The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Chapter 171

“Ariel!” Mark shouts, bounding across the room like the big puppy that he is and grabbing me in ahug.

“Baby!” I shout, dropping Luca’s arm and laughing as I hug my brother back, my eyes pressing shutwith the pleasure of it. Mark- he’s not even the baby of the family, he’s nearly two years older thanJuniper, but he’ll always be my baby, and he lets me fuss and cluck over him like a mother hen.

“I’ve missed you,” my Markie murmurs, hugging me close and tucking his head down against myhair. “June’s been so mean to me and there’s no one to stop her

(C

I laugh, pushing back a little so I can look up into my little brother’s sweet face. Mark favors Rafeand my dad, of course, but he’s more of a mix than

Rafe and I are. While Rafe and I are our parents‘ twins, Mark has some of

mom’s softness in the curve of his cheeks, in the lighter highlights in his

hair.

“Main, you’re bigger than June,” I say, grinning up at him and shaking my head. God, when didbaby get so tall? Has it always been like this, or did he grow in the couple of months I’ve beengone? He’s Rafe’s height now, or at least almost. “Just shove her over –

))

But before I can finish giving Mark my very best sisterly advice, a screech

sounds in the room and all of our heads whip to the left, where five kids charge for Jesse thesecond he steps through the door.

“No, no!” Jesse sounds, deliberately dramatic as they leap all over him. “ Not the piranhas! They’vegot me! I’m being eaten alive! No, NO! They’re taking me down!” All of Jesse’s siblings grab ontohim, shrieking and laughing, pulling him to the ground despite his mock protests, piling on top ofhim, shouting his name and how much they’ve missed him.

I grin, watching Jesse fake fight his siblings for a second, pleased to even

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see Caleb, who is thirteen now and pretends he’s too cool for fun and games, shrieking andgetting in on the fun. After a second of pretending to fight them off Jesse starts to grab each of hissiblings by turn, giving them each what they need to feel loved and seen a big kiss, a hug, a ruffleof the hair, a brotherly punch on the arm.

“Whoa,” Luca says, his eyes wide as he takes in the chaos before him.

“Yes, they’ve missed their human jungle gym,” Grandpa Henry says, wheeling up next to me andsmiling over at Jesse’s continuing scene, as I am. “It’s been murder on me and my chair – they’realways wanting rides up and down the hallways. Playing horsie and piggy–back–chauffer is usuallyJesse’s job.”

I grin at my grandpa, whose eyes sparkle as he shifts his gaze up to me, and I bend down quickly togive him a kiss on the cheek, murmuring how good it is to see him. Grandpa laughs and tells methat he feels just the same as Mark comes to stand close to us, not wanting to miss a thing. Junipersteps close too, her scowl deepening for no reason.

Something about my sister’s scowl kindles something in me, and I can’t help · I grin, and leap forher. “Junie Junie!” I sing, dancing around Grandpa Henry’s chair and reaching for her, taking twohandfuls of her long now–black hair in my hands and holding it up like pigtails as I bounce aroundher, singing the song she hates so much. “Our little goonie! She loves the moonie! It makes herswoooonie!”

“Oh my goddddd,” June groans, swatting at me with her hands and trying to back away, though Ikeep up with her, laughing and still playing with her hair. “Stop it, Ariel!”

“I can’t!” I return, laughing my ass off and dropping her hair before snatching her into a big hug. Shestruggles against me, but Junie’s even smaller than my mom and me, and I’ve spent a wholesemester training at Alpha Academy, so she’s got no chance. “I just missed my little sissy somuch!” I plant a series of big kisses on her head.

“You are literally so embarrassing,” juniper groans as I continue to kiss her gratuitously, her faceflushing as she slumps in embarrassment, flicking her eyes towards where Luca is watching withdelight, “You seriously want your mate to see this side of you!? The abuse you rain on your sister!?”

“Aw, no! It’s cute!” Luca says, grinning at us. “Sisterly love!”

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