The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"That was me, darling," the girl says, seeing me look down at my white nightgown and again seeming to read my mind. She reaches out a hand to softly pat mine. "Don't worry, dear - like I said, we have rules here. As soon as Gabriel brought you to the palace I took you in hand." She grins at me like it was a great pleasure to her to keep me safe. "I got you changed and cleaned up and put to bed. Don't worry, love." I exhale slowly, absurdly believing her even though I should be much, much more wary now. But something about those sweet brown eyes - god, it's impossible to think that she might be lying. My wolf yips confirmation in my soul, still wary of everything else but believing her.

"And who are you?" I whisper, shaking my head, still not believing it. That I'm here, that I was stolen away from my life.

"I'm Pippa," she says, giving me a happy smile.

"All right," I whisper.

Then I jump nearly a mile in the air as soon as a soft knock comes at the door.

"Oh, don't worry, Ariel," Pippa says, turning towards it. "That's just my Alpha, bringing you some food. Do you..." she looks at me, hesitant. "Do you...mind? If he comes in?"

"Um," I say, hesitating, looking towards the door - completely unsure about what I want.

"Oh, don't worry," Pippa whispers, leaning close like a conspirator. "He's really nice - the sweetest man

you'll ever meet. Not..." she hesitates, looking around like someone might be listening and not like her words. When she looks back at me and speaks again, she lowers her voice. "He's not nearly as... challenging. As Gabriel."

Gabriel. Is that his name? My mate?

I just stare at Pippa and the knock comes softly again. She grimaces and looks towards it.

"All right," I whisper, nodding to her. "Um, sure. I guess he can come in?"

"You're a peach," she says, standing and dropping a kiss to my cheek. I turn towards the door with absolutely no idea what to expect as she dashes towards it. When she gets there, though, she hesitates and nods towards the bathroom. "Would you like to...go put on a dressing gown, Princess? To...be more comfortable around a man?"

The lovely, encouraging smile she gives me lets me know that...I should probably go do that.

"Uh, sure," I say, hesitating but then pulling myself out of bed. I wince a little at the bruises and stiffness that radiates through my body but then move towards the bathroom that she indicates. I give Pippa a small smile as I pull the door shut behind me. As soon as I'm through press my ear to the wood and hear the outside door creak open and then soft voices as Pippa greets her Alpha, welcoming him to the room.

I exhale slowly and quickly move about the bathroom, first taking the opportunity to relieve myself and then moving to the mirror to wash my hands. I peer closely at my reflection, noting that I look pale but... fine. And that the slap my damned mate gave me yesterday didn't leave any mark behind, probably as he intended.

Then, squeezing some toothpaste

onto a toothbrush I find by the side of the sink, I begin to brush my teeth as I turn and look around the

bathroom which is...honestly

probably the fanciest one I've net

been in in my life. And, considering that I'm a princess who is not a

newcomer to luxury, that is saying something. Gold leaf and ornament covers nearly every available surface and every corner is stuffed either

with some comfortable chair or

shelving with bath products.

I mean, it's all very nice but it is...a lot.

Suddenly, I wish with all of my heart for the stupid Academy bathroom that I share with three Alpha boys. I groan, slumping back against the marble counter, my eyes pressing shut and my toothbrush stilling as I hang my head, wishing for Jacks, and for Rafe, and for Jesse.

God, they must all be so worried about me.

What...what on earth am I going to do? If only I could get out of here.

My eyes flash open and I spin towards the sink, spitting out my toothpaste as I look down at my wrists. Because those manacles - the ones made of blue light - they're certainly gone. I press my eyes shut, willing myself to that other world.

And then I gasp as it...as it works.

My eyes fly wide as my feet hit the dirt, my toothbrush still grasped in my hand. But then I spin, horrified, as I realize that...

That I'm in some kind of insane

cage. I turn in a full circle, looking around baffled at the iron that surrounds me. I move hesitantly towards it, reaching out first with the tip of my finger and giving it a prod. It's cold but... very real. Then Pgrasp it in my hand, still looking around in every direction, and pull as hard as I can. noveldrama

But the iron stays firm. I peer out between the patchwork bars, realizing that this isn't even the only cage - that there are dozens of them, cages within cages. For...miles.

What...what on earth?

Freaked out, I head back to the spot where I originally landed and beg to be sent back, wanting the calm familiarity of a bathroom while I put the pieces of that all together.