The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"About what?" another voice says at the door, and my face bursts into a grin when I realize that it's my Mark.

"Markie!" I call, thrilled, patting the bed beside me.

Mark starts to smile at me but then looks around the room, guilt washing it away. "Rafe, I'm really sorry -"

"We're good, Mark," Rafe murmurs, nodding to our brother and jerking his chin to the spot on the bed next to me. "Don't kill yourself over it. I know you didn't do anything just to be cruel."

Mark sighs but nods and then comes over to sit with me. "But seriously, what were you talking about when I came in?"

"About whether or not you stop having feelings for previous crushes when you meet your mate," Jesse says as I lean close to Mark when he sits, wrapping him in a one-armed hug.

To my surprise, Mark goes a bit stiff beneath my arm. I frown up at him, wondering what could be off.

“Um,” Mark says, looking awkwardly down at the blanket. "Do they?"

"I'm inclined to think that they do," Mom says quietly. "It makes sense, right? You've met what is supposed to be the one person who checks all of your boxes. How could someone else live up?"

"Well, Daphne lives up," Jesse murmurs, a little angry and defensive, likewise looking down at the bed covers. "I didn't stop having feelings for her. Not at all.”

“And Midnight?” mom asks, gentle, the softness in her voice clearly indicating that he doesn't have to answer if he doesn't want to.

"Mids is amazing too," Jesse sighs, his head hanging. "I...don't know what's going on."

Mom hums consideringly and nods. "Maybe we need Cora to give the Goddess another call. Though she's a bit pissed at us lately - the Goddess. Cora...had some wine and called her up a few times just to give her a damn piece of her mind about allowing so many of her grandkids to be kidnapped by our enemies. They...are not on the very best of mother/daughter terms at the moment."

I laugh at this, thinking that only my auntie Cora would have the balls to argue with a goddess like that. But hey, it's her mother, and now that two of the three kidnapped kids are back perhaps they can reach more even ground.

"Oh, my little chickens," mom sighs, looking around at us with a mix of joy and pity on her faces. Rafe leans against her, closing his eyes. “I'm so glad to have you all back together and here in my little coop, where I can take care of you."

"I'm not sure that a palace fully qualifies as a coop, auntie," Jesse murmurs, laying back down on the bed, giving into his exhaustion.

"And we still need our June back," Mark sighs. "And Maryam, too."

Everyone goes still. Rafe's eyes flash open.

"What?" Rafe snarls, low and threatening.

Mark's eyes flash wide. "Wait, what?"

"Mark, I'm going to murder you," Rafe growls, leaning forward towards our little brother. "Did you just imply, ever so casually, that Maryam is gone?"

"You don't know!?" Mark nearly shouts, likewise leaning forward towards our brother.

"Mark!" Rafe shouts, clenching a fist between them. "Right now! Everything you know, right fucking now!"

"I - I saw her! Mark sputters out, casting a hand towards thenoveldrama

windows. "In the park! I went running last night" he sends a guilty look towards our mom, who scowls at him, and she was out there-

swnov

"Why the fuck didn't you bring her home!?" Rafe shouts.

"I didn't know I was supposed to!" Mark shouts back, going pale. "I thought I don't know! She had a backpack! I figured she was going somewhere! She was...walking with a purpose!"

Rafe just roars in frustration at our brother before hurling himself off the bed and

striding out the door. We all watch him go, open-mouthed.

"Oh my god," Mark groans, ducking his face into his hands, his shoulders

twitching with what must be frustration and shame.

"Should we...help him?" Jackson asks, starting to get up.

"No no," mom says quietly, reaching out a hand to place on his arm, stopping him. "This feels...like Rafe's business now. He's perfectly capable of handling this."

"See?" I say, snuggling against Jacks. "You complain about how troublesome I am, but at least I never ran away from you."

“There's still time,” he murmurs, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close, pressing a kiss to my head.

Mark sighs and lays down, resting his head in my lap. "Pet me," he begs, and I comply. “Am I ever going to do anything right?"

"Of course you are, baby,” I coo, stroking his hair. "You're just...taking your time."

"Is this a bad time to invite everyone

to lunch in the yurt?" Jesse murmurs, pulling my blankets up over him with a yawn. "I want a nap first but...then we should go check on Mids."

"We'll come," I say casually, easily, even though my heart wonders after Rafe, who is probably dashing all over the city now looking for his mate, worried for her.

"Chaos," mom sighs, resting back against my headboard and taking a peaceful sip of her coffee. "Good ole Sinclair chaos. I missed this."

I grin at her, shaking my head a bit. But she just grins back, wrinkling her nose.