The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 125

But still, he won’t meet me in the dream state. And he seems quite a bit more content than me to just…wait for an opportunity to arise for us to talk in private when I can’t just end the conversation like hanging up a phone.

Luca’s right – that was unfair, I had too much control in the dream state.

But this? This isn’t fair either.

No – I’m very aware that my mate and I are locked, a bit, in a stalemate, and one of us is going to crack. I am very willing for that to be me, but Luca doesn’t know that there are other reasons for my secrecy.

I mean, if he was my only mate? I’d drop it all right now – just demand, openly in this room, that Luca be let in on the secret and everyone simply accept the fact that he’s an important part of my life. But considering that Rafe knows that Jackson is my mate? And Jesse does not? And that I kind of want to keep it that way for now, so that I can keep some semblance of control over my insane life?

I sigh through my nose, shutting my eyes, wishing desperately that I could just…concentrate on school. I wish that my handsome mate wasn’t lounging on my couch two feet from me, all languid and irresistible, smelling amazing and –

A little nudge prods at my soul and my wolf instantly perks up. My eyes fly open, meeting Luca’s, which are already on me. He raises an eyebrow at me, clearly asking if I’m okay.

I narrow my eyes at him, hoping that he gets the clear message that I would be better if he’d just talk to me. Maybe in the dream state, if he would stop being so stubborn about it.

But he just smirks, and gives me a devastating wink, and drops his attention back to his book.

I sigh again, out loud now, making Ben look up and over at me as I snap my book shut and stand, heading for my nook.

“You okay?” Jesse asks, real concern in his eyes as he looks at me.

“Yes,” I mutter, glaring around at all of them. “Just…tired. And sick of boys.” I snap my curtain shut behind me, flopping onto my bed as Ben’s laugh echoes in the room. And I’m well aware that what I just said could be interpreted as…dangerous, if I’m still trying to keep my secret from Luca.

But…am I anymore?

God, I just don’t know.

I let myself fall into a little daze, cozy and warm and blissfully alone in my nook, studying the night away until I fall asleep.

I go into the dream state again, as I have done every night. But as with every other night this week, Luca does not appear. I sigh, wondering how he managed it – I mean, it would make sense that he is not obliged to enter, that I can’t just drag him here against his well. Is it that simple, that he’s not here simply because he chooses not to be?

It’s okay, my wolf tells me, suddenly appearing at my side, shaking out her rose-gold fur and pressing her warm body against mine, sweet and comfortable. He’s our mate – we will figure it all out. Don’t worry.

“Do you think he didn’t like it?” I whisper to her, half afraid. “That…I mean, what if I’m bad at kissing?”

But my wolf just laughs, a rich, wolfish sound. Don’t worry about that, she murmurs. He liked it, okay? Our love is rich and good and warm. He is a fool if he stays away much longer. He’s only hurting himself.

And I nod, letting myself believe her as I wrap my arms around her neck and bury my face in her pretty rose-gold fur. She gives my shoulder a lick and rests herself against me, and I drift back into my dreams.

The rest of my nighttime rovings are not nearly so stressful. I am my wolf this time. Instead of having her manifest next to me, I embody her, my paws swift as I run along a dark cliffside, the waves of some cold sea crashing against the rocks below. The moon above is bright and I lift my snout, yipping for joy, letting the cool air flood my lungs as I run and run for the love of it.

The cliff is endless, of course, as is only possible in dreams, and it never ceases in its stunning beauty. Sometimes, behind me – or maybe next to me – I can feel another wolf running. I get glimpses of his huge form, his dark and heavy fur – but I don’t pay my companion much mind. Instead, I get the sense that we’re both happy to simply run.

When I wake the next morning - my Alpha alarm apparently starting to kick in, because I’ve woken before both Jesse and the sun – I’m more refreshed than I have been in days. I hop eagerly out of bed, ready to start my day.