The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 554

After mom, Cora, and Tony leave, I send an experimental shout down my bond to Luca telling him to come up for dinner. I mean, we’re too far apart right now for us to pass emotions, but Jackson heard my wolf all the way from his room before – can Luca do the same?

As I begin to clear the plates from the table and send them down in the dumbwaiter, wondering if I’ll have to just go downstairs myself and grab Luca and Ben, I’m startled a bit out of my thoughts when Jackson places a gentle hand on my back. I jump a bit, nearly dropping the plates in my hand, as I snap my head up to look at him.

Jackson grins down at me. “You have to get better at paying attention to your surroundings if you’re going to be an effective spy,” he murmurs, though there’s no real critique in his words. I grin, stepping closer to him as he starts to take the plates from my hands, wanting to help.

“How do you know that looking distracted wasn’t just part of my cover? That I wanted you to think I was distracted so I could lure you in?”

“Because,” he says dryly, smirking at me as we walk towards the dumbwaiter together. “I could feel your worry down the bond.”

I scowl as he pulls open the tiny elevator’s door and we begin to stack the dirty plates inside. “Yeah well,” I sigh. “A real target wouldn’t be able to feel my emotions.”

“Good,” Jackson growls as we finish stacking plates. “I’m selfish about those – I like keeping that all to myself.” I grin as Jackson pushes the dumbwaiter door shut and presses the button for the little bell that’s next to the door before putting a hand on my hip, pulling me towards him as he sits down on Rafe’s bed and looks seriously into my face, settling me so that I’m standing between his knees. “Seriously, Ariel? What’s wrong?”

I bite my lip and shrug. “It was…just a scary morning, wasn’t it?”

Jackson shakes his head, raising a hand so that his thumb brushes over my cheek. “I know it’s more than that,” he whispers. And I close my eyes, a whoosh of air coming from between my lips as I let myself remember it, let myself…notice it.