The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Wordless, but with understanding passing down the bond between us, Jackson places the DVD player in front of me on the bed and then squeezes in behind me, his back against the headboard. He presses a kiss to my hair as I lean back against him and continue eating my way through the desert tray, giving him a bite every few minutes as well.

When Rafe and Jesse come back half an hour later, their faces are very, very surprised to see the easy scene before them.

"Wow," Jesse murmurs, wandering over to us. "I kind of thought you'd fight. Or at least not go immediately for cake."

Jackson growls, glaring at my cousin, I think feeling crazy levels of protective and unable to help it.

I just snuggle back against him and shift my eyes to Rafe, who I find smiling subtly at me.

"Did you two even talk?" Rafe asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Cake first talk second," I murmur, patting the bed, knowing my brother doesn't understand but also know that right now...he doesn't really need to. "Wanna watch?"

Jesse and Rafe look at each other but then both shrug.noveldrama

"I'll get more cake?" Jesse says, turning towards the dumbwaiter.

"Get something savory too," Rafe murmurs, crawling across the bed to my other side and resting his giant head on my knee as he cuddles up and gets comfortable.

"You got it!" Jesse calls over his shoulder.

And I smile, and rest against Jacks, and allow myself to feel the peace I don't fully feel I deserve. Because he's too good to me - too forgiving, and I'm well aware of it. And tomorrow we can talk it all through.

But right now, when my wolf is curled up basically encircled by his, her head resting against his paws, feeling the warmth of him as he breathes softly around her? How? How could I disturb them both when they've been tortured for days and have finally found this peace?

And so I eat, and rest, and slowly let myself again drift off to healing sleep with my mate behind me and my brother and cousin on either side.

"Hey, trouble."

Rafe's voice stirs me from my deep sleep in the morning, from the dream in which Jacks and I were running, cliffside as our wolves, like we used to do even before we knew we could share dreams.

I blink, dazed and hazy, and look up at him.

He smirks and I can almost see the deep pleasure running through him to have me back where he can watch over me, back where he can see me getting better.

"We're going for our run," he murmurs, gesturing towards Jesse over his shoulder.

I moan, closing my eyes and pressing my cheek back to Jackson's chest. "No, don't make me run," I murmur, shaking my head. "I can't do it. I am weak. I am illness."

Rafe laughs and I hear Jesse's booted footsteps coming to his side. "To begin, you're lying," Jesse says, and I open one eye to peer up at him. You could totally run if you wanted to. You're just lazy

I scowl at him because he is right. But I don't want to go. And they can't make me.

"It's fine," Rafe says, laughing a little. "Stay in bed, we just wanted to let you know where we were going. Maybe...see you at breakfast?"

I nod up at him, noncommittal but letting him see that I understand.

My brother and my cousin nod to me again and then wave, headed for the door.

As the lock clicks, Jackson slowly begins to move his hand in its place on my back, slowly stroking up and down over my pajama top.

"Hey," I whisper, smiling a little, relishing the warmth of him beneath me.

"Hello," my mate says, quite soft, passing a great rush of warmth and affection down our bond.

I sigh and lift my head, resting my chin on his chest and peering up at him. "Ready to talk?"

"You hungry?" he asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

I laugh, smiling at him. “Jackson, I've eaten enough for an Alpha ten times my size in the past four days.

Honestly, I'm not at any chance of withering away."

He grumbles something about

miniature people being swept away by the wind but I just laugh and shake my head. "Seriously, Jacks," I whisper, my face falling a bit "I want to have this chat."

"All right, tiny," he murmurs, cupping my cheek in his palm. "Let's have it, then."