and stretching it out along the length of the mattress, effectively pinning me in on my left side. I glance down at his gigantic foot, which is just inches from me now, before raising my eyes back at him. Without intending to, I wrinkle my nose.

Luca bursts into laughter.

“Are you like, a clean freak or a germaphobe, Shrimp?” he asks, turning his foot so that he taps me with the dirty toe of his boot.

“No!” I protest, even as I flinch away from his boot – mostly because I don’t want any more tingles but, also, yes! Because it’s a dirty boot!

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“You totally are,” he says, grinning at me from the other end of the bed but turning his foot

“First you go

take a secret bath in the middle of the night, then the only time I can get you alone is when you’re brushing your teeth, and now you’re scared of a dirty boot?” He raises an eyebrow at me, clearly entertained.

“Did you ever consider that you’re just dirty, Luca?” I ask, leaning forward and flicking my eyes deliberately to where his shoe is pressed into his clean blankets. “Because I think that

S

wanting a hot bath and brushing my teeth just makes me normal.”

“So,” he says, leaning forward to peer at me, his smile deepening. “You know my

I sit back, fast, blushing a little to have been caught out.

name.”

“Don’t worry,” he says, laughing again as he, too, leans back. “I know yours too, Shrimp.”

“It’s not Shrimp,” I say, renewing my glare.

“I know, Ari Clark,” he says, tilting his head at me. “I just think Shrimp suits you better.”

I don’t let my inner victory show, because of course he doesn’t know my real name.

Tell him! My wolf ridiculously prompts. Maybe he’ll say it! Maybe he’ll whisper it!

I swat at her again, but she dodges my blow and continues to run in excited circles. I sigh inwardly because she’s making it hard to concentrate.

But frankly, so is he.

Because, god damn it, but he is handsome. The way he’s sitting there, with his powerful body so relaxed – and how his scent is coming off of him in waves after his shower?

God, that shower – I’m suddenly hit with the memory of him running his fingers through his wet hair-

“So,” Luca snaps and I blink, gritting my teeth as I realize that I was just staring at him, thinking about what he looks like n*ked. No wonder he thinks I’m so weird. “What were you really doing out last night?”

“I was just taking a bath,” I reply, my voice cold. “Like I said. Now are you going to let me go back to my

bunk?”

“What are the chances,” Luca says, ignoring my question, “that you and my mate would be outside at the same time? Just…coincidentally.”

100% chance, I think to myself wryly, my eyelids lowering a little at the irony of his question.

“My cousins are going to be pissed when they find out you kidnapped me,” I say, not bothering to answer, even as my body settles back against his pillow a little. Because as much as my mind knows I’ve got to get back to my bed? My body…wants to stay right here.

Being lightly interrogated by my gorgeous mate.

My wolf yips in agreement.

“What did she look like?” he asks, ignoring my comment and speaking swiftly, all pretense

gone.

“She’s really ugly,” I snap in reply, something in me wanting to piss him off.

He bursts out laughing. “No, she’s not,” he says, shaking his head. “Come on, tell me.”

“I don’t know,” I lie. “I didn’t get a good look at her.”

“Why did you say she went north, and then when I pointed south, you confirmed that that was her direction?”

“What?” I breathe, confused.

–

“I was testing you – you sent McClintock in one direction and me in another,” he says, leaning forward. “Why?”

“I don’t know –” I spit out, frustrated with myself for not catching that. I remember, suddenly, the moment he’s talking about – after Jackson ran and Luca stayed crouched by the pool. I didn’t look where he pointed, I just said yes to whatever direction he was indicating. I just wanted him to go –

“Why won’t you just tell me?” Luca asks, his tone suddenly changing as he leans forward further, studying my face. “Seriously, Shrimp – why are you holding out? Is she…is she in trouble or something? What bad thing would happen if you just told me why you were out there – ”

“I’m not lying –” I protest.

“You are lying,” he says to me, stating a simple fact that’s frustrating because it’s true. It’s bizarre – like he can already read me or something. “You know something, Shrimp, and I can’t figure out why you won’t spill.”

“If she ran from you,” I say quietly. “Maybe she doesn’t want to be found.”

