The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 345



Chapter 0345

The bell rings again suddenly, making me jump, but Luca and the Atalaxian drop their fists mid-fight and turn away from each other, each heading immediately to their respective corners. I know enough about the basics of boxing to know that this is the end of the round, but well, I don't know precisely what that means.

"What's happening?" I murmur, turning my face up towards my brother, my hands tense on the wall of the box.

"Tiny break," Rafe says with a sigh, looking down at me. He frowns for a second, looking around, and then spots my glass of white wine on the edge of the box. He picks it up and pushes it towards me. "Here, Ariel - have some of this. You're freaking out."

"Of course I'm freaking out," I growl, ignoring the glass of wine at first. But when he raises his eyebrow at me I scowl and snatch it out of his hand, taking a long swig of it.

"He's doing good, Ari," Daphne says, biting her lip and looking down at the ring. "At least... I think he is?"

"No, your instincts are right, Daph," Jesse says, stepping closer to me. Ben comes close on Rafe's other side, clearly wanting to hear what Jesse says.

Jesse points down towards the ring at table, where three men and one woman sit, consulting seriously. "Those are the judges," he murmurs. "They decide who wins each round."

"So it's that simple?" Daphne asks, looking between all the boys. "Just...whoever wins the most rounds wins the whole thing?"

"Theoretically, yes," Ben murmurs with a shrug, peering down at Luca. I follow his gaze, staring down at my mate, a little bolstered to see that Luca looks absolutely fine. He's sitting on a little stool in his corner, and his uncle is leaning in to whisper in his ear, rubbing his shoulders as he does.

"Well, what about in actuality?" Daphne asks, anxious.

"Knockout," Rafe says softly in her ear, and I suspect that he's whispering so I won't hear it, "trumps all scores."

Despite myself, I find myself laughing at my family and friends all raise their glasses, toasting to my mate. And as I throw back my own shot, and close my eyes a moment as it slips down my throat, I realize that Jesse and Rafe are right - that I need to relax, for Luca's sake.

When I turn back to the edge of the box, I'm a little surprised to see Luca's face turned up towards me, a little question in his eyes. But I just wink, and raise my empty shot glass in his direction, and Luca bursts into a grin.

Because if I were really worried about him, I wouldn't be partying, would I?

Or, at least, Jesse knew that's how it would look. Luca nods once to me and sets his shoulders, getting to his feet as the ref walks again to the center of the ring.

"Thank you," I murmur to Jesse as he comes back to my side, and I lean my body weight against him. "You're clever and you're thoughtful, and I see that, even if you try to hide it." sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.