The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 59

Jackson starts towards it, but Rafe throws out a hand. “No way,” he says, shaking his head. “You can –“

“Rafe,” Jesse interrupts, staring at my brother, his expression shocked and a little appalled, “Aunt Ella raised you better than this.”

Rafe’s eyes go wide with surprise and shame, but Jesse ignores him and turns a warm smile up to Jackson. “Please,” he says, nodding to the empty chair. “Have breakfast with us. I’m Jesse.”

Jackson hesitates for one more second, but then puts his tray down and sits, introducing himself and shaking Jesse’s hand. Jesse goes through a bit of a farce now, introducing Jackson around to the table even though we’re all well aware of who he is, especially Rafe, who glares at me again even as he mutters a bitter hello.

But I just shrug at my brother, who has clearly figured out that I’m behind this but hasn’t yet figured out why. I know I owe him an explanation, but…well, there’s really no time for that now, is there?

But it’s actually Luca’s cold voice that brings my attention away from Rafe.

“Hey, McClintock,” Luca says, looking Jackson up and down in a way that clearly communicates his distaste. “We haven’t really had the opportunity to interact since that first night, have we? Can’t really say that I’ve missed you.”

I go very still as I remember yet another reason why this breakfast might not have been the best idea.

Jackson and Luca – they’re searching for the same girl, aren’t they?

Which, actually, is me.

And that…does not really make them potential friends, does it?

I sigh a little, turning my attention back to my plate, realizing that I have officially, truly stuck my foot in it this time.

“I guess we haven’t, Grant,” Jackson says, his low voice rumbling.

“Cool!” Jesse says, too cheerful in the awkward silence that reigns at our table now. But Ben laughs, and I look up to see him shrugging because – I mean – what else is there to do? “So, Jackson,” Jesse continues, using his skills as a natural conversationalist to drag us all back together. “Anxious about the obstacle course today?”

Jackson replies that he’s not, and Ben asks Rafe something about best methods for low crawling through the sand pit, and I exhale a long breath, thinking that we might get through this breakfast without a brawl after all.

Luca stays tense and quiet beside me, but eventually things get lighter as the minutes pass by. Rafe doesn’t say anything to Jackson either, but Ben and I do, and honestly by the time breakfast draws to a close I’m much more worried about the final trial instead of whether or not my brother is going to beat up my mate, or if my mates are going to find out about each other, or any of the other thousand things can could potentially go wrong with my personal life.“Did you eat enough?” Rafe asks, breaking out of my reverie, and I look up to see him looking at my full tray with concern.

I glance down at my plate and realize that…well, I probably didn’t. But I sigh and push the tray away from me.

Rafe sighs and pushes a carton of chocolate milk in my direction, but I just push it back, sticking out my tongue. “Rafe, unless you want me to barf chocolate milk up all over myself in about half an hour…”

Luca, at my side, laughs a little, clearly listening.

Rafe just grins and takes the carton back. “I just want you to have enough energy to get through the course,”

“We’ve got enough nervous energy to propel us,” Ben says, bumping his shoulder against mine. “Don’t worry about that, Sinclair.”

Rafe just shrugs, opening his mouth to say something else, but Luca beats him to it. “What about Beast Mode over here?” he says, his voice a dry and honestly a little bit nasty as he looks Jackson up and down. I frown at Luca, not sure that I like this side of him.

Jackson – he’s been quiet and a little awkward during breakfast, though not impolite. He answered questions when asked, and he did his best - but overall? He just struck me as kind of a shy guy who is feeling out his place in an established group made mostly of Alpha males, which is not the easiest thing to do.

And Luca? He seems quite determined to make sure that Jackson feels as uncomfortable as possible.

“Come on, McClintock,” Luca says, smirking at him as he pops a grape into his mouth. “You’re the only one giving Sinclair a run for his money on this course today, what’s your secret?”