The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

My heart pounds for a long moment before dad's face shifts into a wide, happy smile.

"Welcome to the family, son," dad says, holding out a hand again towards Jacks.

Jackson stares down at it for a second and I hear mom sniff next to me, working hard to hold back her tears, because she very well knows what this kind of welcome means to him. To a boy who has never had a family before.

"An honor, sir,” Jackson says after a moment of pause, his voice thick, lifting his blue eyes to Dad's green ones and smiling as he takes his hand, giving it a hearty shake. "The honor of my life, to be mated to your daughter."

"We're honored to have you, kid," Dad says, laughing and smiling, and then slipping an arm around Jackson's shoulders, turning him towards the door. "Downstairs, then! Everyone's waiting."

The two of them set off and I look at mom, a bit baffled. "It's that easy?" I whisper.

"I kind of...thought dad would flip at me being mated to anyone -"

"Oh, baby, we kind of saw it coming,” mom says with a laugh, giving me a squeeze. "Dad's had months to adjust. And considering that Jackson has saved you twice now, rather spectacularly? And that he's smart and cute and a good boy? And he's an orphan, which means we don't have to share you for holidays!? Come on. Your dad is well aware that he can't ask for more than that."

I laugh a little, leaning against my mom, incredibly happy and relieved that Jackson is being so warmly welcomed. I mean, not that I ever thought he wouldn't be, it's just...Alpha dads can be notoriously volatile when letting their daughter's care and safety pass to another man.

But mom is right - with Jackson as that other man? God, who could complain.

"Hope you're ready for a party," Mom hums, light and sing-song, giving me another squeeze, in no hurry to take her hands off me. "Everyone is here!"

"Everyone!?" I gasp.

"Oh, we couldn't keep them away," Mom says, wrinkling her nose at me.

I laugh but then shake my head, glancing down at myself. "But we're all dirty- and bloody - and I have to fill you in -"

"Oh, all of that can wait, daughter," mom says, pressing a warm kiss to my cheek. "We all want a moment to feast our eyes on you, ensure ourselves that you're alive and okay. Besides, wait till you see what Jesse did on the roof!"

I burst out laughing and follow my dad and my mate into the palace, my arm wrapped around my mom, my heart totally full of love.

A huge cheer bursts out in the room the moment we step inside and I tightly clasp Jackson's hand even as tears again come to my eyes. I laugh a little looking up at Jacks as I feel him tense and fight the urge to step back, still not used to the onslaught of love in a big family.

Fight or flight kicking in? I ask, mentally, beaming up at him. Atalaxian army you can handle, but all of Jesse's siblings are too much?

He narrows his eyes a little at me, smirking as he stands straight. But there's no time to reply as out family swarms around us, hugs going around liberally as well as shouts of joy.

I take my time holding each member

of my family close, taking special time to cry over my sweet baby Markie, and my little cousins, and my grandfather, who each tell me how much they missed me, how worried they were. Rosie, in O particular, whispers in my ear that she never thought I'd betrayed the nation, no matter what the news said.

I laugh and kiss her warmly, releasing her from my hug just in time to hear Seraphina shriek "Puppy!" and hurl herself up into Jackson's arms. He gasps,

snatching her out of the air like t

scared she was going to hurt herself argo crashing to the floor, the true fear on his face making me again burst into laughter.