The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 919

“I can’t, man,” Cristof says, shaking his head, his face breaking a bit to show the true sorrow that’s running through him. “I have to get back.”

“Back?” Jackson asks, going still. His hands tighten on Cristof’s shoulders. “Cris, don’t go back – it’s fucking awful there, it’s so much better here – there’s so much you don’t know –“

“There’s so much you don’t know,” Cristof snarls, stepping towards Jackson and baring his teeth. His eyes flick to the Alphas standing on the steps, all who move forward towards them. But Jackson flashes up a hand towards Jesse and Rafe and the others. They pause, tense.

“What’s going on?” Jackson asks, his voice low and serious, finally realizing that…that something really is wrong. “Why can’t you stay? We – we’ll build a life for you, Cris. We can do that, we really can –“

But Cristof just shakes his head, his throat working. “I have to get back. Zachary –“ his voice breaks on the name and he hangs his head.

Jackson’s hands tighten. “What’s wrong with Zachary?” he growls.

“He’s…in fucking deep, Jackson. They…” Cristof taps his temple with a finger. “They got into his head, or whatever. He’s – it’s fucking awful, okay? And the command is getting really cruel, way worse than it was when you left – they’re…hurting people…” Cristof’s words come out thin and choked towards the end and he looks away, working very hard to avoid crying.

“Come inside,” Jackson says, his hands tightening on Cristof’s shoulders. “We’ll tell the King – there are people who want to help –“

“I’m not talking to that jackass King,” Cristof snarls, stepping away from Jackson and jerking himself out of Jackson’s grasp.

“He’s not like that – everything they told us in the Community were fucking lies Cristof –“

“Did they get into your head, Jackson?” Cristof asks, again looking up at the palace, worried. “You’re all fucking…fancy now? And turned your back on your people? Just…left us?”

“Cristof,” Jackson says, holding a hand out towards his friend, guilt running through him because…well, because the accusation hits hard. And it’s not completely untrue. “I’m…trying. I’m working with a doctor to get aid – to get people in –“

“Well, it’s not working, Jackson!” Cristof bites out, tears starting from his eyes now. He snarls, wiping hard at his face with his sleeve, desperately unhappy that his emotions have worked their way to the surface. “They’re fucking hurting us, Jacks! And the ones who run away, they get fucking killed if they don’t starve to death – they’re –“

“Who gets killed?” Jackson whispers, grabbing Cristof’s arm again.

“Jacks, do you need help?” Rafe asks, and Jackson whips his head to the side to see his friends all standing close. But Jackson snarls, telling them wordlessly to stay back, and Rafe holds up his hands, letting Jacks know that he’ll obey.

Tasha and a pup.

“They died?” he whispers, shaking Cristof hard, needing an answer now.

Cristof just stares at him for a too-long moment. Jackson’s entire life, his reality, hangs in the balance and he waits, desperate, not breathing.

“Tasha died,” Cristof whispers.

Then he turns, his arm slipping out of Jackson’s hand, and reaches for the handle to the door on the back seat of the car.

Jackson’s heart seizes in his chest.