The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0262

A little bell dings in the train carriage, as it always does when we're about ten minutes away from our destination. My head turns almost automatically towards Rafe and Jesse, who likewise turn towards me. We all nod, confirming that we all understand that we should prepare for our arrival to the capital, perhaps even come up with a plan or a story for how I got here, and why, and so on.

But even as I look towards my brother, Luca's arms tighten around me, and I look back up at him. "Do you have a second?" he asks, looking down at me with so much true sincerity in his eyes that I'm a little taken aback.

"Sure," I say, nodding to him, and then I glance back at Rafe and Jesse, silently letting them know I'm taking a minute, before I slip out of Luca's arms and, taking his hand, lead him over to a quiet corner of the carriage. There we sit on a tiny little loveseat, so close that I'm basically in his lap.

Luca takes a quiet moment to just look at me, lifting a hand to stroke his knuckles gently down the length of my cheek, his eyes searching mine.

"I wanted to say I was sorry," Luca finally says, quite softly, turning his hand to cup my cheek as he looks into my face.

"For what?" I breathe, raising my hand to cover his. "Luca, I haven't said it enough, but I'm the one who should be sorry - and I am sorry -"

"No," he interrupts, shaking his head. "You were - well, I mean, Ariel, I'm still not thrilled about how everything went down. But I understand it better now - and I get why you did what you did. But...I behaved poorly, didn't I?"

"Luca," I murmur, feeling terrible that he feels so bad - because honestly, I think that all of his reactions were really, really normal. Most Alphas, when they meet their mates, are very volatile and protective - everything he did and said fits that concept - he was just trying to keep me close, to keep threats to our bond away.

"No," Luca insists, his mouth twisting with disappointment. "Jesse was right when he said I was bullying you, manipulating you. I didn't mean to, Ariel, I hope you can believe me with that -"

"I do," I breathe, nodding fervently and meaning it, passing all the trust I can along the bond to him.

"I just - I was so desperate not to lose you. And I was so scared that that's what was happening. I was grasping at straws, trying to control the situation, and in doing so I was really unfair. Please, please forgive me for it."

My heart breaks when his voice cracks on his final words, and I can't help crawling closer to him now, lifting myself fully into his lap, snuggling close to him as he wraps his arms around me. "It's passed, Luca," I whisper. "Don't think on it anymore - we were all in a terrible situation, we all behaved poorly. We're all forgiven and we can move on."

"Good," he says, burying his face against my neck and taking a deep breath of my scent. "And in the future, I'll...well, I want to say I'll be better, but I think the best I can do is promise to try. I just get very desperate, when...when he's around."

Nodding, understanding, I put my hands on his cheeks and lift his face to mine. "I get it," I whisper, nodding. "I'll try to. Try to be fair. Try to..."

But I have no words then, because even the idea of trying to pick between them, of having to say goodbye forever to one of them...

God, my heart threatens to shatter into a thousand pieces.

So, I don't think on it. And instead I just stare down into Luca's gorgeous face - even despite his black eye and busted lip - into his beautiful brown eyes, into the sweet, fierce spirit that I can see beneath them. And as I marvel at him a little bit, I smile. And I start to see his eyes crinkle at the corners, and I know that he feels my joy in him and gives it right back.

"I really do think I'm right for you, Ari," Luca whispers, sincerity in every line of his face as he leans close to me.

I pull back a little, not really wanting to go there right now - especially not while half of me is still mourning that Jackson didn't get on the train - but Luca gently reaches out and takes my hand, squeezing it softly.

“No, please – 1 –“ he sighs, and hangs his head a little, shaking it while he gathers his words. Then he raises his eyes again, "I'm not trying to pressure you or convince you of it in this moment. I'm just trying to tell you what I know to be true, all right? That we're a match, Ari - a really good one. I can handle your life, and your family, and your out-of-the-box career choices, because they all match with mine so well. And if you'll let me - just...will you please let me show you how good we can be?"

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