The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 783

“That was me, darling,” the girl says, seeing me look down at my white nightgown and again seeming to read my mind. She reaches out a hand to softly pat mine. “Don’t worry, dear – like I said, we have rules here. As soon as Gabriel brought you to the palace I took you in hand.” She grins at me like it was a great pleasure to her to keep me safe. “I got you changed and cleaned up and put to bed. Don’t worry, love.”

I exhale slowly, absurdly believing her even though I should be much, much more wary now. But something about those sweet brown eyes – god, it’s impossible to think that she might be lying. My wolf yips confirmation in my soul, still wary of everything else but believing her.

“And who are you?” I whisper, shaking my head, still not believing it. That I’m here, that I was stolen away from my life.

“I’m Pippa,” she says, giving me a happy smile.

“All right,” I whisper.

Then I jump nearly a mile in the air as soon as a soft knock comes at the door.

“Oh, don’t worry, Ariel,” Pippa says, turning towards it. “That’s just my Alpha, bringing you some food. Do you…” she looks at me, hesitant. “Do you…mind? If he comes in?”

“Um,” I say, hesitating, looking towards the door – completely unsure about what I want.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Pippa whispers, leaning close like a conspirator. “He’s really nice – the sweetest man you’ll ever meet. Not…” she hesitates, looking around like someone might be listening and not like her words. When she looks back at me and speaks again, she lowers her voice. “He’s not nearly as…challenging. As Gabriel.”

Gabriel. Is that his name? My mate?

I just stare at Pippa and the knock comes softly again. She grimaces and looks towards it.

“All right,” I whisper, nodding to her. “Um, sure. I guess he can come in?”

“You’re a peach,” she says, standing and dropping a kiss to my cheek. I turn towards the door with absolutely no idea what to expect as she dashes towards it. When she gets there, though, she hesitates and nods towards the bathroom. “Would you like to…go put on a dressing gown, Princess? To…be more comfortable around a man?”

The lovely, encouraging smile she gives me lets me know that…I should probably go do that.

And then I gasp as it…as it works.

My eyes fly wide as my feet hit the dirt, my toothbrush still grasped in my hand. But then I spin, horrified, as I realize that…

That I’m in some kind of insane cage. I turn in a full circle, looking around baffled at the iron that surrounds me. I move hesitantly towards it, reaching out first with the tip of my finger and giving it a prod. It’s cold but…very real. Then I grasp it in my hand, still looking around in every direction, and pull as hard as I can.

But the iron stays firm. I peer out between the patchwork bars, realizing that this isn’t even the only cage – that there are dozens of them, cages within cages. For…miles.

What…what on earth?

Freaked out, I head back to the spot where I originally landed and beg to be sent back, wanting the calm familiarity of a bathroom while I put the pieces of that all together.