The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 822

“All right,” Rafe snaps, nodding to Mark. “Anything else, Luca?”

“Um, just this missive,” Luca says, reaching for a pink scrap of paper on the desk. “From that Hank guy – letting your mom know that he’s coming in via helicopter tomorrow with a report on The Community – that place Jackson is from. He says he’s hoping he’ll be able to have an audience with her, but he understands if she’s busy.”

Rafe rolls his eyes a little and takes the piece of paper. “I can’t believe Hanks asking for that at a time like this,” he murmurs, tucking it into his pocket. “But mom will make space for him. She always does.”

He turns away, waving to Mark to come with.

“Rafe!” Luca calls out behind him as the Sinclair boys move towards the door.

Rafe sighs, but turns.

“Please,” Luca says, holding out a pleading hand. “Can we talk? I’m – I’m so sorry, man –“

“You know, things might have been different,” Rafe interrupts, harsh. “If you’d been there on that battlefield? If you’d been holding her hand, like Jackson was?” Rafe shakes his head, anger welling in him.

Luca takes a deep breath, dropping his eyes and leaning hard against the desk in front o fhim.

“We can talk when she comes back, alive and safe,” Rafe snaps, turning away. “Until then, I don’t have a god damn thing to say to you.”

He strides from the room.

Mark hesitates for a second, looking between Luca and the door, worried and torn. Because…even though Rafe is right, Mark’s wolf scratches at the dirt of his soul, urging him to realize that somehow Rafe is being unfair. That Luca could have helped – but his presence on the battlefield…

Would it truly have prevented Ariel from being taken?

But whatever the answer is – if there even is one - Mark turns to follow Rafe, knowing that even if he is being unfair, Rafe is still his brother. And his allegiances, always, are with his family.

“See you soon, Luca,” Mark calls to the boxer as he goes, feeling sorry for him.

“Yeah, you too, Mark,” Luca murmurs. After a second of standing very still he sighs, getting back to work.

Gabriel shifts us back into the hallway outside my door, which is bustling with people. Gasps echo around us as Gabriel angrily shoves open my bedroom door, striding into the room and slamming it shut behind him.

Two more gasps sound as Gabriel strides across the room and tosses me hard on the bed.