The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0219

Chapter 0219

Jackson’s eyes go wide for a second with worry as my dad focuses singularly on him and takes onesingle, dangerous step in his direction.

“Dominic!” my mother snaps, and then she’s moving quickly between my dad and my mate, turningand holding a hand up in front of my father’s face. “Think about what you’re doing right now, letalone the impression you’re making!”

The growl dies in my father’s throat as he blinks, hard and refocuses on my mom. “The…theimpression? Ella, this man’s scent is all over our child, he’s claiming her as his mate, and you wantme to worry about first impressions!?”

“Dominic,” mom murmurs, stepping closer and shocking me by laughing a little bit. Slowly shestands on her tiptoes and takes his face in her hands. “Don’t you get it? He didn’t claim her as hismate – the Goddess fated them. And if I know my daughter as well as I think I do, then I’d be willingto bet a lot of money that Ariel had more to do with this than poor Jackson did.”

Dad stares at mom for a long moment before turning to look at me.

I just shrug, feeling awkward and…well, old. Because my entire life I’ve been dad’s little girl, andnow here I am…introducing him to my mate.

Suddenly overwhelmed, my eyes fill with tears. “Yeah,” I say, shrugging again, not knowing what todo. “I’ve…I’ve known since the first day as a candidate, dad. I told Jackson…yesterday.”

My lip trembles as my dad stares at me, shocked, and I can’t help the tears that start to slip downmy cheeks. I also don’t miss the three steps forward that Jackson takes towards me before Rafegrabs his arm, hauling him back.

“Be nice to him, dad,” I squeak out. “He’s…he’s really nice, okay?”

Dad stares at me for a long, long moment before he lets out a long, long groan, covering his facewith his hands and tilting his head back towards the ceiling. Aunt Cora scooches closer to me,giving me a quick hug and then wiping the tears from my cheeks, whispering that it’s all right.

I nod to her, understanding, but still feeling overwhelmed. I keep my eyes on the four peoplestanding in the room.

Jackson and Rafe stand still, waiting for my dad to decide what he’s going to do next. Mom stepsclose to dad, wrapping an arm around his waist and waiting patiently until he drops his hands fromhis face, folding his arms around her and sighing deeply before looking down at her.

“I wasn’t ready for this today, Ella,” he murmurs, glancing back at me. “I wasn’t ready for our little girlto grow up.”

“Well, we’ve still got the meatball,” she murmurs, pointing at Rafe. I laugh, unable to help it, as Rafescowls. He hates his nickname. “He hasn’t left us yet. And Markie and Juniper. Or Ariel – not really.”She smiles at him. “Kids grow. It’s what they do.” She stands on her toes. “It’s a good day, Dominic.”

Dad presses a kiss to her mouth and then nods once, sighing again. “A good day.” Then he turns tome and holds a hand out. Cora helps me stand and then I wheel my little IV over to my dad’s side,slipping my hand in his as the three of us turn to face Jackson, who suddenly looks completelyfreaked out.

I smirk, a little tickled by the idea that he was ready to take on my dad when dad was about to slashhim to pieces. But meeting my father in a calm, pleasant way? He looks ready to bolt.

“All right, Ariel,” dad murmurs, his voice grumbling as he squeezes my hand in his. “Introduce me toyour young man.”

And so I do.

Introductions are quick, largely formal, and a little awkward, with dad shaking Jackson’s hand andasking him some questions about who he is, what he’s studying, how we met. Jackson’s face getsredder and redder as he stumbles through the interrogation, and I’m basically melting with second-hand embarrassment, but Rafe saves me.

One look at Rafe’s wide grin, at the way he watches Jackson with a little bit of good-humoreddelight at how horribly awkward he’s being, and I burst into laughter.

Mom and Rafe start laughing too, and dad looks down at me with surprise as I shake my head athim and move to Jackson’s side, slipping my hand into my mate’s and giving it a squeeze. “Dad,please, you’re killing him, all right?”