The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 225

As mom sits down on the bed with a bounce as I quickly read through my notes – one from Daphne, apologizing profusely for her betrayal, and the other from Luca – just a quick scrawl saying he’s glad I’m alive and he’ll see me soon. Smiling, grateful for both of them, I move towards my clothes.

“So!” Mom says, grinning devilishly at me. “Are you sleeping with both of your mates, or just Luca?”

I freeze, turning to her, shocked.

Mom bursts out laughing and I scowl, picking up the hat on the top of my clothing pile and throwing it at her. “Mom! Stop doing that just to shock me!”

“Oh, come on,” she sighs, laying back against my pillows. “What’s the point of having a daughter if you can’t embarrass her about her love life. So?” She raises her eyebrows at me, clearly wanting an answer.

And, well, because I have been wanting to talk to her about this, I sigh and nod. But I have trouble looking at her as we broach this awkward topic, so I concentrate, mostly, on getting dressed as we talk. Mom, perhaps sensing the delicate nature of this conversation, doesn’t give me any flack about it.

“I’m not sleeping with either of them,” I say quietly. “Though, with Luca, things are…progressing.”

“Oh realllly,” she says, dragging out the word with interest. “But not with Jackson?”

“Well, considering that he’s known for like, thirty-six hours…” I say on a sigh, pulling on my pants. My mom laughs, understanding.

“But…” I hesitate as I buckle the button of my pants. “Things with Jackson are…intense.”

“Intense?” my mom asks, “what does that mean?” Her voice is gossipy – I think to put me at ease. Because if she were worried, or scolding, I’d definitely be too embarrassed to go on.

“I mean like…I am very attracted to him, mom. And it’s not that I’m not into Luca – I very much am. It’s just…different.” I look up at her before I turn my back, tugging off the pajama shirt and reaching for the black sports bra that Daphne made me. I smirk, wondering how she arranged to send this all in secret.

“Well,” mom says, her voice considering, “I think that’s kind of…cool, honestly. It sounds like things are different between you and your mates because they’re very different people. I think that’s normal, and good. Or maybe it’s just that the Goddess is keeping your life spicy.”

I scoff and turn to glare at my mom as I pull the sports bra down over my chest. “Oh, come on, mom, I sincerely doubt that the Goddess is paying attention, with all she has on her plate.”