The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Pippa fusses over me when we leave the bathroom, chattering about my poor bruised jaw and how we're going to cover that up with makeup. But I sit down on my bed and make a big show of yawning, wanting a minute alone to catch my proverbial breath and better hide my new weapon. As I lean back against my pillows, though, something crinkles beneath me in a very non-fabric-y way.

It takes all of my willpower not to let my eyes fly wide, to grab at whatever little piece of paper is there. Instead, I just lean more fully back and stretch my arms over my head.

"Oh, you poor dear," Pippa murmurs, noticing finally. "I'll leave you for a little, perhaps? So you can take a nap? I'm always sleepy on the first day of my confinement."

"Perhaps a nap would be best," I sigh, letting my eyes fall half-shut. Inwardly, my wolf howls our victory and hops from foot to foot in her eagerness to get started on our plans. But as Pippa comes close and fluffs my pillows a bit, I frown at her. "Pippa, do you seriously do this every month? Just...sit alone for two full days?"

"Is your cycle only two days?" she asks, looking at me with wide eyes.

I blush a little but shrug, admitting it, knowing that I'm luckier than others. But otherwise I just look at her, waiting for an answer.

"Yes, I do it," she sighs, shaking her head a little as she does. "Not that Elias ever cares or follows the rules. He always sneaks in and spends nights together with me as usual - it would be very dull to be without him at night."

I smile a little, loving the closeness of their friendship, but also wondering...

Well. Wondering what's going to happen when Ben comes on the scene. Because I'm not foolish enough to think that Ben just came to Atalaxia to help me. No, he's been worried about Elias for months, working hard to study Atalaxian history and political theory so that he could be an ambassador and come here. But his coming here and finding his mate...is it going to destroy Pippa's life? She is, after all, having a child with this man who is clearly her best friend.

"Would Elias get in trouble?" I ask quietly. "If he were found breaking your confinement?"

"Oh, the men don't actually get in trouble for anything," she murmurs, frustrated, as she straightens up and puts her hands on her hips. "Honestly, I'd probably get in more trouble for tempting him. But we're pregnant now, which means we're not so closely watched."

"Are you excited?" I ask quietly. "To become a mom?"

Pippa shrugs, running a hand over

her belly always knew it would happen someday. And there

were suspicions about Elias and his lack of interest in women before

this."

I frown a little, noting that Pippa didn't really answer the question.

"Okay, darling," she says with a sigh, a forced little smile appearing on her face. "You take your nap, and I'll come and check on you later."

I settle back on my pillows with a

sigh and wave to Pippa as she slips out the door and pulls it shut behind her. As soon as she's gone I whip up, shoving my hand under the pillows, grasping everywhere for a piece of paper. As soon as it touches my fingers and I yank it up and out, unfolding it as fast as I can.

Immediately, I recognize Faiza's handwriting and burst into a grin.noveldrama

My sneaky spy professor. God, I love her.

But the contents of the note immediately make the smile fall from my face.

Accept the bond - it says, the words hastily scrawled across the paper. And then, in a line beneath it: Trust your grandmother.

I inhale deeply, re-reading it again and again because...

Seriously? That's her advice - that's what Faiza wants me to do?

I scowl as fall back on the pillows again, my mind racing. Inwardly my wolf whines and turns in a slow, tight circle before plopping down on her haunches, confused and afraid.

He'll corrupt me, she murmurs, anxious. If we accept him and build the bond, his wolf will cross it and bite

me and get that oily stuff all over me and claim me for Darkness.