The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I beam at my friend, thrilled for him, and fight heroically against my urge to turn towards Mark's jealous little snarl.

"Is there a but coming?" I ask quietly, intending that it's not all roses.

"Of course there is," Ben says, laughing a little. "My mate - he's married, isn't he? He's got a Luna and a baby. And he and Pippa are incredibly close. Pippa and I... we're jealous of each other, in our own ways. And while we both want Elias to be happy..." he sighs and shakes his head. "We're having trouble...finding our places in each other's lives. It has not been simple."

I hum consideringly, reaching out my other hand to rest on Ben's knee, wanting to support him as well. "Do you think you will find a balance?"

"I think we will," Ben says, nodding to me. "Pippa has...come around to me more. She likes me more than she did at the start, especially as she's come to realize that I'm not trying to take Elias away from her - that I think there's some way we can do this together as some sort of weird...triple parenting," he says, laughing a bit, shaking his head.

Mark snarls again and my wolf howls, desperate to know what the hell is going

on.

"I think that's lovely," I whisper, smiling at him. "Three parents to love her - the baby would be a lucky girl."

"Yeah," Ben says on another sigh, returning his gaze to my face. "But...I think Pips is feeling lonely. Elias used to be all hers, after all, and now his attention is split. I think she's...worried. And feeling alienated and alone."

I sigh, my heart going out to her, and I mentally root myself to the determination to do better by her – to be a better friend. I bite my lip, considering. "Do you think maybe they should come with us to Alpha Academy?" I murmur. "That would make things easier, and then I'd be around so we could hang out, and the sudden demand to accommodate two little girls would make it easier to argue for why the Academy's policies regarding children should change -"noveldrama

A terrible, rough snarl breaks from Mark at the suggestion and my will breaks. I whip my face to him, my eyes flicking astonished over his angry visage. "What the hell is going on with you, Mark!?"

Mark's mouth flies open to reply -

But suddenly the door opens, and Cora peeks her head out, beaming. "She's here!" Cora says, laughing a little and peering back into the room. "A beautiful little girl, perfectly healthy! Mama's doing well too!"

Mark moans in relief, returning his head to his hands. I just stare between Cora

and him, not knowing what to focus on.

Cora also gives Mark a weird look. "Um, just a few minutes to clean up the baby and then Pippa says you can all meet her - but briefly, okay? The new mom is going to need her rest."

Ben and I murmur our agreement and Cora nods, ducking back into the room and closing the door.

"Congratulations, papa," I say, laughing a little and leaning over to Ben, pressing a happy kiss to his cheek.

"Thanks, Ari," he murmurs, hugging me close. "It's...a very cool day. Honestly, I'm grateful she's a girl - girls I can handle."

I laugh a bit, knowing that he can. He's got sisters, after all - this is well within his wheelhouse.

The three of us sit quietly for a bit,

our eyes fixed on the door, and I keep glancing at Mark from the corner of my eye - my heart going out to him. Eventually I shift my hand from his knee to his back, petting him in long, slow circles.

He glances over at me, his face drawn, and gives me a little nod of thanks. I lean against my brother, hoping he knows that whenever he's ready to talk to me... I'll be right here.

Eventually the door opens again and Cora waves a hand magnanimously into the room. "The new Atalaxian Princess awaits!" she says, laughing a bit.

I grin, getting to my feet alongside Ben and Mark. Ben and I eagerly move for the door while Mark hesitantly follows.