The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Ariel!" Jackson sputters, "fucking - no! I am not breaking up with you - I'm saying that if you don't to be with me I would understand - that it would break my fucking heart but this is not your responsibility -"

I cry out in protest, grabbing him closer to me, whipping an arm around his neck and clinging to him. "No!" I snarl, desperate and afraid at even the thought of this. "You're – you're fucking mine, Jackson! Mine! I'm never letting you go, you idiot, you -"

He clings to me too, holding me so close I can barely breathe, and I realize quite suddenly that we're both just afraid right now. Afraid that this big change - this development – this Marigold – is going to push us away from each other. I take long deep breaths, forcing my mind to slow. My wolf turns over in my soul, baring her belly to Jackson's wolf, submitting to him entirely, letting him know that she's his -

His completely, forever.

Jackson's wolf just flops down next to her on the ground, letting out a long sigh and stretching his nose over her neck, resting his face against her. He lets out a long, wolfish grumble and my wolf whines and turns to him. Both rest then, tension leaving them alongside our fear.

"Hey," I say, a bit shaky, releasing my hold on Jacks a bit, grimacing when I realize that my claws came out a bit and poked holes in his shirt. He takes a deep breath and leans his forehead against mine. "We're - I think we're both just really freaked out, right?"

"Yeah," he says on the exhale. "Fair to say that I am...completely freaked out."

"But we're in this together," I whisper, nodding, believing it utterly. "I don't know... what that looks like, or what shape this takes but, you and me?" I say, nudging my nose with his, making him look at me, making him see the dedication in every inch of me. "Together."

"Are you sure?" Jackson whispers.noveldrama

"I'm sure," I murmur, pulling back a little so I can study his face, my eyes moving slowly over every single beloved feature. "You're...um. You're keeping her? You're going to raise her?"

Jackson holds my gaze and slowly nods. "She's mine, Ariel."

"Okay,” I say, nodding, my heart beginning to pound a little frantically. "Then... yeah, if that's what you're doing, then that's what I'm doing. I'm on board, Jacks."

"Ariel, I -" he sputters, I think deeply shaken by the steadiness in me, in my offer. "This is a huge ask, Ariel – a child, my child - this is going to change everything in my life -"

"In our lives," I growl, possessive and sure. "What twists life brings to you it brings

to me too, Jackson - that's what I want. I want to do this together. Unless...you don't want...that?"

I mean, is that even a possibility? That Jackson wants his daughter all to himself? That he wouldn't want me involved?

"No, I want you involved,” he

whispers, nodding, holding my gaze,

sensing my thoughts that are so vividly tied to my emotions right now. "But...your life is your own Arief You didn't make any choices that lead to this "

"Neither did you!"

"I did," Jackson says, a bit of a growl in his voice. "Even if I didn't know...what would happen, when I...with Tasha..."

My wolf growls a little at the mention of their time together and I swat a mental hand at her even as Jackson's wolf snuggles closer in support.

Still, Jackson continues, shaking his head. "I'm not turning away from this. I am shocked - and I don't know what's going to happen – but that's my daughter. And I'm not going to walk away from her. Ever."

"You're a good man, Jacks," I whisper, lifting a hand to stroke over his cheek.

"But this responsibility isn't yours," he whispers, shaking his head. "Unless...you wanted it to be. And really, really wanted it to be."

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"I want it to be," I whisper, even if inside I have doubts. Doubts about what it's going to be like to raise a child at Jackson's side, how I'm going to deal with the jealousy whether it's best for her, how it's going to change our lives...

But I mean, are they even doubts? Or do I just not have answers? Because

maybe...maybe there are answers to these questions. And maybe those answers aren't bad ones.

Maybe this is a good thing.

Babies - little girls - little girls who look like Jacks -

They have to be a blessing, right?

"I want it to be my responsibility," I whisper again, surer this time - surer that it's not just wanting to support Jacks. That this, really, is something I can begin to commit to. That I'm strong enough to stand and help my mate as well as this little girl.