The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 745

I fall to my knees at his side, my shoulders shaking. “What the hell were you doing outside?” My question is tremulous, a whisper.

“Um,” he says, glancing backwards at Jesse and Rafe. “I was just…being close. Because it was hard to be far. And Jesse said I should let you take charge? And wait until you asked for me, in case you…didn’t want to see me?”

Jesse groans. “That’s not what I said!”

“Why are you listening to Jesse?” I ask, shaking my head as tears well in my eyes. “He’s the worst at emotions.”

“Hey!”

“I don’t know, Ariel,” Jackson murmurs, sitting up and reaching for me the moment he sees me starting to cry. “You’re right – that was dumb – I’m so sorry –“

I groan in relief the moment Jackson wraps me up in his arms, pulling me into his lap and cradling me against his chest, pressing as much of my body to him as he can manage. He murmurs again and again his apologies, and I whisper back for him to stop – that he doesn’t need to – that I need to –

And then I just cry, and Jackson just holds me, and his wolf moves fast across the bond to mine. She shies at first, wary after Luca’s wolf’s attack, but Jackson’s wolf skids to a stop and lets out an encouraging yip, waiting for her to come to him. And when she does, finally pressing herself warm to his side, a fierce and possessive grumble echoes in his chest.

Both Jackson and the wolf.

“Cool, well, we’ll let you…have a minute…” Jesse murmurs, stepping over us and heading out of the room.

“We’ll be back in half an hour,” Rafe says, his voice anxious. I glance up at him to see him looking worriedly down at me, like I can ask him to stay if I want him to.

I sit up straighter, holding my brother’s pretty green gaze. “It’s fine, Rafe,” I say, my voice croaking. “Thank you. It’s fine – we’ll be fine.”

Jackson grumbles his agreement and the door shuts behind us. I turn in Jackson’s lap, taking his face in my hands, tears slipping down my cheeks.

“I’m so sorry, Jacks,” I whisper, shaking my head at him.

“Ariel, you didn’t do anything –“

He frowns at me. “I didn’t know cake was easy,” he whispers. “I thought it was…hard to make.”

I laugh a little harder now, shaking my head, taking his face in my hands, loving him so terribly, incredibly much. “It’s not important.”

Jackson growls his agreement and leans closer to me, brushing his nose against mine, leaning his forehead close as he takes a deep breath. “Ariel. How are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m a lot better,” I whisper, meaning it. “Mom and Cora and Daphne took good care of me. It was what I needed.”

“Good,” he murmurs, breathing a long sigh of relief. “I mean, I know you’re not…fixed, or whatever. That things have changed. But…good. I’m so glad you’re better.”

I go a little still at his words and take a deep breath, moving slightly away from him so that I’m sitting across from him on the floor. He looks seriously down at me as I sit before him, my shoulders hunched, my eyes wide.

“Have things changed, Jacks?” I whisper, gazing up at him, not sure if I want the answer. “Between us?”