The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 252

My brother, seeing the very real grief on my face, stands and moves to my side, pulling into a hug. “You’re getting the best end of this deal,” he murmurs after a moment. Then Rafe loosens his arms and stands between me and my mates, not letting them see the sadness written in every line of me because he knows I need to stand strong in this decision – that I need to make it myself, without them.

“I know,” I whisper, my heart breaking as my brother wipes the two tears that fall quickly off of my cheeks, not wanting them to see. “I get it…it’s just...god, Rafe, I can’t imagine…”

“I know,” he murmurs, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “But neither can they. I think it’s right, Ariel – or if not right, then the fairest. We can – we can talk to mom and Cora when we get home. Maybe talk to the Goddess? See…see if we can get a better perspective. But for right now, this makes peace.”

I take a deep breath, looking up into my brother’s face, and then I nod, working hard to steady myself. When he sees that I’m in control again, Rafe turns around, slipping a protective arm around my shoulders and looking between Luca and Jackson. “So, we’re good with this? We’re agreed?”

“Well, what’s the timeline?” Luca asks, frowning, his hand sunk into his pockets.

“No set timeline,” Rafe replies, looking down at me with a nod. “When Ari knows…she’ll know.”

“So what, we could do this for years?” Luca gasps, appalled.

“It’s enough, Luc,” Jesse snaps from the couch, glaring at him a little. “You’ve already asked her to choose one mate today, and it’s already breaking her heart. Stop trying to pin it down more. She’s given enough.”

Luca huffs a sigh, hanging his head, but after a moment he nods, giving in. “Fine.”

“Jacks?” Rafe asks. My mate doesn’t reply to him, just holding me with his dark-blue gaze. Then, just once, he nods.

“Wow,” Ben murmurs, I think not even realizing that he said it aloud as he looks between all of us. And I have to admit, I share his sentiment. It’s just all…a lot.

And we all stand very, very still, I think none of us having any idea, at all, what to do next.