The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

The moment Jesse's feet hit the familiar floor of his bedroom at Alpha Academy

he snarls, spinning his head left and right, one arm wrapped firm around Midnight, holding her close. A series of gasps echo throughout the room as the

ambassadors stumble a little, finding their footing -

But beyond that? No sounds echo through the air. He lifts his nose, sniffing, attempting to scent anyone strange...

His heart pounds for a moment or two more but Jesse relaxes, just a touch, when he realizes that they are indeed alone.

"All right!" Jesse barks out, drawing all eyes in the room to him as he begins to move, ushering Midnight along with him from his place next to the coffee table over to Ariel's nook. "I need Ambassadors by the door - we're taking you downstairs so that we can contact the capital and your loved ones! Please leave the collective yurt pieces and belongings here!"

The ambassadors all gently begin to put what they're holding on the floor and then move towards the door.

Midnight looks up at Jesse, clearly terrified, as he pushes back the familiar curtain that hides Ariel's bed. As he does, her and Jackson's lingering scents hit him hard - god, how long has it been since they were all here together? Since their lives just...completely fell apart?

Will they ever be the same - and quite as good - ever again?

Jesse doesn't let himself dwell for long on the question as nineteen ambassadors move for the door.

“Ben?” Jesse calls, making eye contact with him and Elias and Pippa, gesturing for them to come over to the nook as well. The three do, the Atalaxians - especially Pippa - looking incredibly nervous.

"How are you?” Jesse asks the young woman, his eyes sweeping worriedly over her, especially noting the protective hand she keeps on her round belly.

"Um," she says, her voice pitched high, quite shrill as she looks up at her Alpha. “I'm fine? I think? Um..." she moves her anxious gaze back to Jesse for a moment and then dropping it. "Are we...are we your prisoners, your Grace? How can we expect to be...treated?"

"What?" Jesse asks, baffled for a second.

But then he realizes that these are

indeed two very high-ranked Atalaxian royals - the heir to the throne and his pregnant Luna, in fact. And, considering they're still technically at war with Atalaxia, important political persons indeed.

"Oh my god, Pippa," Jesse says, reaching out a hand and settling it on her shoulder. He removes it instantly when she flinches away. "I'm sorry apologies - but no, you're our honored guests." He solidly between Elias and Pippa. "I mean, I know this is weird and complicated - and Ben probably understands the complexities of this better than I do -"

An assured nod from Ben puts Jesse's heart at ease that he does, indeed, have a plan.

"But please," Jesse says, pressing a

hand to his heart. "You're certainly not a prisoner. I'd like you to come, back to the Palace with me? To meet my parents, and the King and Queen? But I swear, you'll be treated with the utmost respect at every turn. I'm very aware that you came along on this little journey willingly."

Relief crosses both Elias and Pippa's face as they glance at each other and then,noveldrama

as one, nod to Jesse, accepting these terms.

"And what about me?" Midnight asks, quite squeaky, her hands clasped anxiously together in front of her stomach, her shoulders tight.

"You," Jesse says, turning to his little mate and giving her a happy smile. "Are a Moon Valley citizen now, Mids. And a very high ranking one. So, it's your job, in my stead, to make sure our guests feel at home.”

Jesse gestures towards the nook, indicating that they should all climb in. As he does he glances again at Ben, hoping to hell that Ben understands the true instruction here: that he is in charge, and it's his job to keep Midnight calm.

"Why?" Midnight asks, her head whipping from side to side as she reads between the lines of Jesse's sentences and realizes that he's not staying with them. "Where where are you going?"

"I'm just going to go call my dad, Mids," Jesse says quietly, bending down to look her in the eye. "So he can send a helicopter. And bring us home."

Her eyes go wide. "What's a helicopter?"

"I'll tell you all about it,” Ben says cheerfully, pointing to some of Ariel's little library on her desk. "Plus, we can order up lots of food - whatever you want. All sorts of good things."

Jesse takes in a deep breath and beams at Ben – because that's a great idea.