The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 136

“Because,” Daphne says, giving a happy little sigh and taking a long sip of her wine, “you’re right – the boys here would throw themselves at my feet just because I’m the only girl here – at least, the only admitted girl here.”

I raise my glass in toast to her, conceding the point.

“But,” she continues with a shrug, “I’m not going to throw myself at the first boy I find myself attracted to – fall in love, get wrapped up in a marriage I haven’t really considered, find myself ten years from now tied to a life that I didn’t want. I want to be more careful than that.”

I nod, understanding. “So, you want to choose your boys carefully. Clever work, Daphne.”

She grins at me, accepting the compliment. “Seems a waste sometimes, though. All these boys for the pickings and I just…leave them on the vine.”

“A job perk left unused,” I murmur, agreeing. “Is the job worth it, besides that? You seem really isolated here.”

“I am isolated,” she says, shrugging before grinning at me, “which is partially why I’m so glad you’re here now – seriously, you’d better make it through to the spring semester, I’ll be desolate if you leave me after only a couple months.”

“I’ll do my best,” I say, nodding seriously, “just for you.”

She laughs along with me but then I tilt my head to the side, considering her again, wondering about her past. “Daphne, how did you end up here?”

“My uncle got me the job,” she says quietly. “He was the tailor here before me – he brought me in two years ago, when his heath started to fail and he couldn’t keep up with the work. And then when he died, they gave me his spot, because I’m fast, and I work hard, and I know the uniforms inside and out.”

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, realizing that she really is all alone here now that she’s lost her uncle as well.

“Don’t be,” she says, her smile soft. “He had a long life, and I’m not unhappy here. I’m cozy, and warm, and busy – I like all that. And the Academy pays incredible wages, so it’s well worth being alone for a little for the money I can stash away and send home to my mom. I figure a few more years of this and I’m…totally free.”

“What’s that mean to you?” I ask, genuinely curious. “Total freedom?”

“Doing whatever I want, whenever I want to,” she sighs, her eyes going a little far-off at the idea. “I don’t need a big mansion or anything – just…the ability to travel where I want, to support myself. Maybe get a cat.” She shrugs.

“That does sound nice,” I say quietly, considering that…well, I never even thought of that as a possibility for myself. Total freedom, a life on my own terms…

“You can come along if you want,” she says quietly. “But…I would request that you bring your hot brother.”

I burst into laughter at this, stretching my leg across the bed and giving her a little kick. “Do you seriously think he’s that hot?”

“Ari,” she says, laughing a little low laugh. “Every girl in the nation – human and wolf – has had a crush on Rafe Sinclair since he hit puberty. That height? Those shoulders, those eyes?” she sighs, leaning back against her pillows.

“Ewww,” I say, wrinkling my nose at her but laughing anyway, “you wouldn’t think he’s so cute if you had to listen to him snore day in and day out.”

Daphne smiles but shakes her head, letting me know that not even that would be enough. I sigh because - I mean, I know Rafe’s reputation in the world – I’ve seen the tabloids, and I’m aware that my brother is objectively good looking. But still, a national heartthrob?

I guess I’m just too close to it. “Poor Jesse,” I sigh, resting my head against the wall. “You’ll break his heart, you know, crushing on Rafe like that.”

“Yeah well,” she murmurs, smirking at me. “Something tells me your Jesse needs to have his heart broken a bit, doesn’t he?”