The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 310

“I’m a public figure too,” I explain to Jackson, incredibly sorry, “and…my reputation, unfortunately, matters. If Luca has confirmed to the entire nation that I’m his mate, and then I’m stepping out with this super hot Alpha, kissing him in the streets? The press is going to tear me to pieces – call me unfaithful, say that I’ve betrayed Luca. No one will believe me that I have two mates – everyone will say that I’m a liar. And…I mean, as a political figure…I can’t be seen as a liar.”

“Oh,” Jackson says, his eyes unfocusing as he looks away from me and starts to process this. “So…he claimed you first. So that I couldn’t.”

“If he did it,” I say softly, needing that to be stated. Because, well, while it doesn’t look precisely good for Luca right now…I’m not willing to damn him without confronting him first and getting the truth from his own lips.

Still, Luca isn’t my priority in this moment.

“How are you feeling about this,” I murmur, softly running my fingers through Jackson’s newly cropped hair, loving the way that it feels against my skin. I feel so much calmer than I did even half an hour ago – and it’s not only that I got a chance to process everything, but also because Jackson is here, holding me, being steady and warm as he always is.

He turns his head to me, frowning consideringly. “How do you want me to feel about it?”

I scoff and smack him lightly on the shoulder. “I want you to feel how you feel!”

Jackson laughs a little, his pretty blue eyes crinkling. “Okay, I just…I mean, I want to support you, Ariel. And I think that if he did this then it was an absolutely horrible thing to do – that you should be livid. You’re right – it’s not up to one person in a pair to make unilateral decisions regarding these kinds of announcements. He took that from you.”

I nod, grateful for his support, but I smack him again. “You’re dodging the question.” He laughs at me, smiling, and I can’t help but grin back. “How do you feel, Jacks?”

“Don’t be mad at me,” he murmurs, leaning forward and gently pressing his forehead to mine. “But Ariel…for me? I…I don’t really care.”

“What!?” I squeak, and Jackson grins, pulling me tighter, liking that sound. And I lift my arms, wrapping them around his neck as I shake my head at him. “Jackson, this was a blow to you! He took a shot, he made a move to actively counter your claim on me! That’s bullshit!”

“But this more…abstract jealousy? Where like, he has a claim on you, and it matters because other people know about it? And that’s supposed to bother me?” Jackson shakes his head, clearly indicating that he thinks it’s nonsense. “I don’t think that’s a natural response, Ariel – I think that’s a very cultural thing – having to like, announce to the world that this woman is your woman, and getting all pissed off when someone else looks at her the wrong way.”

I look at him curiously, needing more.

Jackson sighs a little, wanting to be clear. “I don’t…care if anyone else knows that I’m your mate, Ariel. Don’t take that the wrong way – but what other people think and feel about our relationship? It doesn’t matter to me – the only thing that matters is you being here, in my arms, where you belong.”

He says this last bit with an edge of a growl on his words and I grin at this, pleased.

“I didn’t grow up here,” Jackson continues, looking at me steadily. “I didn’t…learn how to be jealous like that – how to get mad and possessive because some other guy announces to the nation that you’re his girl, when I know you’re mine. I think it’s kind of…dumb.”