The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"What do you mean you've never been in a house before!?" I cry, smacking my mate on the arm.

He grins down at me and Marigold does too. "I mean, when would I have been in a house, Ariel? I grew up in a barracks cabin with a bunch of other boys, and then moved to the city where I lived in an apartment building. From there I lived in the candidate barracks and then the castle..." he raises his chin towards the castle on the cliff as I just stare at him, slack-jawed, realizing that he's right.

"That's so weird, Jackson," I whisper, shaking my head at him.

"It's nice having a feral friend," Jesse says, stepping close and clapping a hand on Jackson's shoulder. "Come on, my guy. We'll domesticate you and, in doing so, introduce you to the wonders of the single-family home."

Jackson laughs and takes my hand as we all walk up the short steps to the adorable little porch and then through the front door into our little blue house. Unsurprisingly, my eyes mist immediately at the thought that this is our first little home together as a family. That this is where Marigold will get to know her new sisters, and where we'll have so many new experiences.

"You happy?" Jackson asks, stroking a hand over my hair as I look around at the sweet little living room, still bare of any furnishings or decorations but completely full of possibility.noveldrama

I press myself to his side, tucking my face against his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist, completely overwhelmed. "Yeah, I'm happy," I squeak, meaning it utterly as my wolf pounces around in my soul, rubbing herself warmly against Jackson's wolf and then darting over to the two new little bonds, just...completely thrilled.

"Good," Jackson says with a happy sigh, looking around the room with interest as he wraps an arm around me, holding me close. "I'm happy too."

We stand quietly in the center of the room together for a long time, our family happily milling around us. But while they chat and talk about the possibilities and all of the furniture mom ordered to fill the room - which is apparently being delivered this afternoon - I find myself a bit breathless and wordless.

Just...completely happy, totally blessed.

My dad looks over at me and, sensing my mood, gives me a happy smile and a warm nod.

And I smile right back, knowing that he could have said no to all of this.

But that he is, in fact, the best dad on the planet - always supporting our dreams and doing everything in the world that he can to make them come true.

The rest of the day passes in a rushed blur. Dad spends a great deal of time meeting with the Captain and the rest of the staff, going over documents and reconsidering both the rules of the Academy as well as my individual learning plan. And as much as I sigh to see that my lessons with Blaze will be less violently focused for the time being - more stretching, less punching - I resign myself to the realization that adjustments do indeed have to be made.

I'm pregnant, after all, and happily so. There are some things that I'm not going to be able to do.

But not much, my wolf says, trotting around smugly in my soul, her nose lifted high in the air.

Right, I say, nodding internally. Not much at all.

As dad works, mom supervises the delivery and distribution of four houses' worth of goods as well as a surprising amount of clothing for Marigold.

"Mom," I whisper, watching it all be delivered and carried in by Jackson, Rafe, and Jesse (who grumbles about every box). "How...did you do all this? I mean, have you been shopping for years?"

"I admit," mom says, hands on her hips, directing the boys to carry a particularly plush sofa into the

house she's designated as hers and dad's. "strained even my own, shopping skills last night and today. I barely slept. I'm going to need some time to restore my energy."

"So, like, you'll start again tomorrow?" I ask, dry.

Mom laughs and wraps an arm around me, tugging me close. "Well, someone has to clothe these little twins, Ariel, and I know you're going to be too busy to do it. If

it was up to you they'd run around in their diapers for the first three years of their life."

I laugh, hugging her back, grateful for my mom in turn and realizing that...she's probably right.

By the time night falls it's shocking how well-equipped the little houses are. Only mine has running water and plumbing for the moment, but we've been assured that the others will be updated tomorrow.

"Wow," I say, flopping onto my brand-new couch and pulling Marigold up onto my lap, looking around at my living room which has all the basics it needs for life and company. "This is...amazing."

"I know," Jackson murmurs, settling down next to me on the couch and peering into the tiny kitchen, where mom is making me a cup of herbal tea and dad is pouring whine and whiskey for those of us who are able to partake. Rafe and Jesse are gone for the moment, getting Midnight settled in her own little house.