The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 186

Then, to my shock, Jackson ferrets out a teeny tiny little path up the cliff, balancing on it with incredible grace that makes me wonder if he’s part goat shifter, instead of all wolf. I do my best to follow, clinging to the rock and taking his patient hand when I need to. Twenty minutes later we’re about thirty feet in the air on a flat jut of rock about ten feet wide. I hesitate, wondering if it’s safe, but Jackson crouches casually on the edge, apparently having no such concerns.

I scowl and move close to him, wishing I moved in the wilderness with his clear ease and confidence.

Too much time hanging out in a palace, I guess.

“What are you seeing?” I whisper, wanting to know what the situation below looks at from his eyes.

“Big group,” he murmurs, gesturing towards the three fires burning below and the cadets gathered around them. “Already done some damage.” He points to the side now and I grimace to see that there are about ten cadets passed out to the side, my stomach turning to see a few of their legs twisted and broken, taken out of the running in their attempt to cross.

I press my eyes shut, swallowing hard, hoping desperately that none of them are Ben, or Jesse, or Luca, or Rafe. But…no, it can’t be. Their stories at the Academy can’t end like that, and neither can mine.

“So?” I ask, forcing myself to open my eyes and pay attention. “What do you think, do we risk it? Rush it?”

“No, too many of them,” Jackson murmurs, shaking his head. “They’ll hold out overnight, hoping to take out more. Then, in the morning, they’ll shift and run. Maybe cut the bridge behind them. We need to get across another way.”

“Is there another way?” I ask, fear curling in me now.

“Down the ravine and back up,” Jackson murmurs, nodding and pointing left along the trail, beyond the bridge. “It’s…harder, it will take time.”

“Well let’s go,” I say, standing up straight. But Jackson’s hand intercepts me, pulling me back down.