The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Ariel bursts out laughing and gestures out to the rest of the roof. "Of all the interference to our plans, you're going to point out this tiny, adorable, sleeping infant pup as the problem!?"

Both boys look down at the little dark-haired baby, whose amber eyes flicker open to betray her mother's words.

"Come on, kid!" Ariel hisses, smoothing a hand over the baby's soft little head. "You're blowing my cover!"

Rafe gasps, pointing towards the door. "And you brought your mate!? Ariel. Betrayal!"noveldrama

Ariel spins towards the door to where Jackson appears, the second little baby strapped to his chest, this one fully asleep, just a little patch of rose-gold hair peeking out of her sling. "Jackson! What are you doing here!? I told you expressly to stay away!"

He stops at the top of the stairs and narrows his eyes at her. "You told me...to come up here and be sneaky so you didn't have to be away from the baby."

Jesse gasps and gives Ariel's shoulder a shove. "Subterfuge!"

"Jacks!” Ariel sighs, laughing as she smacks a hand to her forehead. "You and your daughter are determined to betray me."

"I'm very sorry, my love," Jackson says, laughing a little and sketching out a bow. "Clearly, I have failed you."

"Oh, I forgive you," Ariel sighs, unable to help the smile that spreads over her lips. Jackson smiles at his girl and then waves to all of them and wanders over to Daphne and Midnight. Ariel watches him go, her eyes moving steadily over his tall form, biting her lip.

"Look at you, all moon-eyed over your mate and baby-daddy," Rafe says, grinning at his sister.

"Don't be jealous," Ariel says, snatching her glass of champagne off the counter and raising it in the air.

Rafe smirks at his sister but doesn't protest. Because it's true, honestly - he does want what she has with Jackson, someday. But with Maryam, who still resents him a great deal, even if she perhaps doesn't hate him anymore? And her being a human, meaning children are impossible?

God, how will it ever work?

Rafe puts the thought from his mind, raising his glass in turn. Jesse joins in, clinking them all together.

"To the coolest three Sinclairs," Jesse says, lowering his voice for the sake of secrecy. "Which no one else will admit, even if they're all aware."

Ariel laughs, grinning at him and leaning close. "To the best brother and cousin a girl could have."

"You're just flattering so I let you cheat off my commander exam next semester," Rafe says, laughing a little as he playfully narrows his eyes at his sister.

"Yes!" Ariel says, grinning at him and raising her glass with such vehemence that a little bit of champagne sloshes over the side. "Now you say something! Toast, toast!"

Rafe pauses a moment, his eyes moving between Jesse and Ariel, the two people who are perhaps closest to him in the world. "To more of this," he says quietly, a soft smile curling his lips. "I've missed you two these past couple of months. Let's make a point to spend time together more often."

"You got it, my guy," Jesse says, clinking his glass against theirs before taking a long sip.

"Yes, I agree," Ariel says, her eyes getting a bit misty.

"No crying on the child," Jesse says, putting a hand on Ariels shoulder and nodding down to the baby Ariel laughs and shakes her head, dipping her face to press about six kisses in a row to her daughter's hair.

"Now," Jesse says, slipping his arm fully around Ariel's shoulders and giving them

a squeeze. "Rafe was just about to tell me all of the details about what's been going on with Maryam."

Ariel gasps, delighted, her eyes flying wide as she fixes them on her brother's face. "Yes! Finally!"

"No way," Rafe says, laughing and turning away.

"Oh, come on," Jesse wheedles, giving Ariel a squeeze. "Ariel's mated with three children. I'm ridiculously happy. We need to hear about your miseries, just to give us a baseline for our joy."

"Well..." Rafe says, unable to help giving half a smile as he turns back to his

favorites. "It's not all misery..."

Jesse and Ariel both gasp, leaning in.

Rafe grins fully and leans in too, beginning to tell them the tale.

THE END