The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"No, Ariel," Jackson says, laughing a little and putting a hand on my knee. "What do you think in like, a larger sense. Do you...want to live here?"

I sit up straight in a bit of surprise. "I...do live here," I say quietly, not getting it. "This is my home."

"I mean permanently," Jackson says, turning more completely to me now with a small frown. “Like, is this where you want to be to raise Marigold? Here, where you grew up. Is that best?"

I just stare at him, realizing finally -

Stupidly -

What everyone else has probably put together.

That...that we have to live somewhere. Somewhere steady, and solid, where Marigold can go to school and have a schedule and a routine. Where she can participate in activities with other children and make friends.

But...

"But we have to go back to the Academy!" I blurt out, staring wide-eyed at Jackson.

Jackson stares back at me and my family goes dead quiet for a second before turning politely away and starting little mini conversations, pretending to give us time to discuss this amongst ourselves while they very clearly - at least to me - continue to listen with rapt attention.

Jackson is quiet for a moment before smiling softly, raising a hand to my cheek. "You go back to school, Ariel," he says, cupping my face, shaking his head at me a little bit. "It's so important to you, I know that - and you should finish, it's just another year -"

"Jackson!" I gasp, smacking his hand away. "We're - we're both going back to school! We're both finishing Alpha Academy!"

He hesitates for a moment, his shoulders slumping. "Ariel, I have to put Marigold before my own wants right now - I have to stay here -"

"Why!?" I ask, my eyes going wide in my panic.

He just stares at me, confused.

"Ariel, our room is crowded enough," Jesse says, wandering over, perfectly casual, as if we're talking about sports or the weather. "Where would you even propose to put a third bed?"

"She can have yours," I snarl, glaring hard at him, not in the mood for jokes.

Jesse smirks and takes a sip of his drink. "Touche. Problem solved. I'm in on this plan."

"Jackson's not wrong," my dad says quietly, all eyes turning to him. Everyone goes quiet as dad shakes his head, sorrow warring with firm reality on his face. "It's clearly stated in the school's rules that enrolled students are not allowed to bring family and loved ones. Technically, enrolled Alphas are supposed to be single to avoid precisely this

situation and so that the young men can focus on their education."

I lean forward towards my father, just as firm and starting to get mad. "It's also a rule that enrolled students had to be male, but I threw that right out the door!"

Dad's mouth presses into a thin line as he considers me. "Exceptions were made for you, Ariel. But if we begin to throw out rule after rule, when does it end?"

"When I say it ends!" I shout, livid suddenly.

"Ariel," my father says, his voice a low warning, scolding me like I'm a child.

But that just stokes my fire a bit more. "After everything that happened these past few months," I growl, my own voice dropping lowe as I glare hard at my father. "After everything that I and Jackson did for this nation - this? This is what is causing a stumbling block to his happiness!? To our happiness!? That you just don't let kids in the castle!?"

"I -" my father begins, leaning forward, but I don't let him get far, rising to my feet

to glare around the room.

"This man is a hero in this war," I

snap, pointing at Jackson. "This man saved me and killed your

enemy with his teeth in his neckletnoveldrama

And this is how you show your gratitude!?” I sneer at my father, and at Roger, knowing that they're the ones who wrote the rules,