The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0272

Chapter 0272

“You,” June says, narrowing her eyes and pulling one arm free to point at Luca, “you just made anenemy, sir. Where’s the other one? Maybe I’ll like him better.”

I laugh at my little sister and loosen my arms a bit, a little tickled that she already knows about mymate situation so I don’t have to awkwardly explain why I brought two boyfriends home. Mom musthave told her, and whoever else she thought needed to know, to avoid some weird scene.

I step back a little from my sister, still holding her so she doesn’t run away, and beam as I look herover. “I like your new hair!” I say, meaning it and nodding eagerly as I take in the hair that she’sdyed pitch black, covering up the rose-gold that matches mine and our mom’s. “You look so cool.You’re all spooky now.”

“I’m not spooky,” she protests, scowling and raising an anxious hand to her head.

“You look like Rafe,” I say, grinning, meaning it. Juniper – lucky girl – got our dad’s beautiful greeneyes, and with her hair all dark now? Her familial connection to Rafe, dad, and Mark is moreprominent now than it’s ever been.

“Ariel,” Juniper says, appalled, her mouth dropping open. “That’s the cruelest thing you’ve ever saidto me –“

“No one is paying attention to meeee,” Mark moans, dropping his head back on his neckdramatically and making me laugh. I immediately drop June and move to his side, wrapping myarms around his waist.

“You are nineteen, Mark,” Grandpa Henry says on a sigh. “You cannot whine like a pup anymore.”

“No, he’s not,” I murmur, “he’s just a little baby, he can cry all he wants.”

“Don’t encourage him, Ariel,” grandpa sighs, shaking his head at both of us, even if he can’t helpsmiling. “Or he’ll never grow up.”

I hug my brother close as Juniper and Luca step near, making a little family circle even as the restof the people in the room – family and close family friends, dozens of them, honestly – surgeforward and greet Rafe, and Jesse, and all of our guests. I steal a little glance to the side and amrelieved to see that mom still has Jackson pinned to her hip as she beams at Ben, getting to knowhim. Jackson stands stoically next to her, in good hands.

Then, I remember my manners.

“Everyone,” I say, straightening a little and smiling around at my family. “This is Luca Grant,” I say,gesturing towards my mate with a warm smile. “Luca, this is my sister Juniper, my brother Mark,and my grandpa, Henry Sinclair.”

“His reputation precedes him,” my grandfather says, holding out a hand, which Luca shakeseagerly, murmuring his hello’s and letting his dimples shine. “Welcome to the family, son. I’m eagerto see you box in two days’ time. I hope you show the Atalaxian champion what Moon Valley ismade of.”

“I fully intend to, sir,” Luca says, perfectly earnest.

“I’m excited too,” Mark says, beaming at Luca, and as Luca stands straight and turns towards MarkI see that my little brother’s eyes are already filled with hero worship. “Dad finally talked mom intoletting me go to the fight. I can’t wait.”

“You’ll have to come sit ringside,” Luca says, grinning at Mark and shaking his hand too. “Get thereally good view, see all the blood –“

“This is somehow both gross and boring,” Juniper sighs, stepping closer to me as grandpa wheelshis chair away, probably off to greet his eldest grandsons. “I don’t know how you managed that, butyou did.” She crosses her arms, glaring between Luca, Mark, and me like we’ve done her a truedisservice.

“I missed you, June Bug,” I sigh, slipping my arm around her shoulders and tugging her close.Juniper and I – we have a weird relationship, and we’re certainly not besties, but she does crack meup with her constant bad mood. And now that I have her back in person, I realize that I did miss her,in my own way.

“I guess I missed you too,” she says on a sigh as Luca and Mark continue talking about boxing,Luca explaining his strategy for the next two days of training before the fight. “Why did you go andget all badass and cool the moment you left?”

I scoff at my little sister and her words, which are – in classic Juniper style – as much insult as theyare compliment.