The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 930

“Ariel!” Jackson sputters, “fucking – no! I am not breaking up with you – I’m saying that if you don’t to be with me I would understand – that it would break my fucking heart but this is not your responsibility –“

I cry out in protest, grabbing him closer to me, whipping an arm around his neck and clinging to him. “No!” I snarl, desperate and afraid at even the thought of this. “You’re – you’re fucking mine, Jackson! Mine! I’m never letting you go, you idiot, you –“

He clings to me too, holding me so close I can barely breathe, and I realize quite suddenly that we’re both just afraid right now. Afraid that this big change – this development – this Marigold – is going to push us away from each other. I take long deep breaths, forcing my mind to slow. My wolf turns over in my soul, baring her belly to Jackson’s wolf, submitting to him entirely, letting him know that she’s his –

His completely, forever.

Jackson’s wolf just flops down next to her on the ground, letting out a long sigh and stretching his nose over her neck, resting his face against her. He lets out a long, wolfish grumble and my wolf whines and turns to him. Both rest then, tension leaving them alongside our fear.

“Hey,” I say, a bit shaky, releasing my hold on Jacks a bit, grimacing when I realize that my claws came out a bit and poked holes in his shirt. He takes a deep breath and leans his forehead against mine. “We’re – I think we’re both just really freaked out, right?”

“Yeah,” he says on the exhale. “Fair to say that I am…completely freaked out.”

“But we’re in this together,” I whisper, nodding, believing it utterly. “I don’t know…what that looks like, or what shape this takes but, you and me?” I say, nudging my nose with his, making him look at me, making him see the dedication in every inch of me. “Together.”

“Are you sure?” Jackson whispers.

“I’m sure,” I murmur, pulling back a little so I can study his face, my eyes moving slowly over every single beloved feature. “You’re…um. You’re keeping her? You’re going to raise her?”

Jackson holds my gaze and slowly nods. “She’s mine, Ariel.”

“Okay,” I say, nodding, my heart beginning to pound a little frantically. “Then…yeah, if that’s what you’re doing, then that’s what I’m doing. I’m on board, Jacks.”

“Ariel, I –“ he sputters, I think deeply shaken by the steadiness in me, in my offer. “This is a huge ask, Ariel – a child, my child – this is going to change everything in my life –“

“In our lives,” I growl, possessive and sure. “What twists life brings to you it brings to me too, Jackson – that’s what I want. I want to do this together. Unless…you don’t want...that?”

“I want it to be,” I whisper, even if inside I have doubts. Doubts about what it’s going to be like to raise a child at Jackson’s side, how I’m going to deal with the jealousy, whether it’s best for her, how it’s going to change our lives…

But I mean, are they even doubts? Or do I just not have answers? Because maybe…maybe there are answers to these questions. And maybe those answers aren’t bad ones.

Maybe this is a good thing.

Babies – little girls – little girls who look like Jacks –

They have to be a blessing, right?

“I want it to be my responsibility,” I whisper again, surer this time – surer that it’s not just wanting to support Jacks. That this, really, is something I can begin to commit to. That I’m strong enough to stand and help my mate as well as this little girl.