The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Oh, come on," Jackson says, keeping his spot on the window seat and spreading out his hands, the seriousness of his gesture ruined a bit by the fact that he's holding a raspberry pastry. "Do any of you honestly think that my presence at the Grant family home is going to help anything today?"

"It's going to help Ariel," Jesse says, eyebrows raised, pointing at me. My own eyebrows go up because...I mean, is it?

"Ariel can handle herself," Jackson sighs, rolling his eyes a little bit and dropping his hands to his knees. "I mean, I get being over-protective in the Academy where people are trying to beat the shit out of her - "You included," Jesse says, crossing his arms and glaring at my mate.

Jackson just returns his glare and keeps going. "But, Ariel is smart and capable - she doesn't need her big brute mate coming along when she's got her big brute brother and big brute cousin at her side. Besides, you know my being there is just going to set Luca off. It's not worth it."

I beam a little at my mate, because even if he is declining to come and defend my honor, he's doing it because he thinks that I'm perfectly capable of defending myself. And there's something really nice in that - in Jackson's utter faith in me.

I send a grateful, warm little pulse down our bond, letting him know that I love that he sees me that way, and Jackson turns to give me a little wink before returning his gaze to Rafe and Jesse.

“Nah, I think he's right," Rafe says, turning to Jesse. "Jackson's great backup, and he's on Ari's side, but in this case...it might be too much backup. Showing up to a knife fight with a rocket launcher. We want to keep this quiet, even if we do want to get to the bottom of it. Ariel's two mates getting into a brawl before Luca's fight isn't going to help anyone."

Jesse scowls but puts his hands up, willing to be outvoted. But then he turns his head to Jacks. "So, what are you going to do all morning, then?"

"I don't know," Jacks says, giving a shrug, looking between the three of us. "Ella said something about...shoes."

"Shoes?" I ask, bursting into a grin, dead pleased.

"Yeah," he says with a confused frown, even though he doesn't seem bothered by it. Then he looks down at himself and gestures casually with his hand towards his new clothes. "She did all of...this... yesterday."

"Ohhhh," Jesse says, grinning now as Jackson looks back up at us. "So that's where the glow-up came from - Auntie Ells."

"What's a glow up?" Jackson asks, frowning.

I can't help my laughter as I grin at my mate. "Wait, so...mom took you shopping?"

"She brought the shopping here," he

says, frowning a little at the

memory. "She came and got me from my room, and then there were all these people, and all these clothes, And someone cut my hair? I -

And then I had to try on everything it took hours. And by the end of it your mom filled the whole room attached to my room with clothes. And she told me they're all mine, and I can wear whatever I want. And that today we're doing...shoes." He shrugs, his eyes a little unfocused, like he's remembering a fever dream.

Which, considering mom's shopping methods...is probably a pretty accurate description.

"Wait," Rafe says, fighting a grin as he steps forward towards Jacks. "What do you mean, a room attached to your room?"

"I don't know how to be clearer than that," Jackson says, frowning at Rafe.

"Like, the room next door to your room?" Rafe asks.

"No," Jackson says, shaking his head slowly and looking between us. "You can only get to it from my room."

"I think he means a closet," Jesse whispers, grinning with delight.

"No, it's a room

-

a whole room, with

a door," Jackson says, holding his arms out to his sides to

demonstrate how big it is. "And it's just filled with clothes. A closet is...small. This one's big - like you could put a bed in there." He frowns around at us, dropping his arms

while we all do our very best not to laugh.

"Yeah, that's your closet, Jacks," I say, taking another bite of my pastry and smiling at him. "It's called a walk-in. And it's your fault for letting mom have free reign over it - she'll never stop now." "So, all those clothes...are for me?" He stares around at us like that can't possibly be true.

"That's just the winter line, Jacks," Rafe says, coming forward and patting him on the shoulder. "Wait till you see what she brings in for the spring."

Jackson stares at my brother like he has absolutely no idea what that means, and he's a little scared of it. "Wait so,” he whispers, shifting his eyes to me. "How many...shoes do I get?”

Instead of answering - because I know the true answer will freak him out - I just laugh and swoop down to give him a quick kiss on the cheek He responds instantly, almost automatically, raising a hand that brushes quickly down the length of my side, a caress and a farewell.