The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



I moan in horror as the tent floods with people, as they stomp out the lingering flames and try to pull Tony's body away from me. I scream against it, holding onto him, not wanting to let him out of my sight.

But Luca is there, crouching behind me, murmuring to me to let him go to let the doctors help him - to unclench my hands that are clinging to Tony's uniform. Luca's words don't register with me for a moment as the medics come flying in, as people begin to shout to notify the command about the dead Cadet on the floor, about what they assume was a fight that broke out -

But Luca's hands are calm on mine, and he slips his fingers beneath mine and unfolds them -

And then they lift Tony, and they take him away.

And I completely lose my mind.

I scream out all of the horror and fear that's racing through my body, through my blood.

How - how can the whole world have fallen apart in thirty seconds -

Gibson - Atalaxia - flashes of knives coming right for my face - the sting of the cuts across my palms -

Tony in front of me - Luca's roar and his fangs - and then blood -

Blood, everywhere. Blood all over my friend, blood still all over me.

"I've got you, Ari," Luca murmurs to me, pulling me up into his arms and then up off the floor, his whole body shaking as he does, as I cry and sob out what sounds like an endless wail.noveldrama

"You need to stay right the fuck where you are," a superior officer commands, putting a hand out to Luca. "This is not finished -"

I just sob, turning my face into Luca's chest.

"I'm taking him to the king," Luca snarls, pushing past, pushing through people -

"You're taking him fucking nowhere -" the officer shouts.

But suddenly the flaps fly open again and more people come flying in - tall men, their scents so familiar.

"Ari!" Jackson barks, sending people flying as he shoves them out of his way, crossing the tent to me with Rafe and Jesse and my father in his wake.

"She's fine," Luca says, his voice trembling as he steps towards our group. I moan, reaching for my father, wanting his steady presence, and Luca only hesitates for a second before passing me over into my father's arms.

"What happened?" Rafe barks, glaring around at everyone, going still as he sees Gibson's body on the ground and the blood -

A great deal of blood - far more than could be produced by one boy.

"I'm going," dad growls to Rafe. "Handle this. Get answers. Report to me." He turns, sharp, heading immediately for the entrance as I curl tight against his chest. I call to my mates as my father carries me out, begging them to come with me, feeling it when they both comply, silently following my father as he carries me down the path between the military tents. As we go, we leave a path of Tony's blood in our wake as it slowly drips from my sodden clothes.

Hours later, I still can't stop crying.

I sit on the little bed set up for my father in the command tent, my clothing changed, my hands freshly bandaged in white linen, Jackson by my side and Luca seated on the ground at my feet.

The entire tent is silent except for

the soft sound of my sniffing as tears slip unendingly down my cheeks. Jackson keeps a hand steadily on my back, his wolf curled defensively around mine in my souls, snarling at every sound.

Otherwise, though, we sit in silence.

Luca and I already briefed everyone three times on what happened, or what we think happened.

Now the only thing to do is...wait.

Ridiculous. It all feels so ridiculous to just...sit here, while Tony is somewhere else, dying or dead because he saved me.

Ridiculous that someone came and

softly cared for and bandaged my hands. That I took a fucking shower and washed all his blood away, that I'm clean and nice, my hair freshly braided with my mates warmat my side.

And Tony... Tony's not.

I sniff harder, thinking that it's not worth it. That it wasn't worth it – not for me. Not if we lose him.

A horrible, terrified moan slips from my lips.

"Stop thinking like that,” Luca pleads, turning his sad brown eyes up to me. "Tony made his choice. He was

But Jackson just growls at him, low, and Luca sighs and turns his face down.

My heart reaches out to Luca, too, because I owe my life to him as well. He took a life for me - something that can't not leave a stain on his soul.

Grief hits me again, because I owe so much to all of them. To everyone. Debts I'll never be able to pay.

I hang my head, tears starting again, and Jackson tilts me towards him, letting me rest against his chest.