The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chaos erupts the moment that they touch, exploding all around us.

Roger screams my name, reaching for me as I reach for Jackson, wanting his touch - wanting his power - because I know I can help it - I know I can fix this -

"Ariel!" Rafe screams, reaching for me too.

"Rafe, she'll fucking burn you!" Jackson shouts, stepping away from me for a second - just a second - to shove him away.

But it's all that it takes.

The shell hits. And explodes.

Suddenly I'm flying through the air, screaming in pain and fear as my body is tossed to the side. I hit hard on my back and struggle to draw breath, but it doesn't matter - it can't matter.

I force myself to roll, pressing my palms to the ground, pushing myself up, frantically scanning through the dust and the dirt. And then I drag in a rasping breath that's half gasp and half sob as I see all three of them getting to their knees, looking for each other and for me -

I moan, because they're all right. Rafe, and Jackson, and Roger - they're okay - just thrown apart, like me. I push harder at my hands, taking a mental inventory of my own body. Because I'm hot - god, I'm so hot - but I'm also all here, and relatively unhurt, as far as I can tell.

Good, I think, nodding as I struggle to my knees and sweat pours down my face. Now we can get back to work.

My wolf bares her teeth, nodding, urging me forward to get back to the fire, to help and do whatever we

can -

But just as I push to my feet, a bright flash of blue light flares.

And someone wraps their hand around my bicep, pulling me close.

"No, little girl," the man murmurs, yanking me to his side. "Not so fast."

I gasp, eyes going wide, as I look up into the man's face. His skin is starkly pale, his dark hair combed back from his temples, and he stares at me with the palest, most beautiful pair of blue eyes...

I blink, dazed, recognition instantly flaring in me. Because he looks like...but no, I can't put it together. I shake myself, panting, not understanding why I recognize this man who I know I've never seen before. Because I would have remembered it - remembered that scent - like ozone and salt and jasmine. That...that incredible scent...

My wolf stands stock still in my soul just...staring at him.

"Ariel!" Jackson shrieks, and I hear his footsteps pounding towards me, see him grab for the weapon strapped to his side.noveldrama

"Finally we meet," the beautiful man says, his voice a low and sultry hum, ridiculous in this horrible war where shells explode all around us. He pulls me closer to him and my lips peel back in a snarl as I whip my hand up, intending to smack him - hard - across the face. To set him on fire as I strike.

But the man just laughs, catching my wrist in his hand, a circle of that blue light - too blue, electric, like neon - forming around my wrist.

"Enough of that," he snarls, glaring hard down at me. My wolf howls in my soul, skittering away from him. Wrong, wrong, she murmurs, shaking, staring hard at his wolf.

His wolf, who stands in a what looks like nothing more than a puddle of oil that clings to his legs. His wolf, that's dripping in that blackness, his eyes alight with that same blue flame just...staring out into the void of his soul.

His wolf who...who stands on the other side of...

...of a bond...

"That's right," the man snaps, leaning close to me. And even as Jackson's footsteps pound louder, closer,

I can't take my eyes away.

"Ariel!" My mate's scream is terrified.

"How are you doing this," I whisper, shaking my head, continuing to try to set him aflame - to get him away from me - but...nothing.

Not a single flare of heat rises beyond my own skin.

"What, did you think that I was

.neť

unprepared for you?" the man coos, ridiculous and condescending. I stare upt into his face. "That I wouldn't be able to dominate and control you, as a man should his mate?"

The word clangs through me and my mouth drops open in horror.

"That's right, little mate," he snarls, leaning forward towards me, leering. "I've been waiting a long time for you, Ariel Sinclair. And now that I have you? I'm taking you home where you belong. And I am not letting you go."

He whips his head up, grinning again, his eyes focusing on Jackson who is just feet from us now - his weapon raised - his face horrified -

"Say goodbye," my mate whispers, pressing a lewd kiss to my cheek, his eyes on Jacks as he does it. "JACKSON!" I scream, reaching for him with my free hand.

But it's too late.

We tumble backward, the experience perversely familiar now as we fall back into the void, into the darkness.

Into that new world.

Leaving everything I love behind.