The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0225

As mom sits down on the bed with a bounce as I quickly read through my notes - one from Daphne, apologizing profusely for her betrayal, and the other from Luca - just a quick scrawl saying he's glad I'm alive and he'll see me soon. Smiling, grateful for both of them, I move towards my clothes.

"So!" Mom says, grinning devilishly at me. "Are you sleeping with both of your mates, or just Luca?"

I freeze, turning to her, shocked.

Mom bursts out laughing and I scowl, picking up the hat on the top of my clothing pile and throwing it at her. "Mom! Stop doing that just to shock me!"

"Oh, come on," she sighs, laying back against my pillows. "What's the point of having a daughter if you can't embarrass her about her love life. So?" She raises her eyebrows at me, clearly wanting an answer. And, well, because I have been wanting to talk to her about this, I sigh and nod. But I have trouble looking at her as we broach this awkward topic, so I concentrate, mostly, on getting dressed as we talk. Mom, perhaps sensing the delicate nature of this conversation, doesn't give me any flack about it.

"I'm not sleeping with either of them," I say quietly. "Though, with Luca, things are... progressing."

"Oh realllly," she says, dragging out the word with interest. "But not with Jackson?"

"Well, considering that he's known for like, thirty-six hours..." I say on a sigh, pulling on my pants. My mom laughs, understanding.

"But..." I hesitate as I buckle the button of my pants. "Things with Jackson are...intense."

"Intense?" my mom asks, "what does that mean?" Her voice is gossipy - I think to put me at ease. Because if she were worried, or scolding, I'd definitely be too embarrassed to go on.

"I mean like...I am very attracted to him, mom. And it's not that I'm not into Luca - I very much am. It's just...different." I look up at her before I turn my back, tugging off the pajama shirt and reaching for the black sports bra that Daphne made me. I smirk, wondering how she arranged to send this all in secret.

"Well," mom says, her voice considering, "I think that's kind of...cool, honestly. It sounds like things are different between you and your mates because they're very different people. I think that's normal, and good. Or maybe it's just that the Goddess is keeping your life spicy."

I scoff and turn to glare at my mom as I pull the sports bra down over my chest. "Oh, come on, mom, I sincerely doubt that the Goddess is paying attention, with all she has on her plate."

"I wouldn't doubt her," mom says, raising her eyebrows and cocking her head. "But I think Cora was right - your dad is actually the one to be talking to about this."

I groan, shaking my head. "Mom, I can't talk to him about which of his fated mates he was more into physically."

"Well," she says, primly squaring her shoulders. "We already know the answer to that."

I burst out laughing and she joins me.

"But seriously, baby," she says, her face falling into more considered lines. "Your dad is more empathetic about this stuff than you give him credit for. You should try. He'll have a better perspective than literally anyone else on earth."

I sigh, nodding, and then look down at my feet as I bite my lip.

"Don't worry," mom says with a sigh. "I'll tell him before you get home."

I gasp, wondering if she, too, can read my mind. "You will!?"

"I'll keep it secret through your finals so that he'll let you stay to take them," she says, pointing a warning finger at me. "But you bring those boys home for winter break, both of them. And your dad will be prepared to meet them. But you owe him that truth - especially after all this deception."

I bite my lip, knowing that this conversation could go in two different directions, and not wanting to take either of them. Luckily, mom picks for me.

"Yes, Ari," she says slowly. "This means you have to tell both of your mates too. I don't know how you've been justifying it to yourself, keeping this secret all along. But it's time to come out with it - to everyone you love."

I nod, ashamed of myself, and my little wolf rubs herself up against my heart, warming it, supporting me. "I know," I say, my voice soft. "It was just...very hard to find a time that made sense. But I'll.....I'll tell them. And bring them home for winter break."

"Both of them?"

"Well, Rafe might have to tie Jackson up and throw him on the train," I say, lifting my head to meet her gaze. She grins, but holds back her laugh. "But, yes. I'll get them there."

"Good!" mom says, hopping up off the bed as I pull my shirt on and do up all the buttons. She comes to my side and gives me a kiss on the cheek. "Now, let's go to breakfast and break it do your dad that you're going back to the murder school where you've almost died like three times."

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