The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0451

"Is that really what you want?" Jackson asks, worried, his arms still tight around me like he doesn't want to let me go. "To have Luca here? Or...to spend some nights with him?"

"No," I answer instantly, and as I say it I realize with a bit of surprise that it's true that...that I really don't want to spend my nights with anyone but Jackson. Anxiety twists in me at the realization - what does that mean? Does it mean that my relationship with Luca is... less? Or...

But my wolf blatantly ignores my worry, trotting down the little bond within my soul like it's a bridge and curling up at Jackson's wolf's side. His wolf grumbles his pleasure and curls around her, tucking his nose in next to hers and wrapping his tail close so that she's nearly encircled. And I realize that...my connection to Luca aside, this is what my wolf wants, where she wants to be at night. Curled up with Jackson's wolf, safe and warm and secure.

Jackson simply nods once, accepting my answer and not pushing for anything else. Then he presses his lips to mine and curls up next to me, wrapping me up tight against him in a way that is strikingly reminiscent of our wolves.

And so I decide not to worry about it - not now, at least. Because right now everything just feels so...completely right.

Instead I close my eyes and let myself drift off, warm and comfortable and complete.

Too few hours later, the curtain to my nook rips open and the pinkish light of dawn streams in.

"Up!" Rafe barks, a little too gleeful about it. "Time to get to work, lovebirds!"

I just groan and turn my head away from my stupid brother, pressing my other cheek to Jackson's chest, over which I am - of course - sprawled.

Jackson likewise just wraps his other arm around me, not responding to Rafe.

But my brother's lack of footsteps let me know that he is still standing there. "Go away," I mumble. "I hate you. Go away."

There's a long beat of silence. "Do you guys seriously sleep like this?"

I turn my head back towards my brother with a sigh and crack an eye open. "It's more comfortable than it looks. Do you want to try it?"

Rafe just bursts into laughter as Jackson snarls, tightening his arms.

"Up!" Rafe shouts again, leaning forward to give me a hearty smack on the calf before striding towards and into the bathroom.

"I don't like this part," Jackson murmurs. "I wasn't counting on a Rafe alarm clock."

"How about a Jesse one!" Jesse shouts, moving far more quickly than anyone should at this time of the morning and leaping over us and into the nook, landing on the bed on Jackson's other side. "Jesse!" I gasp, my eyes flying open to glare at him as I sit up. "You're going to break my bed! Three wolves is too much -"

"Two point five at best, tiny cousin," Jesse says, beaming at me, wide awake.

"This is my nightmare," Jackson sighs, lifting a hand to cover his face, still not opening his eyes. "It's...it's too much chaos to wake up to."

"This is what you signed up for, roomie!" Jesse says, pitching his voice louder than necessary as I slip off of Jackson and come to rest more reasonably at his side. "Sinclair chaos at all hours." Jackson just shakes his head once, refusing this as a choice.

I sigh and press a hand to his shoulder, sitting up fully. "It's no use, Jacks," I sigh, starting to stretch. "They'll never let you sleep in. Just give in or he'll start singing."

"Which would be a blessing for you," Jesse says, prodding Jackson's shoulder. "I have an amazing voice."

Jackson just sighs and pulls his hand away from his face, opening his eyes seemingly just to glare at Jesse.

"If you can't stand the Sinclair level of chaos," Rafe says, coming out of the bathroom with his face freshly washed, his voice overly cheerful, "then maybe you shouldn't sleep here! Sinclairs only."

I sigh as I stand, glaring at my brother, who just grins at me, clearly not intending at all to make this any easier on poor Jacksson.

"Well, that's not a problem, if that's a prerequisite," Jackson murmurs, pushing himself up so his back is against the headboard. He runs a hand through his very messy hair. "I'll become a Sinclair if you want me to." Jesse and I both stare at him, baffled, and Jesse speaks for both of us when he says "wait, what?"