The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



"No problem, babes," she murmurs, hugging me back. "I'm Team Ariel, all the way." She rocks me back and forth for a long moment. "Now let me go, before you mark me with Jackson's scent too."

I burst out laughing and pull away, grinning at her. "Is it seriously that strong?"

"Go!" she laughs, shoving me away a bit and lifting her chin towards my bathroom. "Take a shower, use your stinkiest lavender soap! And let me sleep, I'm exhausted."

I laugh again, getting up and bouncing away to my bathroom, waving to her over my shoulder. And then, my spirits significantly lifted, I do as my friend says and take a long, long hot shower.

When I get out I sniff at myself - at my arms and hands-frowning and wondering if it's any better. Because even though everyone protests that I've basically got Jackson coming out of my pores right now, I can't smell it at all. But I shrug, and towel off, and slip into some pajamas before heading back into my room.

I smile as I see Daphne fully asleep in my bed, glad that she's getting some rest, and I hop in on the other side, grabbing my phone out of the drawer and beginning to catch up on the thousand texts and messages that I've missed since I've been gone. The afternoon slips by then as I catch up with some old friends, making plans to meet up over break, hearing about their own lives and dramas. I order some food up to the room too around lunch time, truly treating myself to a day in bed while I let Jackson have his space and let the rest of my friends recover from their exhaustion and hangovers.

Passively, I wonder where Ben is, and send him a message too. But he doesn't answer, and I shrug, assuming that it's just as well to let him have his own space.

It's late in the afternoon, and I'm just settling in to catch up on all the celebrity gossip that I've missed in the months that I've been gone, when a knock comes after the door. Glancing anxiously at Daphne and not wanting to wake her up, I start to climb out of bed and hurry for the door when it pops open.

"Ariel?" my mom calls softly. Cóntent belongs to NovélDráma. Org

"Mom!" I whisper, hurrying towards her, eager to tell her to be quiet so she doesn't wake Daphne up. "Be -*

But she pokes her head into the room, and sniffs once, and then her eyes go wide.

I groan, stopping in my tracks, knowing exactly what this is about by this point. And that my shower apparently did nothing.

"Ariel!" she gasps, looking frantically behind her in the hall and then darting into the room, slamming the door shut behind her and leaning against it. "Oh my god!"

"Mom, it's not what you -"

"What'sgoingon," Daphne murmurs, all her words slurring together as she sits up and rubs at her eyes.

A knock comes at the door and mom's head snaps anxiously towards her. "Ella?"

I go rigid when I hear my dad's voice outside.

Because, I mean, if mom can smell Jackson's scent marking on me -

Oh my god. Dad - he's going to flip.

"Just a minute, Dominic! Mom calls to him, her voice shrill with anxiety.

"What?" Dad calls back, hearing her tone, instantly tensing. He knocks again, harder. "Ella! What's going on!?"

"Ut-ohhh," Daphne whispers.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

I glance at my friend, rolling my eyes like that's one hell of an understatement.