The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



“Luca," I groan, shaking my head and getting to my knees, still clutching the blanket to my chest with one hand and reaching for him with the other. "It's not like that -"

"It is!" he shouts, turning back to me, fury in every line of him now. "It is like that, Ariel! You - you fucking chose him!"

"I didn't!" I gasp, shaking my head vehemently. "He asked if I was - I told him I wasn't - I want both of you - I need both of you!"noveldrama

"You're so fucking selfish, Ariel!" Luca shouts, taking three harsh steps towards me, making me flinch. "You can't have both of us - not if it breaks us into pieces to do it!"

"No, I do!" I sputter, my mind reeling, trying to find a way to explain - the Goddess - she said that I - I need both - "It - it doesn't have to break you! We can find a way -"

"Well, you already have," he snarls, leaning down to glare at me. "What - he didn't mark you? Did you shut that down too, so you could fuck him in secret and never let me know? So you could betray me night after night?"

"No, Luca," I growl, my spine straightening as I glare back at him, hating how he's lashing out at me in his hurt. "I didn't have to shut it down - he didn't want to mark me! Because he knew how complicated it would make all of our lives!"

"So - so you asked him then?" Luca says, softer now, but no less dangerous. "You wanted his mark?"

Dread rises in me at this question. Because I instantly know the truth.

I raise my chin and stare into Luca's eyes, unable to say it aloud because I know it will kill him to hear it. But I let Luca have my answer nheless. Luca roars and turns in the room, swiping a hand out at the various objects on top of his dresser, sending them scattering and smashing to the ground. I fall back on my ass on his bed, huddling into the corner, frightened and not knowing what to do -

An Alpha like this, in a rage, and me the cause? My wolf whimpers, afraid, and his wolf prowls closer in our soul, baring his teeth.

"I can't do this, Ariel!" Luca shouts,

spinning back to face me, his

et

canines flashing. "Not anymore! I can't live like this, with you always putting me in his shadow! You chose him, you fucked him, and you treated me like a dog who should be grateful for your scraps!"

“Luca!” I moan, shaking my head and begging him to see that that's so, so not true.

"No," he snarls, prowling closer. "I'm - I'm fucking done, Ariel. I can't do this anymore."

“What are you talking about?" I whisper, going rigid as my wolf stills in my soul, looking up at Luca's wolf, his slavering jaws.

"I'm talking about ending this, once and for all," he whispers, leaning close, his expression closed-off and cruel. He stares at me for a long, silent moment as his lips curl in disgust. "I reject you, Ariel Sinclair. I reject our bond. This is done."

And in my soul his wolf lunges for mine, his teeth sinking deep into her neck.

I scream in agony - the pain unbearable, unfixable - as Luca likewise moans and turns away from me, his shoulders shaking.

My wolf rips her neck from Luca's wolf and yelps as she tears herself away, running hard and fast, leaving the length of our bond between us trying to get some distance. I sob as Luca's wolf goes after her for a moment before turning to the bond instead and taking his claws to it, shredding it to pieces.

I cry out again in shock and very real physical pain as he uses his teeth to tear it up -

As Luca shudders and stumbles for the door, pulling it open and then shifting, bolting out of the room –