The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Whoa," Jesse says, starting back from the door a bit as he peers into the room. "Should I...go?"

"Jesse," Marigold whispers, peering over Jackson's arm, her eyes locking on my cousin. Jesse beams at the little girl, I think quite pleased that she remembers hisnoveldrama

name.

"Who..." Jackson says on a sigh, loosening his hold as he realizes that it's not some great threat, just another branch of the Sinclair family. "Did you bring...?"

"Not the whole pack," Jesse says, glancing over his shoulder. "Just mom and dad and Seraphina."

Jackson sighs, looking down at the top of Marigold's head, clearly at war with himself.

"What are your hesitations, Jacks?” mom asks, stepping closer to us, tucking her hands behind her back. "Please, you're in charge here, but...I think people are just excited to meet her."

"She's not used to a lot, Ella," Jackson murmurs, settling Marigold into his lap. "The flashes that I'm getting from her of her life - it was very basic. She didn't even have running water. And she didn't really know any other kids. I remember what it was like coming here to the capital for the first time, and how stressful it was, and confusing and overwhelming. I just...don't want her to be freaked out. Slow and steady is...better"

Jackson strokes his hand over Marigold's hair. I smile as I watch him, shocked to see him so...fond of her, so paternal, so protective in less than twenty-four hours.

Wow. This wolf dad stuff must really run deep.

Or maybe just in guys like Jacks.

"We can go if you want, Jacks," Jesse says, stepping just barely over the threshold and glancing back over his shoulder. "I totally get it. But Seraphina did bring Marigold a present, and if she doesn't get to give it, she'll...probably flip out. So would you mind, if maybe she came in for just a second?"

Jackson narrows his eyes. Marigold watches everyone very carefully, her eyes snapping from face to face, taking everything in.

"What kind of present?" Jackson asks.

Jesse smiles softly, incredibly fond of our family's baby, and pushes the door open a little bit to show Seraphina standing there with a little bouquet of flowers that she clearly picked herself. Weeds, mostly – early dandelions, and chickweed, and clover - all tied together with a wide purple ribbon.

"Just something small," Jesse says, looking down at his smallest sister with a great deal of love.

All of our hearts just break with a nearly audible snap as a huge smile spreads over Seraphina's face. She hesitates, looking up at Jesse, not sure if she can come in.

"Oh god," Jackson says, giving in like the rest of us and smiling at Sera. "Come on in, Fifs. Of course, come in."

The smallest Sinclair's face bursts into a grin as she dashes across the room to usJackson nods to Jesse and Cora and Roger too, letting them know that he's fine with them as well, though I can feel his anxiety about such a full room - more people than Marigold's ever socialized with together at once, probably.

But it doesn't seem to affect Marigold at all. Instead, she looks with big wide eyes

at Seraphina as she dashes over.

"Hi, my name is Seraphina Liliana Sinclair,” Sera says, so quick all the words blend together as she sticks her arm out straight towards Marigold, offering the bouquet. "Mom says you're just my age. I'm four."

"I'm four,” Marigold says, nodding too, a little smile spreading across her mouth.

"I brought this for you," Seraphina says, stepping forward further, still holding it out.

Marigold just stares at the flowers, unsure what to do. "What is it?"

"I don't know. Flowers. You can have them. I found them in the back yard and I picked them for you."

"Thank you,” Marigold whispers, taking the flowers and holding them awkwardly in her hand. I smile softly, looking a bit breathlessly between the girls, wondering what the hell is going to happen next.

The two just stare at each other for a long moment before Seraphina cocks her head to the side. "Wanna play?"

Jackson tenses. "I'm not sure I -"

But Seraphina bursts out into a giggle and shifts in a flash into her

puppy form, stretching her front

paws out in front of her in a clear invitation to play before darting off behind the couch. Marigold gasps and drops her flowers, a huge smile breaking across her face before she shifts too, scrambling out of Jackson's lap in her puppy form to chase Sera.

"Wait!" Jackson calls, fear clear in his voice. "I –“

"Jacks," I murmur, putting a hand on his knee. "Seraphina is a good kid - she knows how to play." I bite my lip, not wanting to push too far. He's her dad, after all. “You can't control everything and...maybe it will do her some good, to have some fun. Get sleepy so she goes down for a nap."