The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0518

But my ferocious snarling into Luca's face only lasts a second, because I instantly shift back into my human form, shrieking my delight and throwing my hands in the air as I sit on Luca's chest, my legs sloppily straddled to either side. "I did it!" I shout, laughing with joy. "I hit you and I knocked you down!"

Luca coughs a couple of times but still grins up at me, shaking his head, his hands going to my hips. "That was awesome - how did you shift so fast?"

"What?" I ask, leaning forward and putting my hands on his shoulders.

"Your shift," he says, drawing in a ragged breath, and I gasp a little - guilty - and move myself backwards so I'm sitting more properly on his stomach. Luca obligingly draws a deep breath and continues, still grinning at me, shaking his head a little in awe or delight - I'm really not sure. "Seriously, that was like lightning - how did you do that?"

"I don't know," I say, grinning, still pinning him down with no intention of giving up my victorious spot. "Maybe because I'm smaller, it takes less time?"

"Well, it was awesome," he says, still laughing a little and reaching up a hand to cup my cheek. "You should do that to Blaze tomorrow - even just to see the look on his face when you knock him on his ass." I burst out laughing and down the bond I can feel Luca's joy in making me laugh like that.

"Blaze would never allow it," I sigh, leaning forward more so that my chest and stomach lay out along Luca's. He grumbles a territorial little growl, wrapping his arms loosely around me. "Besides, we both broke the rules - you weren't supposed to try to land any blows, and I probably wasn't supposed to shift. Or at least, the not shifting was implied."

"Yeah, but there are no rules on the battlefield," Luca sighs happily, holding me close. "If it comes down to it, I hope you do shift. To protect yourself. And you really are fast - faster than anyone I've seen before - just a flash of pink and blonde and wham, I'm on the ground."

"Magical goddess speed, baby," I sigh, winking before I happily rest my head on his chest.

We lay like that for a long moment before Luca gives my butt a satisfying smack. "Come on, let's go eat dinner," he says, sitting up and taking me with him.

"Nooo, I was so comfortable," I whine, clinging to him and trying to push him back down. "Let's just take a nap -"

"Ariel, if we lay here any longer with you on top of me, a nap is going to be the last thing on my mind," he murmurs, a little wicked, tracing a hand slowly along my back.

Shivers run through me and my wolf gives an eager yip. "Oh yeah?"

"Out!" Blaze's voice rings from the door, making us both spin our heads towards him in shock - because I honestly didn't even realize he was still on the other side of it.

Honestly, what on earth is on the other side of that door?

"No funny business in my gym!" Blaze says, his face serious as he waves his hands at us.

Luca bursts out laughing and starts to stand up as I skitter up and away from him, blushing beet read. "Blaze, I -"

"No explanations, either," Blaze says,

glaring at us good-heartedly, a smirk

—

on his lips. "But go elsewhere, you loud creatures - go and eat! Rest get your strength back! And tomorrow, I want to see this little wolf trick."

I blush again, realizing that the walls of the gym must be thin and Blaze must hear every word that Luca and I say together. But Blaze just laughs at me and turns away, going back through his door, waving over his shoulder.