The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Thanks!" Midnight says, quite pleased, plopping down in front of me with a glass of orange soda. Jesse lays on his side next to both of us, quite calm and casual. "Miss Ella has been very nice and gives me whatever I ask for, and also brings me stuff up too. She brings me lots of clothes."

"Mom loves clothes," I say, nodding understandingly. "She'll fill the whole yurt if you let her."

"She says I can store them downstairs. But you," Mids says, pointing a finger at my face. "Are avoiding telling me a gossip. Where did Jackson get a pup?"

I scowl a bit, certainly caught in the act. "It's his daughter, Mids," I say with a shrug. "He only just found out she existed yesterday, which is...insane."

Midnight's eyes go wide. "So...so he made the pup?" she asks, leaning forward a bit breathless. "Doing...doing the sex?"

I work very, very hard not to laugh at this, not wanting to embarrass her. But I can't help the wide smile that spreads over my face. "Yup, that's how it happens."

"Oh man," Midnight says, sitting up straight. "That's so gross. But you are not the pup's mother? How does that work?"

“Our Jackson got around in his youth,” Jesse says, peering over at Mids, clearly entertained. "He's faithful to Ariel now - we presume -"

I snarl at my cousin, who shoots a grin at me before turning his eyes back to Mids.

"But before he met Ariel," Jesse continues, "he knew another girl. And they liked each other, so..." he shrugs, letting Midnight fill in the blank.

Midnight's eyes narrow further. "Was she a whore?"

I burst out laughing. "Mids, no! By all accounts she was a perfectly lovely girl."

Midnight hums consideringly, taking a sip from her soda. "Is the baby cute? And well behaved?"

"Very cute," I say, nodding my confirmation. "And well behaved, so far."

"And is the mother coming to demand that Jackson return so he can perform the labor of caring for the child?"

"No," I say, my voice softening with sadness. "She died, Midnight. So, Marigold -" "What's a Marigold?"

"It's Jackson's pup's name," I say, laughing a little. "But yes, Marigold only has Jackson now, so he's going to raise her."

Midnight cocks her head to the side, considering me. "Well, then why are you mad?"

I cock my head too. "What?"

"You came up here all angry,"

Midnight says, "But... things sound pretty good. After all, you got a free pup out of this - a cute and

well-behaved one - and younoveldrama

didn't

none

have to do any of the sex or the birth or anything. And no one is

demanding that Jackson leave. So why are you mad?"

I sigh, thinking that Midnight...rather has a knack for putting things in perspective, doesn't she? "I'm mad because my family is saying that Jackson can't go back to schoo because he has to stay and take care of his kid. Which means I can't go to school, because I'm certainly not going to abandon him."

"Well, why can't the pup go with you?" Midnight asks, sitting up straight.

"That's what I said!" I gasp, leaning forward, eager. Midnight nods to me, sharp, like it's finished.

"Don't you think it will be too

dangerous for a pup?" Jesse asks,

looking at Midnight curiously. “All those weapons and Alphas running around learning to be dangerous? Plus, Marigold won't be able to go to school, and she'll not have any friends when there are no other children around."

Midnight just rolls her eyes. "You could have said the same thing about Ariel enrolling. Won't she be lonely, without any other girls? Isn't it too dangerous for a girl? And all that."

Jesse's eyes flash back to me. "Good argument. And you came out with flying colors."

"Yes well, I think they will have a stronger case with Marigold," I say, a bit dry. "As she won't have anyone to take care of her while Jackson and I are in class."

"I'll come and take care of her," Midnight says with a casual shrug.

Jesse and I whip our eyes to her.

"That is," Midnight says, looking between us with her clear dark eyes. "Until I enroll officially in Alpha Academy in the fall. So, you'll need a new babysitter come September. But until then, I'd be happy to ensure Jackson's pup doesn't die while you're away."

Jesse and I just stare at Midnight in shock for...a myriad of reasons.