The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



"Oh nooo," Jesse scolds, making me snap my eyes to him.

"What?" I ask, confused and a little worried. "What's wrong?"

"You're not hungry?" he says, eyes wide, gesturing towards my plate. "You, Ariel Sinclair, eater of fourth servings, are not hungry!?"

"What are you talking about - I eat a normal amount!"

"You're a complete pig!"

“Jesse!” I gasp, scandalized. “I so am not! I —“

"Ariel Cora Sinclair," he snaps, leaning forward to point at me as he narrows his eyes. "I have seen you eat three cheeseburgers in one sitting and double fries -"

"Rafe eats just as much!"noveldrama

"Rafe is four times your size!"

I balk at my cousin, appalled but...a little unable to deny that it's true. I mean, I have a healthy appetite! What's wrong with that!?

"I think I've been in this friend group long enough to translate Jesse to the rest of the world," Ben says, cutting in helpfully and nodding to Tony. "Oh, please do - I am deeply lost," Tony says, smirking and lounging back in Rafe's chair.

"Yes, very pleased to be of service," Ben says, nodding to him and then turning to me with a sigh. "What Jesse means," Ben says, holding my gaze now, quite gentle, "is that it's not like you to turn down supper. Something's up, and we can tell, and we want to help."

“That's what I said -" Jesse spits out, throwing his hands out in frustration.

"You called me a pig!" I growl, glaring at him.

“Pigs are pink, and cute, and intelligent, and they like to eat," Jesse says, pressing a hand to his chest and starting to grin at me. “I stand by the analogy."

I can't help it - I huff a laugh and shake my head, looking down at my plate of food. But even if they're right, it doesn't make me any more hungry.

"Spill, Princess," Tony says, friendly and gentle. When I look at him I see that he's giving me a soft smile. "Seriously, we want to help. Before we all go into the Games tomorrow and hunt you down and shoot you with paintballs."

I laugh harder at this, but shake my head, leaning back against the cushions. "I can't tell you guys this stuff. You're boys."

"Listen, we are honorary girls," Jesse

says, and I look up to see him

beaming at me. "We love you, none of us want to date you, and we want to help. What's it going to take?" Ben

and Tony look at me with verve

sweet, earnest expressions and I find that I actually do very much want to talk to them that it might help to unburden my little sad heart to my friends.

"Well, you two I can tell,” I say, sighing and looking at Jesse and Ben. “But I can't talk to you about Luca,” I continue, turning a little glare on Tony. "You hate him!"

"I do not hate him," Tony says, pressing a hand to his chest and leaning forward to glare at me.

“Oh really?” I say, crossing my arms and leaning back against the cushions, raising an eyebrow his way. Jesse likewise grimaces, turning to Tony, waiting for a response.

"Really!" Tony says, nodding eagerly. But then he hesitates and sits back in his chair, grimacing a little. "I just...think he's kind of a dick and he deserves bad things and I...want to punch him." I looks away from me, mildly guilty.

"Tony!" I gasp-snatching a pillow

from the couch and hurling it at his face. Satisfyingly, my shot lands precisely where I aimed it, probably because Tony doesn't yet havez Sinclair-level pillow-attack reflexes. "That is so mean! That's my mate!"

"Yeah!" Tony says, laughing a little and pulling the pillow down by his side even as he gives me a sad smile. "And what the hell the Goddess was thinking matching you up with that jackass, I'll never know!"

"Tony!" I shout, leaning forward, starting to get seriously offended.

"He is our friend, Ton," Jesse says, looking over at Tony, letting him know that he's on shaky ground. "You're gonna want to...modulate your language here."

"Seriously, Tony,” I say, shaking my head at him, not getting it. "What is your problem with Luca?"

Tony sighs, holding out a hand

towards me. "Look, Ariel, I just...I

don't think he's a bad person, okay? I

just think that he's...a little

et

manipulative, and needy, and that he..." he grimaces here, "he punishes you emotionally when he doesn't get what he wants. Okay? And don't like that, because you are such an incredibly nice and good person, and I think...you deserve to be treated better than that."

My jaw drops a little as I stare at my friend because...I mean, I had never really thought about it that way. Is Tony right?

Still, my wolf raises her hackles and shows her teeth, her instincts to jump to Luca's defense coming forward.

"Luca wouldn't do that to me," I say, crossing my arms and raising my chin as I give Tony a cool stare.