The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Okay!" I say, cheerful and excited, looking down at my mate's little girl. "Change of plans, Goldie! We're going to welcome a new baby into the world!"

Marigold looks up at me with a little frown on her rosebud lips, clearly still not understanding and not particularly liking the face that candy has apparently disappeared from the schedule.

Jesse laughs, stepping closer to me, reaching out for Marigold. "Come on, hand her over. I'll take it from here."

"What?" I ask, willingly handing over Marigold to my cousin but frowning between Jesse and Jacks. "What's happening?"

"She'll be bored to tears waiting for a baby to be born," Jesse says, beaming at Marigold, who smiles at him and whispers his name. "I'll take Golds and Fifs up to Midnight, see if we can't break into the cake stash."

"Jesse, that's too much," Jackson says, stepping forward with a frown. "You'll want to be in on these conversations as well -"

"Oh, you will all just fill me in later!" Jesse says, waving a hand at Jacks as Seraphina comes running over to wrap herself around Jesse's leg, grinning wickedly up at him. "Besides, you know I'm just a grunt, here to take orders."

I laugh at my cousin, knowing he doesn't mean that. But he just shrugs, happy to do the childcare if it frees up our attention.

“Okay,” Jackson says, looking anxiously at Marigold, clearly not wanting to be separated from her even if he fully trusts Jesse to take very good care of his little girl. “Um, is there anything that you -"

"I've been raising kids since I was a child, Jacks!" Jesse says, turning and waving over his shoulder. "I've got this!"

"It's true," I whisper, looking up at my mate. "He's got this."

"Ariel!" mom calls from the door, impatient to go help Pippa.

But even as I start to move I look down, realizing that Seraphina is still there where Jesse apparently left her, looking up at Jackson with interest. “Sera?” I say, crouching down and looking after Jesse, who heads for the door without having noticed his little sister's absence. "You okay, baby?"

Characteristically, Seraphina ignores me, continuing to stare up at Jacks. "Is that your baby?" she asks, pointing a finger after Marigold.

Jackson smirks a little, crouching down in front of our littlest Sinclair. "Yes," he replies, simple and calm.

Seraphina narrows her eyes. "Who gave you a baby?"

Jackson's smirk spreads into a wide grin. "It's a long story."

"But you're just a puppy,” Seraphina whispers, looking him over, trying to put the pieces together. "Puppies don't have pups..."

"I don't know what to tell you, kid," Jackson says, heaving a big shrug. "She's mine."

"Okay," Seraphina snaps, narrowing her eyes again and pointing to her chest, "but she's my best friend."

I burst out laughing, delighted. Jackson just grins too, not really getting it, glancing at me.

“Sera, I think Marigold can be both," I say gently, wrinkling my nose at my little cousin. "Jackson's pup and your best friend."

"Okay,” Sera says, backing away a step and half turning towards the door, her eyes still narrowed at us like she's not sure that it's true and she's ready to fight for her claim if it's not.

"Fifs!" Jesse barks from the door, Marigold still perched on his arm, frowning in after his sister who he probably just realized wasn't with him. "Hop to it, kid!" He points at the ground next to him, his command clear.

Seraphina laughs like a wild thing, dashing off towards her brother, who grins and pretends to give her a kick on the rear as she runs past him. I taugh and stand, glancing at mom, who grins after Sera but is clearly still waiting for me.

“You good?” I ask Jacks, slipping my hands behind my back and looking up at him

as he, too, stands.

"Don't look at me all worried like that,

me

tiny," Jackson says, stroking a hand over my hair and smirking down

Lat

me. "I'm good. Keep in touch?" he

says, tapping his temple, a littlenoveldrama

request for me to send him updates if anything changes.

"Yes, baby,” I say, standing on my toes, begging for a kiss.

My mate sweetly complies, pressing his lips quickly to mine before we go our separate ways. I give a little skip of excitement as I dash towards my mom at the door. "Come on!" I say, darting past her. "Let's go see a baby!"