The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 675

Slowly, I shake my head. Because even if my grandmother hadn’t forbidden it, I still know that it’s true. That I still want Luca – he’s still my mate.

Jackson nods, closing his eyes just for a moment, processing it. And I feel the hurt swelling down the bond, but also feel him shutting it down, not wanting to let me feel that. Not wanting me to feel guilt.

I sigh, wiggling a little so that I rest lower against Jackson’s body, resting my head on his chest, tucked beneath his chin. He tightens his arms.

“Even if…even if I gave you my mark, though, Ariel…it wouldn’t have been right. Your scent would have changed, and everyone would have known, and people would have figured out that you’re a girl. It would have been a big deal – and you have so much on your plate already.”

I sigh, nodding, knowing that he’s right.

Still, my wolf bares her teeth, disappointed. Our mark, she growls, inwardly, just to me. We need it. Want it. Ours.

I murmur softly to her, stroking a hand over her fur, even though I feel precisely the same. I mean, I know Jackson’s right, but a very fervid part of me wants to just tell everyone else to go fuck themselves. He’s my mate – I want his mark, my mark. Why on earth are we tiptoeing around everyone else to get it?

“Hey,” Jackson says softly, worried, drawing my attention back up to him.

I lift my scowling face to meet his and his eyes crinkle into a soft smile.

“I love you,” he says, cupping my cheek in his palm. “I am so in love with you, Ariel. You don’t need to worry - I promise, I’ll give it to you. But…maybe this is enough for today?”

“You’d better give it to me,” I snarl, snapping my teeth at him and giving him a playful shove, making him laugh. “I just…love you a lot, Jacks. I know everything you said is right. I just…” I sigh. “I really want it.”

“Bossy little wolf,” Jackson murmurs, suddenly snatching me up and rolling me so that I sprawl over his chest. I laugh, cheered a bit, sitting up a little so that I can grin down at him. “Very greedy too, wanting to lose your virginity and get a mark in one day? Honestly, Ariel, save something for the future –“

“Jackson!” I shout, laughing, giving his shoulder a hard shove as I sit up fully and straddle his hips, smacking him on the chest. “You are being so withholding! Making me beg for sex, beg for a mark! The Goddess is going to smite you for turning me into a sniveling little sex supplicant –“

“Jackkkks,” I moan, letting my head tilt back in despair. “You never give me any marks and I ask so nicely! How can you deny me a little tiny miniature mark that no one will ever see or notice but which I can have because I love you so much and -”

“Fine, fine,” he grumbles, giving in. I grin up at him, placated when I see him part his lips, his canines already extended. The sight of him so dangerous and feral makes heat again start to spread in my core. Then he leans gently forward, first kissing my proffered index finger softly and then nipping it, just barely, with one razor-sharp point.

I jump a little at the sudden pain but then burst into a grin as I observe the tiny little line of blood, the barely-visible edge of the cut.

“Happy now?” he asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Yup,” I say, turning back to him with a big grin. “I like it when you let me win. And I love my mini mark.”

Jackson laughs again, dipping his lead low to lick at the little drop of blood, and then rolls again to his side so that our bellies are pressed together. I sigh happily and drop my hand, feeling my wolf healing already at work on the cut.