The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Midnight, snarling, suddenly appears before Jesse in his path. "You stop," she growls, a hand held out towards him. "You stop right now -"

Jesse just gives her a look like she's insane and dodges around her, picking up speed as Jackson calls out his name and starts to run for him in turn. Laughing, Jesse pounds towards his friend. Both of them move swiftly until Jesse can pick out Jackson's features, see his shocked and smiling face. Jesse grins, thrilled -

When suddenly a huge wolf appears between them, hair shaggy and black, eyes bright and red as a ruby. She bares her snarling teeth at Jackson and slowly starts to prowl towards him, a warning in every step.

Jackson's smile is wiped form his face as he looks at the wolf in shock for half a second and then steps towards it, his own teeth bared in challenge.

"Midnight, don't!" Jesse gasps, dashing forward and grabbing at the ruff of fur rising on her hackles just as Jackson shifts into his own wolf, which is somehow even bigger and more terrifying than Midnight's.

"Fuck!" Jesse bites out, hauling hard at Midnight's fur and making her skitter a step back as Jackson advances. Before Jacks can do more than snap his fangs at Midnight, though, Jesse is between them, holding a palm out to each. "Stop! Stop it, both of you!"

Midnight and Jackson pause, both staring at him.

"Jacks!" Jesse barks out, turning to glare at his friend. "She's my fucking mate, okay!? She's just freaked out! If you shift back, she'll get the picture that no one's going to fight anyone and we're all just going to be cool!" He whips his head back to the terrifying she-wolf on his right. "Right, Midnight!?"

Midnight just snarls. Jesse rolls his eyes and looks back at Jackson just as his cousin's mate shifts back to his human form, staring between Jesse and the dark

wolf.noveldrama

"That's your mate?" he asks, pointing one finger at the wolf.

"Oh!"

Jesse spins at the sound of the girlish voice, turning to see that she has indeed shifted back into her human form. He looks down at his tiny, adorable, weird, ragged mate, standing with her hands on her hips. Jesse blinks at her, kind of.in disbelief that a girl who looks so innocent can be that terrifying in her wolf form.

"Oh!" Midnight says again, laughing a little. "I'm sorry I know you! You're the big boy! Your Ariel's mate!" She waves hello. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't...scare me..." Jackson murmurs, frowning at her. "I scared you." "No, I scared you," Midnight sighs, beaming at Jacks. "It's nice to meet me!" Jackson just shifts his eyes back to Jesse. "What... is happening?"

"It's...a long story, man," Jesse says, striding forward with a grin and patting him on his shoulder. "Good to see you, though! Man, you got really skinny. What happened?"

Jackson just continues to stare at Jesse for a moment before he shakes himself and gathers the Duke into a big hug. Jesse laughs and hugs his best friend right back.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Jackson murmurs, tucking his head next to Jesse's. "Ariel is going to be too."

"Wait," Jesse says, pulling back and frowning at the taller Alpha. "Where is Ariel, if she's not with you?"

"Oh, man,” Jackson says, exhaling slowly and running a hand through his hair. "We've got a lot to catch you up on, kid."

"Wait till you hear what I have to tell

you," Jesse says, grinning at his

friend before launching into a story

about a Princess and a sparkly blue ghost that makes Jackson'sgaw drop. en