The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0322

"What's wrong with Jacks?" I ask, a little frantic, turning to look her in the face.

"See?" mom says, sitting up with a grin and pointing her finger at me, poking me in the chest. "The fact that you keep assuming something is wrong with him tells me that you know something is up too."

"That's not a ridiculous assumption to make when someone says they want to talk about someone, mom," I say, glaring at her a little and slumping back against the pillows, taking the last sip of my coffee and putting the cup on my bedstand.

"I know, but you did it at breakfast when he wasn't there, too. He's a big, powerful Alpha, Ariel - why do you assume he can't take care of himself?"

I sigh, pressing my hands together and screwing my mouth to the side as I consider my mom, who is so pretty, and considerate, and kind. But I know that she's asking for a reason, and I don't know how much Jackson told her, or how much he'd want me to reveal. "Well, Jackson's kind of..." I hesitate, not knowing what to say.

"He's precious, isn't he?" Mom says with a little smile, staring at me with a whole heap of love in her eyes.

"So, you see it too?" I ask, leaning forward a bit. She nods. "He's so...you're right, mom, he's so powerful, but he's so delicate too -like he totally doesn't understand this world, and he doesn't know how to move around in it, and he's so hungry for someone to love him - but I don't even think he knows that. I just feel...very protective of him."

"Oh, baby," mom sighs, beaming at me and reaching out to pat my cheek. "I'm so glad you see it too."

"How could I miss it?" I say, a little awed.

"Well," she says, with a shrug. "I think...pretty much everyone else in his life has missed it. He's so... rugged. I think people just assume that what's inside matches the outside." She pauses a minute, considering. "He told me a little bit about where he comes from. It...it doesn't sound good."

"What did he tell you?" I ask, fascinated and curious, glad she knows so that we can talk about it.

"A little about the Community, about not having parents. Most of it came out when I was getting him new clothes

I laugh, and she does too, and I can just imagine how funny, awkward, and sweet my mate was when mom was putting him through his fashion paces.

"But," she says, "did you know he's like...never chosen his clothing before?"

"No," I say quietly, resting my head back against the pillow, a little awed by it.

"Yeah," she says, nodding, her eyes a bit far-off. "His entire life Jackson's just worn whatever was provided to him - a tradition we continued at the Academy. When I gave him his new wardrobe, he asked which piece he should wear next, and I said whatever you want, and he looked at me like I was crazy."

"Did you pick out his outfit today?" I whisper, kind of dying to know.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

"Nah," she says, grinning at me. "I gave him some hints about how to put together colors, and I left him with some fashion magazines. But he successfully put together a button-down and some jeans today. Clever boy."

We both laugh then, but there's no malice in it. Just a great deal of love between two people who care about someone who is trying very hard.

"He's so sweet," I murmur, dropping my head a little to hide my ridiculous smile.

"He is," mom says, and the slight hardness to her voice makes me look up at her again. She looks at me seriously now and my smile falls away. "I won't have you breaking his heart, Ariel."

My mouth pops open a little, because - well, one, because I have no intention of doing that. And two - "Wait," I say, voicing my protestation aloud, "aren't I your daughter!? Shouldn't you be saying that to him!?"

Mom laughs now, unable to help it. "Jackson doesn't need to be told not to break your heart, Ariel." I open my mouth again to protest, but she holds up a hand, asking me to let her finish. I scowl, and snap my jaw shut. "But baby, you've got a team behind you - a whole world of support. Luca does too. If either of you get your heart broken, you've got people to fall back on. Jackson..." she lets her words fade off here, because I know how they end.