The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



Thirty minutes later, Daphne and I have utterly ignored Luca's objections and turned me out in what is actually a pretty convincing facsimile of her outfit, hair, and makeup.

"I mean, you're shorter than me," Daphne says, gnawing on her thumb nail as I slowly turn in a circle for her, letting her observe the effect of the long skirt she so hastily hemmed to my height and the jacket she nipped in at the waist and chest. “And I don't like that we just rolled up those sleeves - here, take it off, I'll hem those too -"

"Oh, it's fine, Daph!" I say with a laugh, eager to get started – Newtown, I know, is a bit of a walk away, and I want to get started.

"Hair's not precisely the same shade of auburn too," Luca murmurs from where he leans against the wall, his mouth pursed. "But...I mean, I think at first glance...it's pretty convincing. Nicely done, you two."

"Thanks," I say, turning towards him and giving him a pretty smile.

He laughs at me, shaking his head. "Daphne is sultry, not perky. You've got to work on that."

"Sultry!" Daphne laughs, shaking her head at him and coming forward to nip at a spare thread on my jacket with a tiny set of scissors. "Look at you, Luca Grant, giving me compliments."

"Just the truth, Daph," he says with a smirk.

I think for a moment, watching Daphne move, and when she steps away to put her scissors on the shelf, I put my hand on my hip with a sigh and move towards Luca with the long, confident stride that Daphne uses to cross a room - nothing like my usual short absent-minded steps.

Luca's eyes go a bit wide as I reach him.

"Was that better?" I ask, transforming back into myself.

"Holy shit," he says, laughing at me as he puts his hands on my hip. "You've definitely got the walk down!"

"I have a walk!?" Daphne asks, laughing and turning towards us, curious.

"You have like, a signature strut, Daph," I say, wrinkling my nose her way.

She blushes and waves a hand at me. "Oh, I so do not. Now get out of here so I can get back to work."

"Actually," say, grimacing a little as I

move to the door where Luca and I dropped our bookbags. "Would you take these...upstairs for us? Maybe with a

note so that Rafe and Jessenoveldrama

don't totally flip out?"

"Of course I will," Daphne says, giving me a broad grin. "Good excuse to go check in on the Sinclairs anyway."

I squeak with joy, thrilled to have such a good friend. I quickly cross the room to her, throwing my arms around Daphne and thanking her profusely for all of her help.

"Anytime, babe," Daphne says, laughing a little and hugging me tight. "The only payment I ask is a full story the moment you come back."

"You got it," I say, giving her a final squeeze and then hurrying over to my bag where I pull out my notebook, beginning to write a hasty note.

Jesse hums to himself as he goes

down a flight of steps at the back of

I

the castle, absently messing with his shadows as he does - making shapes fit into the air, and then disappear, and then manifesting a shadow cat first in front of him and then dissolving it to mist as he passes through it, reforming it behind him. Just fooling around, really.

But a flash of auburn outside one of the stairwell's narrow, slitted windows has him doing a double take and backing up a step, pausing to lean close to the wall and peer out the window with a frown on his face.

Because...

Because he'd swear his life on it that that's Daphne's bright hair trotting away down the path towards the hills that they run through every morning, but...

But what the hell is she doing holding that guy's hand?

Jesse goes stiff as he sees it, his

nostrils flaring his wolf turning towards the sight with a heavy growl that echoes.in his chest. Jesse focuses on the sight before him, fascinated, as the guy turns a

Del

brilliant smile on Daphne, laughing at something she said, his dimples ffaring. Jesse's growl deepens, his canines starting to extend - because he knows that smile.

And that face, and that confident stride.

What the fuck is Luca Grant doing holding Daphne - his Daphne's hand!? And running away from the Castle just as the sun is going down!?

Jesse's head fills with a buzzing rage as he completely fails to comprehend the truth presented clear before his very eyes. Because - why - they would never - not Daphne - and Luca - but - who -