The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 34

I bite my lip, hoping to hell that I get sorted into the espionage track. Because while I am clearly not a warrior – I don’t have the brute strength for that – the hours spent learning how to spy, or to craft poisons, or become an expert sharpshooter, or a master of any variety of tiny, obscure weapons?

Damn, but that sounds just like…everything I’ve always wanted to do and never knew was even an option.

“Well done, Shrimp!” A loud voice says, and I jump a little as an arm slides around my shoulder, giving me a squeeze as Luca sits down next to me. He’s frequently a 5(th) at our meals, or at least stops by once a day to say hello. And while my wolf turns in eager, excited circles as soon as his summer citrus scent hits our nose, I grit my teeth in frustration.

Because whenever Luca’s here? He concentrates on me, and teases me, and drops little hints about things that I know. And I swear to god, one of these days Jesse’s going to break out of his little fog and figure out what I can’t believe he hasn’t already seen –

That Luca’s here to see me, and only me, even if he doesn’t know precisely what draws him to this table.

I don’t say anything to my mate as he reaches out to give Jesse and Ben high-fives. He offers one to Rafe, who just gives him a little glare, but Luca laughs it off as he takes his spot next to me.

“Seriously, I’m impressed,” Luca says to me alone, and sigh as I turn to look at him. And seriously, it’s not that I don’t want to look at him –

It’s just. God damn it. Every time I do, I get this stupid smile on my face, and can’t help feeling like my whole body is filled with butterflies –

Because I have this stupid, ridiculous girly crush on him –

But how can I help it? He grins at me with that perfect face, his dimples flaring, his pretty brown eyes shining at me…

And, I mean, I basically swoon. The guy’s a celebrity heartthrob for a reason, doubled by the fact that he’s my mate and I’m unendingly attracted to him on a soul level? Oh, and tripled by the fact that over the past week I’ve figured out that he’s nice, and funny?

My wolf sits back on her haunches and howls.

I clutch my knife and fork to avoid the insane urge to reach out and run my fingers through his hair. God, I bet it’s so silky…

“Thanks, Luca,” I say, interrupting my own thoughts and doing my best to keep my voice dry. “I noticed I kicked your ass in marksmanship. What, you can’t hit something if it’s not three feet in front of your face?”

He bursts into laugher at this, grinning at me. “Want to fuck around and find out, Shrimp?” he asks, lifting his fists into his boxers stance and winking at me.

God, fuck, yes, yes I do, I moan inwardly.

But outwardly I just give a cool shrug and turn back to my waffles. Luca turns his attention to Jesse, chatting about his own ranking of 9, while Rafe lifts his head a little and shakes it at me, because he knows I have a crush. Of course he does – he watches me like a hawk and he’s known me since I was born.

I press my lips together and tilt my head to the side, staring at him, willing him to read my thoughts that adamantly protest that I am doing my best and that I can’t help it.

Rafe just smirks and gives a little shrug, saying without words that he knows. He gives a little nod, letting me know I’m not in any trouble.

But as I let my attention drift back to Luca? As I watch him lean forward towards Jesse, his shoulder coming dangerously close to my face, giving me just the…the perfect little sniff of that scent that makes my eyes drift shut and my toes curl?

God damn it. Even if Rafe doesn’t think I’m in any trouble?

I absolutely, patently am.

And it’s only a matter of time before this comes to a head.

Especially because after Luca leans forward to give Jesse another high-five – god, why do boys do that so much? – when he leans back in his chair, he casually, just barely lets his fingers drift across my back.

That tingle that rises in me whenever we touch rushes through my skin, tracing the pattern of his fingers as they go. My eyes go wide and I spin towards him.

And his eyes are there, waiting for me.

A little smirk on his lips.

Letting me know that he did it on purpose.

And that he knew exactly how I was going to respond.

“So,” Luca says, turning abruptly to the other three, leaving me staring open-mouthed at his perfect face. “Anyone know what they’ve got ready to torture us with today?”

I grit my teeth, avoiding my urge to either smack him or throw myself in his arms. Because the torture? For me, it’s already begun.