The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



But my fingers just slip away from it even as I try to turn.

What - what!?

I gasp in fear and frustration, hauling on the door, trying to turn the lock - but it won't budge, no matter how much I wrench my wrist -

Suddenly arms are around my waist and I scream bloody murder as I'm hauled away from the door. My nails extend into claws, my teeth into fangs as Alvez drags me to the center of the room. I kick and twist, trying desperately to get away, but all of it is fruitless.

"Silence," he snarls, and suddenly my voice wrenches from my throat.

I scream in panic and in rage, my hands flying to my neck, but no sound comes out - none at all.

"That's better," he growls, throwing me hard down onto the couch and pinning me down there, his hands hard against my biceps, his knees pinning down my thighs. "Now you can listen to me, my little demigoddess, as I tell you all the things I'm going to do to you."

He brings his head forward, delivering a long lick of his tongue up my neck and cheek. I scream again in fear and rage, but again no sound comes out, even as I thrash wildly against him.

But he's too big - and I'm so small -

Inwardly I quail, wishing I'd had more time with Blaze already - wishing I knew how to break out of this –

And quite suddenly, I do - but not from my time with Blaze.

From Luca.

I shift in an instant, flashing into my wolf, twisting beneath Alvez. Something about it - about the sudden change in my body or how fast I move makes him lose his grip and I flit away - leaping away from him in my lithe wolf form, running hard for the window -

Wondering desperately if I can leap from it, if I'll die instantly, if it's worth the risk -

But suddenly, even as I leap midair, I...freeze.

Alvez's laughter rings out behind me as I just...hang in the air, my breath coming fast in my wolf's lungs, panting out between my teeth.

"Clever little princess," Alvez hums, and I see him in my periphery first as he slowly walks around me until he stands just before me, his hands tucked neatly behind his back. He bends down to grin into my face. "Oh, I have been looking forward to experimenting with you, seeing what we can really push you to."

I snarl, the sound echoing out of me even as Alvez leers. I start a bit, surprised that my voice is apparently back after my shift, but there's no time to think on it as Alvez suddenly he whips his hand forward and snaps his fingers.

I fall out of the air, landing hard on the floor, somehow -

Somehow back in my human form -

I whip my head up to him, glaring hard. "How are you doing that!?"

"Oh, I thought you were clever, princess, Alvez says, still grinning down at me like this is the most fun he's had all year. "Haven't you figured it out yet? Who I really am?"

IMS

I stare up at him, my mouth falling open, just as the handle on the door begins to twist.

Both Alvez and I snap our heads to the door just as the knock comes and a voice calls out my name. "Ari?"

Jackson. And Luca too, there with him - I can feel both of my bonds can feel their curiosity at the locked door, their rising tension as they feel my fear rippling out in franti@waves.

"Ari, are you in there? What's wrong?"

UMS

I open my mouth, a desperate response on my lips, but Alvez seizes my arm in his hand.

"One word from you," Alvez growls. "And I will disintegrate him. In an instant."

I look up at my professor, horrified at the threat - and by the look in his eyes, utter cruelty, utter confidence...I know he can do it. And he will.

Slowly I close my mouth, nodding to him.

But even if I don't call to them, Luca

and Jackson both at once realize that something is terribly wrong the moment shut down my bonds, not wanting them to feel my fear

anymore, terrified that Alvez will hurtnoveldrama

them. .

There's an instant of pause and then a horrible banging at the door as one or both of them throw their bodies against it, trying to get inside to me at all costs.

“Tell them to stop, little girl," Alvez hisses, leaning closer to me. "Or they will pay with their lives."

I groan, desperate at the idea, and then let my eyes flutter shut, my arm still gripped hard in Alvez's hand, as I open my bonds and take a deep breath.

But before I can beg them to stop, to turn away, to save themselves -

The door shatters into wooden shards, and Luca and Jackson - their fists covered in blood and splinters - force their way in.