The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 66

“Ari Clark.”

My head whips up and I gasp.

Because –

That’s –

That’s my name –

I mean, it’s not my name, but –

A hysterical little laugh bursts from me as I stumble forward. I can feel eyes on me as a small, half-hearted cheer goes up – nothing like the cheering at the beginning, but most of the cadets are inside now, and most of the people behind me are feeling just as horribly as I was a moment ago –

The Captain locks eyes with me and I hurry my pace, eager to get across the lawn and shake his hand before he does something ridiculous, like realizes he made a mistake –

Or figures out that I’m a girl –

My feet move almost without me realizing it, and suddenly I’m right in front of him, reaching out my hand.

“Well done, Clark,” the Captain says, a little smirk playing at his lips. I stare at him in surprise even as he clasps my hand – because he didn’t say anything to most of the other new cadets. “Bit of a surprise, weren’t you? I’ll be seeing more of you inside.”

I stumble away, still shocked, as the Captain releases my hand and continues on with the names.

He’ll be seeing more of me inside? What – what does that mean?

But I don’t have time to think about it, because suddenly the black doors of the Academy are in front of me, and my heart is absolutely pounding as I walk up to them.

Because…I mean…

I did it.

I feel tears slipping down my cheeks as I walk slowly towards the doors, staring up at them, really realizing for the first time that…that I’m a cadet at the Alpha Academy. That I earned my spot, proved myself alongside everyone else.

That I belong here.

A huge rush of pride blooms in me as I cross the threshold and accept my spot as number 91, Ari Clark. Cadet of Alpha Academy.

A huge shout goes up as soon as I step through the door, and I gasp as someone grabs me off my feet, spinning me in the air.

But I know instantly, by touch and feel, by scent, that it’s my brother –

And I give a little shriek of happiness and wrap my arms around his neck, tucking my face against his neck as I cry and shout for the joy of it.

“You did it, Ari!” Rafe shouts, his voice breaking in his excitement and his pride. “I fucking knew you could do it! God damn it, I’m so proud of you!”

He spins me twice more before putting me back on my feet, and I stumble back a step, dizzy, but grinning up at him –

It doesn’t last long, because Jesse grabs me next. “Shrimp!” he shouts, “I always believed in you, my Shrimpy little cousin!” And I burst out laughing now, thrilled and loving him – loving all of them –

Jesse puts me down, pressing a big kiss to my cheek, and then I’m in a third set of arms.

And let’s just say that I’m glad that the entrance hall is filled with joyful shouts, because when Luca presses me close and that summer-sun, citrus-and-apricots scent hits me…

Well, the little moan that escapes my mouth is…deeply embarrassing, to say the least.

“Good job, Shrimp,” Luca says, his voice soft, and I tilt my head up to smile at him. His eyes sparkle as he looks down at me, running a hand over my head like he’d be stroking it over my hair if he could see it. The intimacy of the gesture, it sends a shiver right down my spine. “I knew you could do it.”

“No, you didn’t,” I say on impulse, wrinkling my nose up at him. “I bet you had all sorts of bets against me –“

“I did not!” he protests, laughing.

“Admit it,” I say, pointing a finger up at him. “You had at least five bucks on me getting my ass kicked out of here –“

Luca laughs harder at this, shaking his head, but his arms slacken when another roar goes up at the door. And I spin, moving away from him, my mouth spreading into a wide smile because the next candidate who comes through the door?

I know that face, that wide smile.

“Number 95!” Ben shouts, throwing his hands above his head as he leaps through the door.

And suddenly I’m shouting too as we all move forward to hug our friend, welcoming him to the crew.

Ben – he’s the last of us to make it through, but he’s one of us now. We all are – cadets, equals. I wrap Ben in a warm hug, telling him how glad I am that he made it, him whispering the same to me. And then we both pull away, laughing and shaking our heads at each other, wondering how the hell we made it through.

But we don’t do that for long, both of us turning towards the long hall through the cliff, to where our future waits.

“Come on, baby sister,” Rafe whispers just so I can hear, slinging an arm around my shoulder, Jesse coming to my other side. “Welcome to Alpha Academy. Let’s get the adventure started.”

And the three of us march forward together, eager to see what the future holds.