The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"I think it's nice," Jackson says, looking around the yurt.

"Thank you!" Midnight says, quite pleased, lounging back on her little bed and squeezing one of her new stuffie toys to her chest.

"It's great for camping, but come on Jacks, this is not nice for a house - please don't encourage her," Jesse sighs, a little frustrated with his friend.

"Nicer than a lot of places I lived when I was growing up," Jackson murmurs, reaching for another cookie on the plate and eating it in one bite. "Do you have anything else to eat?"

"We have cabbage!" Midnight eagerly volunteers, dashing for the kitchen.

"Great," Jackson says, his eyebrows going eagerly up.

Jesse just rolls his eyes, because he did indeed forget that Jackson and Midnight are both members of the foundling club, and that in trying to have this discussion with them he was going to be sincerely outnumbered.

After a great deal of negotiation, Jesse convinced Midnight to vanish them back here to the yurt so that they could more comfortably fill each other in on the events of the past week. Talking her into that was easy, but persuading her not to tell Darkness that Jackson is here was much more difficult. In the end Midnight given in, but only when Jesse explained that Jackson - like her - was family.

Family, it seems, is a keyword that means a great deal to Midnight now.

"So, the cages are for Ariel?" Midnight asks, turning her head to look at Jackson with interest as she begins to slice the cabbage with a sharp new knife Juniper gave her. "I was wondering why they built them."

"Yup," Jackson says, looking at her seriously. "But can we save the cabbage for another time? You'll have to take me back now. Ariel's calling me back."

Midnight looks at him with fascination. "How do you know that?”

"We can talk mind-to-mind," Jackson murmurs, dusting off his hands and standing to his full height, his head brushing the roof of the yurt.

Midnight gasps and spins her head to Jesse, her face miserable with jealousy. "I want to talk mind-to-mind! That would be so much fun!"

Jackson frowns between Jesse and Midnight. "You guys can't do that yet?"

"Don't get her started," Jesse mutters, looking down at the ground, guilty.

"He won't accept the bond," Midnight snaps out, pissed off. "He's being rude and withholding."

"Who taught you that word," Jesse asks, lifting his eyes to her with a scowl.

"You did," she bites back.

"Why won't you accept the bond?" Jackson asks, his voice suspicious. "Is there something wrong with her?"

Midnight stares at Jackson, aghast at the suggestion, a hand pressed to her chest. "Rude. I am perfect."

"She's perfect," Jesse agrees, waving a dismissive hand. "But her wolf is..."

"Corrupted?" Jackson asks, his head whipping back to stare at Midnight.

Jesse frowns at him. "How...did you know that?"

"Because she's not the only one," Jackson says, holding out a hand to the girl. "Come on, we're taking you to see Ariel."

"Why?" Midnight asks, leaning away from him. "What can she do?"

"Probably nothing," Jackson says with a shrug, his hand still out. "But she knows someone like you. Could be interesting to compare notes. Especially since he's apparently been made horrible by his

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corruption, and you are still lovely."

Midnight beams at this compliment, and Jesse smiles because he knows Jackson probably didn't mean it to flatter her No, he was probably just stating the facts as he sees them. Midnight eagerly drops her knife and moves to Jackson's side as Jesse, too, gets to his feet.

"Can you take us back to the cages now?" Jackson asks, looking down at the girl.

"I can," she says, giving an eager nod. "But first, can you pick me up?"

Jackson bursts out laughing as Jesse frowns at his mate. "Why do you want him to do that?"

"Because I'd always see him doing it with Ariel!" Midnight says, laughing. "And it looked like fun!"

Jackson laughs again and nods towards the door of the tent. "Sure, little girl, I'll pick you up. But come on, let's go do it outside so you don't hit your head."

Grinning, Midnight slips her hand into Jackson's as the pair head out into the darkness, Jesse on their heels.

When they're free of the tent,

Jackson crouches low, wrapping an arm tight around Midnight's thighs, and hoisting her high into the air so that she perches neatly on his elbow her head high above Midnight laughs with delight looking around eagerly from her new height as Jackson likewise laughs, pleased to see her so pleased.