The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Ariel!" Jackson snaps, more panicked than angry, grabbing my arm and holding me tight like he's afraid I'm going to run like my wolf is. "Tasha is - she's dead, all right?"

I whip my head back to him, my eyes wide, a moan climbing up my throat

because -

Oh my god.

Oh my god -

That little girl, all alone in the world - her mother dead -

Tears fill my eyes. "Jackson," I beg, shaking my head at him, stepping closer, reaching up for him. He understands, bending down and picking me up in his arms, holding me close. I wrap my arms around his neck and lean hard against him, wanting as much contact as possible, wanting to feel the steady reality of him. "Please, you have to tell me everything," I beg. "Right now. Very fast. I - I need to know everything you know -"

Jackson murmurs that he will and then sinks back into his chair, taking me with him, and proceeds to tell me everything that happened tonight - everything he knows.

Over the next half hour, Jackson spills everything to me. My wolf stops running and turns to his, and they curl up together, both anxious and worried but... together, united. And I open the bond, and keep it open, wanting to hear and feel everything that he wants to share. The emotions just...spill down it, so much so that I feel like I'm drowning in them at times, like there's no space for my own feelings. But I hold steady for him, knowing that even if this was an insane shock for me...

That my sweetheart mate is taking it so, so much harder.

He tells me of seeing Cristof out by the car, and of everything that passed between them. And then he continues, speculating on what some of the things Cristof said could have meant. That Tasha must have run while pregnant, that she probably tried to raise Marigold alone, but didn't have the resources. He wonders, worried, what it must have been like for Marigold to sit for days alone wherever they lived while her mother...

I take a deep, shuddering breath, tucking my face against his chest, feeling

horrible. Horrible for that little girl, and horribly ashamed of myself.

Because even if this is so much more intense for Jackson I...

I can't help it.

I'm just so fucking jealous.

Jealous that he has a little girl and that she's not mine, that someone else got to carry and raise his pup, that someone else's daughter looks like my Jackson - has his eyes, has his steady gaze.

That that was supposed to be my little girl - the one I didn't even know I fucking wanted until she showed up in my kitchen and I found out that she belongs to someone else!

I tuck all the jealousy away as best I can - but I bite my lip, hating myself a great deal that I can't just...be kind. And be here for Jackson, who just found out that he's a fucking dad -

"Hey," Jackson says, a bit sharp.

I look up into his face in surprise.

"What...what's going on in there?" Jackson asks, his eyes searching my face like he's trying to read my mind. "Why are you...mad at yourself?"

“Because I'm being a jerk," I moan, letting myself slump against him.

He goes still and then laughs, the sound hesitant and a little hysterical, putting his hands on my arms and making me sit up. "What are you talking about? Ariel, you're being so nice to me -"

"No, I'm not! I'm being so selfish!"

"Ariel!" he gives me a little shake. "I don't - I don't get this, tiny. Please, help me understand."

"See, even the fact that you feel like you have to check in on me right now," I say, sighing and looking into his gorgeous eyes. "Like you're. worried about me. You just found out you have a baby! I should be taking care of you!"

5

"It's a shock for you too," Jackson murmurs, stroking a hand long over my hair. "I mean, you didn't...sign up for this. For being mated to

someone who has a child with I ne

someone else. I would understand

if

He hesitates, his words trailing off, grief overtaking his features as he scrubs a

palm down the length of his face.

I go still. "Are you – do you...Jackson,” I snarl, grabbing his shirt in my fists. "Are

you fucking dumping me because you have a kid!?"noveldrama

His eyes flash open and he looks a

me, shocked inwardly his wolf snarls, possessive, snatching myĕ wolf close to his body and pressing his teeth to the mark in her neck. My wolf whines, terrified at the thought that we could lose him.

Over this - that we could lose him over this!