The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 85

At least, not the way I’m doing them.

Awe hits me again as we walk into the dining hall. My head swivels around, taking in the gorgeous sight of round tables set up in what looks like a damn cathedral. The four-story ceilings arch high above us, shadows hiding the light from the chandeliers and three-story windows that line the western wall can’t reach the corners.

“Wow, this is the breakfast room?” I murmur, kind of shocked as Rafe walks us to an empty table with eight seats and sits us down. I smile when I see dozens and dozens of young men dressed in cadet black at their own tables, chatting with friends or reading through books. These are more advanced students – apparently we all have breakfast together.

“This used to be the castle’s great hall, like the one at home,” Rafe says, sitting down before an empty place setting and gesturing for me and Jesse to do the same.

I hesitate, looking around for the line. “Where…do we get the food…”

But my eyes go wide when a man dressed in stark white comes to the table and gives us a sharp bow. “Coffee or tea?”

Rafe calmly orders coffee for all of us as I gape at the man, who smiles around at us before walking away. “Do we have…waiters? At breakfast?”

“Why is this so weird for you, Ari?” Jesse asks, already seated on Rafe’s right. “All of this is available at your house – it’s why I like to sleep over so much. Your personal chefs are way better cooks than both of my parents.”

“Yeah, but it’s school,” I say, taking my seat and watching in awe as another group of people bring us a selection of toasted bread, butter, and jam alongside our pot of coffee. One leans forward and asks softly what hot food we’d like and I blink at her, shocked that there’s more –

Rafe orders bacon and eggs, telling her that we’re expecting two more, and starts to pour from the coffee pot, laughing at me. “Seriously, Ari, why is this such a surprise?”

“It’s just so fancy,” I breathe, blinking. “I don’t know, I guess I just got…used to the barracks.”

“Well, dad and Uncle Roger like cadets to understand themselves as deserving of the best,” Rafe says with a shrug, and I tilt my head, considering that that’s not a terrible way to think of it.

“The Academy asks a lot of its cadets, as does the life after school,” Jesse says, smiling at me, clearly repeating words his dad said to him verbatim. “It likes to return the favor while it can.”

“Fine by me,” I say, reaching for a blueberry muffin – still warm, my god – while Rafe fills my cup with hot brown liquid. I smile when he pushes the sugar and creamer my way – he and Jesse take theirs black, but he knows what I like.

“Morning!” Ben says, sitting down next to me and giving me a warm nudge with his shoulder. “Where’s Luca?” he asks, looking around.

“I’m right here,” Luca’s voice sounds, dry and exhausted, from right behind me.

I spin, my muffin halfway to my mouth, to see him already glaring down at me.

Ut-oh, my wolf says, skittering back inside of me. Looks like he’s mad…