The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 714

I press a hand to his cheek and lift my chin to kiss him softly – not something I usually do in front of my brother and my cousin. But everyone lets it pass today.

“What is it?” I sigh, feeling stronger with Jackson’s support as I look over at Rafe and Jesse in the afternoon light that streams through the window.

Rafe sighs. “We have to go meet with the captain,” he says, gesturing between himself and Jacks.

“Why?” My mouth turns down in a frown because…well, because I wanted to keep them close by today.

“He wants reports on how the Cadets performed during the battle,” Jackson murmurs.

“Piss poor,” I say, nodding firmly, my eyes narrowing. “They didn’t land a single damn shot with those guns –“

“Ari!” Jesse says, his face breaking into a smile to see a bit more spirit come into me. “It’s harder than it looks –“

“It’s a big bullet and a big chopper, Jess!” I burst out, leaning forward toward him. “It was like hitting the side of a barn with a big fat tomato! Honestly, you should have just let me do it – train me on one of those big guns, I could do that with my eyes closed –“

Jesse laughs at me, shaking his head. “You arrogant little gun nut –“

“You did enough, Ari,” Rafe says, leaning back in his chair, a little smile coming to his lips. “We didn’t need you on guns too.”

“Clearly you did,” I murmur, raising an eyebrow at him and snuggling back against Jackson, who tightens his arms around me, his wolf growling his pride and support down the bond.

Rafe laughs, shaking his head. “You have to leave something for the rest of us. We can’t just sit around looking pretty.”

“But you do that so well,” I say with a sigh. And for the first time today a little smile finds my lips.

Of course, grief and guilt crashes into my little sliver of happiness immediately – because how dare I be laughing with my brother when Tony is dead and will never laugh again?