The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I turn to her suddenly, shocked. Because...

"Yes, Ariel," Pippa says quietly, taking the towel back from me. "I know. I've known...for a very long time. I notice everything about my Alpha's life, and the way he loves me, and the way he...looks at others. And I noticed when he came home from his trip to Moon Valley at Midwinter that...everything had changed." I continue to just stare at her, not really knowing what to say, my face slack.

"Don't pity me, darling," she says quietly, reaching out to stroke my cheek. "I have a better Alpha than most. He keeps my secrets too."

"You have secrets?" I whisper.

She nods a little. "Gabriel and Elias taught me to read when we were children, which they ardently were not supposed to do. And... Elias gave me this baby," she says, looking down at her belly and putting her hands on either side of it. "Even though we've never lain together."

I stare at her in shock. "Is it...that's his baby though, right?"

She looks up at me with a wide grin. "Yes, Ariel, I'm not a complete harlot. We were just...creative," she says, laughing and looking away with embarrassment. "With the transfer of the seed." She blushes a deep red. "Though, I hope that if you're in training to be a perfect Atalaxian Luna that you will...help me by keep that secret as well. As well as the others, which I know you hold."

I shake my head in wonder at my friend. Because who knew that she had so many secret hopes and dreams beneath that calm and sweet demeanor? Especially those that her own culture would see as acts of sin and blasphemous betrayal, desires worthy of death.

"Pippa," I say quietly, reaching to cover her hand with my own. "Why are you telling me all of this?"

"Because I want you to know my secrets, Ariel, she says quietly, turning her head back to me. "Sonoveldrama

Alpha's

that you'll tell me who

mate is, if you know. And so that...when I ask you when you're planning to escape from all of this, you'll trust me enough to tell me the truth. And so that you'll take me with

you when you go. And this little

baby. And Elias as well."

I stare at Pippa, shocked at the depths she's revealed. Because, I mean, I never thought her truly stupid -

just incredibly innocent - but...

Damn, did she have me fooled.

"Well shoot, Pippa," I murmur,

smiling at her a little as I shake my head and squeeze her hand. "With the ability to maintain a life-long poker face and keep secrets like that we'll have a role for you in Espionage unit at Alpha Academy whenever you want it."

She stares at me in shock for a moment before we both burst into laughter.

"Oh dear," Pippa murmurs, shaking her head and pressing a hand to her cheek. "Oh, don't think I could do that. With all those Alphas? And al from Moon Valley where

Belf

they where they kiss girls before they're married?" She shakes her

head like it's all kind of terrifying and wonderful.

I grin and lean back in the tub. "You know they do a lot more than kiss the girls."

Pippa's eyes dart to my neck and then back to my face as she bites her lip, hesitating. But then she

breaks, leaning forward with an eager smile on her lips. "What's it like?" she whispers, breathless. "Is it great?"