The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 695

It takes every single bit of willpower that I have to not shout “Dad!” and go running into his arms.

Instead, I act like a good little Cadet and snap myself into a salute, just as Luca and Tony and every other cadet in our truck are doing. Except I’m grinning like an idiot, and most of them look terrified.

My dad laughs, striding over to us and calling to the Cadets to be at ease, to go about fulfilling their orders. Hesitating, I think a little star-struck, the rest of my classmates do as they’re told as dad draws near.

“Hello, Clark,” dad says, beaming down at me, laughing a little at my false name. He tucks his hands behind his back, which to everyone else probably just looks like formality but which I know is him resisting the urge to grab me up in a hug. “It’s nice to see my favorite nephew again.”

“Hello, sir,” I say, beaming up at him, my eyes sparkling. “You remember Tony – Anton – and Luca, of course.” I nod to both of them, remembering my manners. Tony says a polite and cheerful hello, holding out a hand and shaking dad’s before my father turns to Luca, who looks much paler and more quiet than usual.

“It’s good to see you again, sir,” Luca says, likewise shaking dad’s hand.

Dad smirks a bit, knowing precisely where Luca’s fear is coming from and looking like he thinks it’s well justified. I just roll my eyes, sick of Alpha politics.

“I didn’t know you were going to be here,” I say eagerly, stepping forward and drawing my dad’s attention back to me. “Are you directing the battle? Did you plan –“

“Dad!” Rafe says, coming forward and wrapping our father in the hug that I wanted to give him. Dad greets Rafe like a grizzly welcoming his cub back to the den, wrapping him in a big growling hug, and Jesse gets the same treatment next. I scowl with jealousy. Jackson is last, and I watch carefully, noting the warmth with which Jackson is received - warmth that Luca’s greeting distinctly lacked.