“Why wouldn’t someone want to meet their mate?” Luca asks, leaning forward, staring at my face.

I go silent for a long moment, torn. Because on one hand I am the girl he’s talking about –

அ

the one who’s running from him, trying to keep our bond a secret. And on the other hand… I’m sitting here in his bed. And I could shout for Rafe, or just get up and run.

But instead I’m sitting right here, and we’re staring at each other in silence, and I know that there’s absolutely no place I’d rather be in this moment.

Except…well, except maybe a little closer to him…

Shit, I think, shaking my head a little. I am…I am in trouble here.

And Luca, even though he doesn’t know what I know, he stares right back at me and the silence between us grows warm and comfortable. He turns his head a little in curiosity as he studies me and his eyes narrow, like he can’t…can’t quite see me or something. I watch, fascinated, at how his chest rises and falls as his breathing starts to deepen –

–

Some silent impulse comes over me – I don’t know what

I don’t know what – and as he watches I slowly run my tongue over my lower lip before pressing my lips together, wetting them. And then I leave my mouth slightly parted so that my breath rushes out over my lips as I exhale a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Luca’s eyes drop subtly then, fastening on my mouth

And I swear to god, a shudder passes through him, traveling all the way down his spine.

I sit up straight, suddenly realizing –

But I don’t know what the hell I realize because a new hand wraps around my arm now and yanks me out of Luca’s bed.

“What the hell are you doing here,” Rafe growls, glaring down at me as I scramble for my feet.

“He made me!” I shout, pointing at Luca. “He – he –”

I hold myself back from saying anything else – because one, Rafe doesn’t need to know, and two, he’ll probably punch Luca or something ridiculous.

So I sigh and, not knowing what else to do, snap my mouth shut.

“Hey, Sinclair,” Luca says, and I turn to see him grinning at my brother with a calm equanimity that makes me wonder if I imagined everything that just passed between us

I stare at Luca as he leans back against his footboard, lifting his arms to tuck his hands

–

casually behind his head as he smiles at my brother.

“Shrimp and I were just catching up,” Luca says, nodding his head toward me though he definitely, almost pointedly, does not look at me. “Always good for the little guy to make friends, especially with someone who can protect him.”

“Ari’s got all the help he needs,” Rafe snaps, glaring first at Luca and then at me. “Are we good here?” he snarls, asking me in not–so–veiled code whether or not Luca needs to be punched.

“We’re fine,” I say, rolling my eyes, my toothbrush kit still clasped in my fist.

“Then let’s go,” Rafe says, pulling me along with him as he strides across the room.

“Rafe,” I sigh, trying to figure out how the hell I can explain this as we get to our bunks.

–

“I don’t want to hear it,” he snaps, spinning on me and pointing his long finger in my face. “But you’re not going a single place alone ever again, Ari – not even to brush your teeth.” And with that he bends down and grabs me by the waist, his other hand reaching behind my knee, and I shriek as he basically launches me up into my bed.

I hit the mattress hard, the breath leaving me for a second as I hear Jesse burst out in laughter from his bunk.

“Rafe!” I shout in protest, starting to get pissed – I hate it when he throws me around just because he can

“Good night, Ari!” he shouts, ending the conversation before he gets even angrier.

And I open my mouth to protest just as the lights flick off, which feels like a sign. So, I heave a sigh and flop back against my pillow, staring at the dark ceiling. I jump and give a little shriek as something hits my stomach. My hands fly to whatever it is, touching cellophane…

“Eat your dinner,” Rafe grumbles.

“I already brushed my teeth

“Fine! Do whatever you want!” The bed shakes as my brother throws himself onto the bunk

below me.

My hands wrap around the sandwich though, because I realize quite suddenly that I am hungry. I was just too distracted by the events of the evening to realize it.

“Night, cousins!” Jesse laughs, his words almost lost in the clatter of the rest of the candidates turning in alongside us. “Love you!”

Neither of us reply. I just scowl, turning in my bed and quietly unwrapping my sandwich, taking a bite as I peering into the darkness towards Luca’s bed. And even though I can barely see anything at all, I swear I see his silhouette still sitting at the end of the bed, not having moved an inch.

Except for his head – which is now turned towards me.