The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 149

I just sigh, and nod, and send back an impression of the dream state, letting him know that we can talk about it more safely there.

Luca just nods, and closes his eyes, and continues his nap.

That night, after dinner has been eaten and Luca and Ben have finally shuffled off to bed, I finally rest my freshly-showered head down on my pillow, a little anxious about how to handle this conversation with Luca. I mean, I get why he’s jealous of Jackson – why he doesn’t want any other young men near me showing me any special attention.

We’re newly mated, after all, which is apparently a very volatile state.

But still – it’s a fine line for me to walk, isn’t it? Because Jackson – he has just as much of a right to my company as Luca does.

And obviously the clearest and fairest thing to do would be to explain that to both of them – but doing that opens a whole can of worms that I’m not sure I’m ready to face just yet. I mean, I haven’t even let Jackson know that I’m a girl yet, let alone his mate – I can’t just casually spring that all on him when he comes by to deliver a note from our professor, right?

We should tell him, my wolf urges, turning a circle in my soul. We should tell both of them.

I know, I murmur, stroking a hand over her silky fur. And we will…we just…we need more time.

She gives a little howl of discontent but lets me be with it, knowing that I’m right – that I’m trying to balance too much, and just coming out with the truth to everyone right now could make it all come crashing down.

So I just sigh, and close my eyes, and work to fall asleep, eager to meet my one mate who knows I exist in our little dream forest.

When I open my eyes again, I smile to feel the familiar breeze against my skin. And this time, for once, I don’t bother to change into my cadet uniform, instead letting my hair blow loose, enjoying the feel of my soft white nightgown against my skin.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Luca murmurs, and I turn to see him standing right there, almost like I conjured him. His arm goes instantly around my waist, pulling me close as he uses his other hand to tuck my hair behind my ear.

“Hi,” I say, wrinkling my nose in pleasure and leaning against him. “Are you feeling better yet?”

“Much better,” he murmurs, lowering his face and nudging my nose with his. “Dream forest makes everything feel great. You look very pretty, by the way – big improvement, I have to say, over your cadet uniform.”

I laugh, frowning and pretending to be offended. “I thought I looked quite sharp in cadet black,” I protest, though I don’t’ really mean it as I wrap my arms around his neck.

“Oh, you do,” Luca sighs, smiling down at me, his dimples deepening as his eyes rove over my face. “I just…like you soft and delicate too. All stages of Ariel are very good – this one is just different from what I’m used to. The novelty is nice.”

“Look at you, saying all the right things,” I sigh. “They should put you on ambassador track.”

“Hold your tongue,” he growls, narrowing his eyes at me. “I am warrior, through and through. You wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I grin then, loosening my grip from around his neck and putting my hands flat against his chest. “No,” I say, shaking my head and suddenly giving him a little push, “no I would not.”

Luca gasps, stumbling backwards, but to his surprise the back of his knees hit a very plush mattress and he falls backwards onto a bed that I’ve conjured out of thin air. It takes him a second to figure out what happened, but then he just turns his head upwards and grins at me.

“Well, that’s a clever little party trick,” he murmurs before leaning forward and grabbing me by the waist, hauling me down with him.

I shriek with delight as I fall into my mate’s arms.