The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 675

Slowly, I shake my head. Because even if my grandmother hadn’t forbidden it, I still know that it’s true. That I still want Luca – he’s still my mate.

Jackson nods, closing his eyes just for a moment, processing it. And I feel the hurt swelling down the bond, but also feel him shutting it down, not wanting to let me feel that. Not wanting me to feel guilt.

I sigh, wiggling a little so that I rest lower against Jackson’s body, resting my head on his chest, tucked beneath his chin. He tightens his arms.

“Even if…even if I gave you my mark, though, Ariel…it wouldn’t have been right. Your scent would have changed, and everyone would have known, and people would have figured out that you’re a girl. It would have been a big deal – and you have so much on your plate already.”

I sigh, nodding, knowing that he’s right.

Still, my wolf bares her teeth, disappointed. Our mark, she growls, inwardly, just to me. We need it. Want it. Ours.

I murmur softly to her, stroking a hand over her fur, even though I feel precisely the same. I mean, I know Jackson’s right, but a very fervid part of me wants to just tell everyone else to go fuck themselves. He’s my mate – I want his mark, my mark. Why on earth are we tiptoeing around everyone else to get it?

“Hey,” Jackson says softly, worried, drawing my attention back up to him.

I lift my scowling face to meet his and his eyes crinkle into a soft smile.

“I love you,” he says, cupping my cheek in his palm. “I am so in love with you, Ariel. You don’t need to worry - I promise, I’ll give it to you. But…maybe this is enough for today?”

“You’d better give it to me,” I snarl, snapping my teeth at him and giving him a playful shove, making him laugh. “I just…love you a lot, Jacks. I know everything you said is right. I just…” I sigh. “I really want it.”

“Bossy little wolf,” Jackson murmurs, suddenly snatching me up and rolling me so that I sprawl over his chest. I laugh, cheered a bit, sitting up a little so that I can grin down at him. “Very greedy too, wanting to lose your virginity and get a mark in one day? Honestly, Ariel, save something for the future –“

“Jackson!” I shout, laughing, giving his shoulder a hard shove as I sit up fully and straddle his hips, smacking him on the chest. “You are being so withholding! Making me beg for sex, beg for a mark! The Goddess is going to smite you for turning me into a sniveling little sex supplicant –“