The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy



I give her a little smile, grateful for her support, and then turn my attention back to my brother.

"Luca's better?" I ask, looking back towards the ring. "How do you know?"

"Watch how he moves," Rafe instructs, and I do as I'm bid. "See how Luca's always one step ahead? He knows what the Atalaxian is going to do before he does it."

I watch carefully and blink when I realize that Rafe is right - that Luca's running the show down there. Every time the Atalaxian swings his fist, Luca's already on it- either dodging the punch, or twisting to absorb it on his side, or taking the hit and using the opening to deliver a more powerful blow himself.

I lean forward, eager, watching Luca deliver a seriously powerful set of three jabs to the Atalaxian's face, so fast that his opponent barely has time to register them before they're all delivered. The Atalaxian stumbles back, blood dripping from his nose, and the crowd goes wild as the ref steps in - putting his hands out between them so that the Atalaxian has a moment to wipe at his face.

Luca takes that moment to turn towards the crowds, raising his fist up and shouting out at all of us, raising a huge cheer from the vast majority of the people in the stadium - indeed, only the Atalaxians are silent.

It's only then when I realize that we've all been so quiet - and that Luca noticed. That everyone noticed that the foreign champion outweighs Luca, and that Luca's chances got a lot harder. That we all got worried and lost a bit of faith.

But Luca - he's not letting that happen,

As the Atalaxian puts his fists up again, Luca shouts out to the crowd, raising his hands, asking for their support. Our nation's people give it, instantly, loving our champion for his spirit and his skill. Only when we're cheering again at that fever pitch does Luca turn back to his opponent, and I can almost feel the excitement and bloodlust pulsing through my mate's veins.

I grin down at him, bolstered, excited again.

My mate - he's going to win this.

I can feel it.

Only Jesse's tension at my side throws me off.

"What?" I ask, glancing up at Jesse, who has his arms crossed and who isn't

cheering along with the rest of us as the round continues. "What's wrong? What are you thinking?"

He glances at me and shakes his head. "Luca's the better fighter, Ariel, that's absolutely undeinable."

"So?" I ask, pushing him. He grimaces a little like he doesn't want to tell me, so I smack him on the arm, getting frustrated. *Jesse! Tell me!"

He huffs a frustrated sigh and then glances between me and the ring. "Luca can be the better fighter, and have all the support, and be winning every round all he wants, Ari. But thirty pounds of muscle isn't something to discount. One good hit - that's all the Atalaxian champion needs."

"What do you mean?" I ask, my face falling, my words breathless.

"I mean," Jesse says, under his breath a little now, his voice almost guilty that he has to break the news to me this way, "that Luca can win every round in points, but if he gets knocked out?" Slowly, Jesse shakes his head. "Then, it doesn't matter how good he is. The Atalaxian still wins."

I bite my lip, turning back to the ring, anxious again.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

I turn my eyes to the enemy now, watching him absorb blow after blow from Luca's fists as if they're nothing. His eyes are fixed, patient, on my mate's face and body. Waiting.

Waiting for that one opening - the only one he'll need.

To deliver the blow that ends the whole thing.

"God damn it," I whisper, suddenly terrified.

"We have to wait, Ari," Jesse murmurs, stepping closer to me, wanting to keep the faith just as much as I do. "Twelve rounds. He just has to make it through twelve rounds, and he'll walk away from this just fine."

"What happens if he doesn't make it twelve rounds?" I whisper, turning frightened eyes up to my cousin.

But Jesse just grimaces and turns his face back to the match before us.

His silence is answer enough.