The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I laugh. "You picked the wrong Sinclair boy if you didn't want to be teased," I say, grinning at her as I settle back into the cushions. "Mom and dad would have been far more polite."

Daphne sighs dramatically and gives a big shrug like it can't be helped. "I shall simply have to endure, then." She scoops Mittens up into her hands and lifts him to her shoulder, where he starts to bat playfully at her curls.

"Daph?" I ask quietly, studying her face. "Is...is Jesse your mate?"

She turns to me, her face quite solemn. "I honestly don't know, Ari."noveldrama

My mouth twists a little. "I mean, you'd know," I say, trying to be gentle.

But she shakes her head, looking off into the kitchen, I think wanting mine and Jesse's mothers to be separate from this conversation. "I know what you mean but...it's more complicated than that," she murmurs. "The connection with him - it wasn't instant, and my wolf just...can't decide. It's not like other mates - the bond, if there is one, has not snapped into place. But the way we feel about each other? And the way he smells?" She groans and rolls her eyes, tilting her head back against the couch.

"Oh, you're exaggerating," I sigh, grinning and tilting my head back too. "Jesse smells like corn chips and despair."

"Oh, no he doesn't," she sighs. "He smells like a chai latte, and old books, and a warm old sweater..." "So, like wet wool?" I say, my face again twisting with doubt.

Daphne laughs and swats at me. "Shut up. I love it."

I grin, nodding to her. "I'm just teasing. You know my cousin has my whole heart. But, you're getting mixed messages? Like, half bond half not?"

"Yeah," she says, her face falling

straight again. "And I wonder if it's because he's half human? Or..." she shrugs. really don't know. I think that's why I tried to deny it for so long but... he's really special to me, Ariel. Even if he's not my mate, I want to keep him."

I smile at her, terribly happy for my friend. "Good. I'm glad to have a new sister-cousin, then."

She beams at me, I think realizing

for the first time that she's part of

the family, even if she doesn't have his mark or a ring. Just his strange little half-substantial shadow cat, which is very Jesse and likely just as good.

"Thanks, Ari," she says, leaning forward and wrapping me up in a warm hug. "I'm glad you're my sister- cousin now too."

I hold my friend close, taking a deep breath of her own pretty cinnamon scent, feeling cozy and warm.

In the other

I hear the soft

sound of mom and my dad

talking, and my heart soars to think that I get to talk to him soon. And quite suddenly I start to realize that well, perhaps things are looking up.

But still, my heart sinks, because...

There's one big thing on my heart that I haven't touched yet. I hang my head a little, looking down into my wine glass and giving the pretty golden liquid a limp swirl.

"Tell me," Daphne murmurs. I look up to see her turning her head at me, sweet and thoughtful. "Please,

Ari, what are you thinking about? It might help to get it out."

And I sigh, frightened to touch this line of thinking that I haven't allowed myself to go to all day, even though it's been slowly revolving in the back of my mind.

"I'm thinking about Jacks."