The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 17

“To brush my teeth, Rafe,” I growl, turning stop so abruptly that he smacks into me and makes me stumble a few steps back. His mouth pops open in surprise and I see the apology on his tongue for almost knocking me over, but I wave a hand in his face, dismissing it. “What, I can’t even do this alone!?” I snap, shaking my head at him as I step closer enough, close enough for him to hear my whisper. “Or is the risk of me getting pregnant, and ruining my entire life, too high!?”

He glares at me again, but I can see him processing my words, realizing that he has perhaps stepped a little over the line between protective big brother and complete asshole tonight. So I nod curtly once more and turn on my heel, storming into the bathroom alone.

I pointedly refrain from looking towards the showers, where a few cadets are catching the final now-icy showers, and instead stalk right to the row of sinks where I furiously squeeze toothpaste onto my brush and stare blankly at the wall while I scrub my teeth.

Stupid idiot brother, I think to myself, anger still pulsing through me.

He just loves you, my contrary little wolf says, brushing her warm fur up against my soul and making me sigh in defeat, because I know she’s right.

Can’t you just let me be mad? I ask, leaning over to spit my toothpaste into the sink with a scowl. Sometimes a little anger can be very therapeutic.

Nope! She replies, suddenly standing up straight and swishing her tail. Cheer up - we’ve got better things to concentrate on!

What? I ask, standing up straight, but before I can even fully consider her words, a hand grabs the fabric at the back of my uniform and begins to haul me along, away from the sinks. I drop my toothbrush in surprise.

“Come on, Shrimp,” Luca says, smirking down at me as he pulls me towards the door. “You and I are going to have a little talk.”

“What!?” I gasp, and then as the surprise fades I snarl, putting my weight back into my heels and trying to get out of his grasp. “Let go of me! I’m not going anywhere with you!”

Go! My wolf howls, prancing around inside of me, maybe he’ll kiss you – maybe he’ll take his shirt off! But I hastily shove her away, glaring up into my mate’s face. He doesn’t let go of me at all, instead grabbing the front of my uniform now and leaning closer to whisper to me.

“You either come willingly,” he says, raising his eyebrows, “or we go have this little conversation about what you were really doing out last night in front of your over-protective cousins, who I’m starting to realize don’t know anything about your midnight bath and would probably not be thrilled to hear of it.”

My eyes narrow at Luca even as I inwardly shriek, because – crap – if he’s figured out that Rafe and Jesse are overprotective, that means he’s been watching me.

And he’s right. After Jesse and Rafe’s little chat with mom and dad? They definitely don’t need any more information about my midnight adventure – not tonight.

But Luca – he’s not letting me out of this either.

I take a moment to assess before I lift my chin at him. “Fine,” I snap, stepping back and jerking my uniform out of his hand. To my surprise, he lets me go. “But let me get my toothbrush,” I insist, pointing to where it clattered into the sink.

To my surprise, Luca laughs. “They’ll give you a new toothbrush, Shrimp –“

“That’s wasteful,” I murmur, sending him a nasty glare over my shoulder as I go to retrieve my kit and come back to his side.

Still smirking, he nods to me and wraps his hand again around my arm –

The moment he touches me, even with fabric between us, a tingle runs through me, spreading from his hand all up and down my arm. My eyes widen and I look up to find him frowning down at me.

He feels it too! This is so great! My wolf spins in a thrilled circle within me.

Luca stares at me for a long moment, but he doesn’t drop my arm. Instead, quite gently, he guides me from the bathroom, putting himself between me and my family so that they can’t see where I go. My heart starts to pound for a thousand reasons –

Rafe’s going to kill me –

Jesse’s going to figure out Luca’s my mate –

My whole body is tingling -

And – crap – where is he taking me?

I’m going somewhere alone with my mate, what if he smells my scent!?

I’m basically panting with anxiety by the time I realize that Luca’s walking me over to his bed – my wolf lifts her nose with joy, howling a single high note to the sky as her toes tap in a skittering dance.