The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"But," Jesse says, raising his glass again to me in toast. "I think that you're going to be great, Ari. I think this is weird, and challenging, but that...I don't know. I think that it could be really good."

"Mom always says babies are a blessing, however they come," I say on a sigh, looking down into my glass, hoping that she's right. Hoping that I can do this- support Jackson, and help to raise Marigold, and play the roles in their lives that they need me to be. Inwardly, even as I quail, I feel myself step up to the challenge.

Because I want to do it. As strange and as fast as it all is - I want it.

"What babies are blessings?"

My dad's voice echoes from the door and I jump a little spinning towards him. My eyes go wide and my face goes a bit pale as twin smiles break out on Rafe and Jesse's faces – both wicked, both desperately interested to see how this goes down.

"Pour yourself a drink, dad," I say on a sigh, gesturing towards the bar cart. "We've got some news for you."

Dad stills at the door, glaring between Jesse and Rafe. "Who got who pregnant?” he growls, suspicious. "God damn it, I told you boys -"

I burst out laughing, luckily blotting the rest of that sentence from my hearing even as Rafe and Jesse nearly burst up from their seats, protestations of innocence already on their lips.

"Fine, fine," dad sighs, waving his hand at them and striding quickly for the bar cart. "God damn it, if this is going to be a long story, at least let me get a drink first."

"Oh, are we having drinks?" Mom's voice rings out as she comes into the living room, her face blissful, her cheeks flushed. "Yay! I'm glad I'm not too late."

Dad narrows his eyes at her as he finishes splashing whiskey in a glass, grabbing next for the bottle of wine she likes next. "Well, you look...suspiciously cheerful, Ella."

"And beautiful," she says on a happy sigh, stepping close to dad and pressing herself to his side as she looks up into his face. "You forgot beautiful.”noveldrama

"How could I," he murmurs, smiling down at her with a great deal of love on his face, making my stomach flutter at the sight. God, to love someone that intensely for twenty-five years...

Will Jacks and I get to be that happy? Inwardly, I desperately hope so.

"I don't know how you forgot," mom murmurs, grinning at she accepts the glass of wine from his hand. “But you're a terrible brute. You owe me an apology."

Dad hums his agreement, his eyes flashing over mom's face as he

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takes the first sip of his drink. "Bright eyes, flushed cheeks, utter happiness...this can only mean one thing. Where are you hiding the baby, Ella?"

"Oh, in Ariel's room," she says, grinning up at him.

Dad goes still in shock when he realizes that she's not kidding and then whips his head over to me.

"I'm gonna let you all handle this," I say on a sigh, standing up and moving quickly to my dad, standing on my toes to press a kiss to his cheek. "After all, I've got to go say goodnight to my step-kid."

Dad stares at me in shock as mom laughs and kisses me goodnight wave to them all over my shoulder as I head down the hall, my

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nearly-full glass of wine still in my hand.

"She's...she's kidding right?" I hear my dad ask. I laugh a little, shaking my head as I reach for my door.

“Nope!" mom replies, her voice humming with happiness. “Isn't it great? A fresh little baby! Come sit down, Dominic, and I'll tell you all about Marigold." "Who the hell is Marigold!?"

I grin and push open my door, grateful to my mom and ready to face my mate. And, indeed...my step-kid.