The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 588

Jackson just stares at me, shocked and unblinking – and for a split second I realize how rare it actually is for people to look him in the eye and defy him.

But his surprise is not long lived, replaced immediately by anger.

“Ariel, you will fall in line –“

“No way!” I throw back, baring my teeth at him. “Jackson, you’re being overprotective! I’ve got a big gun, I’m up here all alone, I’ve got radio to contact you and binoculars so I’ll know miles away if anyone is coming –“

“I am not leaving you alone in a battle trail again, Ariel,” Jackson snarls, leaning even closer and wrapping his hand around my arm. “Never again.”

My mouth goes a bit dry as I stare at Jackson, realizing what all of this is about.

“Jacks,” I whisper, reaching up and pressing his cheeks between my hands, staring into his gorgeous blue eyes. “That’s – that’s not going to happen again –“

“The psychopath that hurt you the first time is out there right now coming for us with weapons!”

“Paintball guns! Dulled knives!”

“And if you think he can’t rip you apart with just his bare hands, Ariel,” Jackson’s hand tightens on my arm as he stares at me, quite panicked, “then you don’t realize how…how delicate you actually are!”

“I am not delicate,” I snap, offended, dropping my hands from his face and glaring up at him again. “I’ve been working really hard –“

“I know,” he interrupts, his mouth a tight line. “I know, Ariel – I’m…I’m…” he exhales a long, slow breath, closing his eyes and working hard to find his words. “Wright is nearly as good as Rafe and me – he has been since we were Candidates. And I know you have come so far in your training – but it is still so dangerous for you to go up against him.”

“He’s not here,” I say, climbing to my knees and moving closer to Jackson, wrapping my hands in his shirt and tugging him closer, making him open his eyes and look into mine. “Jacks, I get that you want to protect me but it’s important that we win this, yes?”

He exhales slowly, frustrated, I think not even wanting to give me a platform to object. But then he nods once, terse.

“Were you,” I repeat, turning to glare at him, not letting him interrupt me. He takes a deep breath, letting me talk, “then Rafe could go out with the troops and Jesse could go on his individual mission. And be a serious asset there. Is that not correct?”

Jackson clenches his teeth but doesn’t say that I’m wrong. And if I were, he’d have said it.

“Here’s the deal, McClintock,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re going to go down to command and run it from there, and Rafe’s going to go into the field, as is better for the team –“

“Ariel,” he growls –

“And!” I say, ignoring his protest and continuing on. “I’m going to be up here, doing exactly what you told me to do. And the moment people get too close, I’ll contact you with my little earpiece,” I tap it for emphasis, “and you can come back up and protect me. But until then, you are not wasting all of your potential and everything that you can do to sit by my side and protect me!”

“Well, I don’t agree to that,” Jackson says, shrugging like my plan doesn’t matter.

“Fine,” I say, shrugging back. “Then I’m not shooting anyone. Or looking in any binoculars. I’ll just sit here and stare at the sky and enjoy this beautiful day.”