Chapter 18

Chapter 18
Christina
”
“What the fuck, Dane? Even today’s young Alphas know about your threat if they touch me.” I say. I’m not shouting, per se, but damn. What the hell did my brother say to make EVERY damn Alpha lift their hands up and step back when they hear my name?
“I told you. I may have made a mistake in protecting you so thoroughly,” he says.
“Dane Kneeland, I’m pretty sure you’ve never made a mistake in your life.”
“Well, you’d be wrong there, little sister. But I try to limit the number of mistakes I make. So, are either of these Alphas actually interesting
you?” he asks, obviously wondering if I’ve decided to try having a relationship with an Alpha.
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“Two words. Logan Crossing.”
Dane growls. “If you sleep with him, I’ll be forced to lock you up duc to temporary insanity or just plain stupidity. Since I know you’re not stupid, I’d have to go with insanity. Who else?”
“Ezra Fields.”
“He’s decent.”
”
“He’s also ten years younger than me and he’s at the Academy. I wouldn’t waste my time with any of these guys until AFTER graduation. And then, it’s too close to them finding their mate, so why bother?”
“Anyone else interesting this semester?” he asks me.
“Yeah. Tyler Mitchell.”
“Aww. shit. Tanner was a good Alpha. Tyler has some really big shoes to fill.” he says. It reminds me of Sebastian telling me that Dane’s shoes
aren’t mine to fill.
“Maybe he just needs to find his own shoes and not try to live in the shadow of his brother,” I say.
Dane is quiet on the other end for a very long moment. “Who’s your
instructor this semester?”
“Alpha Sebastian.”
“How very interesting. I look forward to hearing more about your
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semester, Chrissy.”
“Say high to Harper and the kids for me,” I say.
“I will. And Chrissy, stay away from Logan. He’s an asshole.”
“Already figured that out, big bro,” I say, before saying goodbye and hanging up.
I look at my watch. I have a few minutes before I meet with Sebastian. I don’t know why, but after last night, I feel the need to take a quick shower and brush my teeth. If the man is going to be touching me, I don’t want him to be repulsed by my scent.
I finish getting ready and pull my hair in a ponytail before stepping out of my room. As I walk to Sebastian’s room, I can hear chatter going on in the dining car. It sounds like a small party is going on. They better get it out of their system now. They won’t have the time or energy for that once we get to the Academy.
I knock on Sebastian’s door and almost immediately it opens.
“Good evening, Christina. Come in,” Sebastian says. He offers me a drink like last night and I accept again.
“Did you get a chance to relax this evening?” he asks me as he pours two glasses.
“Well, none of them have a personal masseuse to help relax them each night either, do they?” I ask smiling.
“No, they don’t. Or if they do, we won’t necessarily know about it Speaking of that, I’d like to try something different tonight, if you’re willing and comfortable,” he says. I’m not sure why, but something about the way he says it makes my heart flutter.
“Okay, what do you want to try?”
“I’d like to massage your shoulders and neck and even your upper back, tonight. But I want you to start getting comfortable around me with met touching your bare skin and you wearing fewer clothes than you are. So, my suggestion is that you take off your shirt, leave your bra on, and you sit in front of me on the floor while I sit on the couch. I’ll massage your head, neck, shoulders, and upper back, while we talk. What do you think?” he asks me, taking another sip of his drink while watching me. I’m beginning to realize that this is his way of collecting his thoughts and assessing what’s going on around him.
I’ve lived in a pack all my life. Nudity is a very common thing in the packs. Unless you want to rip through your clothes every time you shift, you have to strip out of your clothes and then you have to shift back before getting dressed again. It’s why we, as werewolves, can have something like a sex class, whereas humans would never be accepting of something like that.
But somehow, taking off my shirt in front of Sebastian, here in his room, feels very intimate and very sexual. I know it’s not for him and that’s the only reason that I’m able to nod.
“Did you want to start now?” I ask, suddenly feeling shy.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he says,
I nod and shoot the rest of the whiskey before setting the glass aside. I can feel my heartbeat increasing and I work to bring it back to normal knowing that Sebastian can hear it.
Without thinking too much about it, I pull my shirt over my head and lay it across his bed. “Where do you want to sit?” I ask, without looking at him.
Geez, I signed the consent forms this morning and right now, I can’t even look Sebastian in the eye without my shirt on. He’s right that we need this time to become comfortable together.
me.”
I hear him move and I look behind me. “Come sit in front of me,” he
Says.
I do and almost instantly, his warm hands are gently running over my shoulders, his talented thumbs already seeking out the knots in my shoulders and neck.
“Why don’t we start with any questions you have for me, Christina,” he
says.
His thumbs slide up my neck and I feel my eyes roll closed as his warm
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hands begin to work their magic.
“What number were you on the leaderboard when you came to the Academy?” I ask.
I feel his thumbs stop for a moment before they continue on.
“What makes you think I made it onto the leaderboard?” he asks, and I
snort.
“I hear things,” I say.
“I was number one,” he says, and my eyes shoot open.
“Seriously?” I ask him.
“Yep. I bumped James out of first place two years after he got it,” he says. His thumbs seemed to have decided that my shoulders and neck need to have the knots worked out and his touch strengthens, his thumbs rubbing deeper into my sore muscles.
“How did I not know I was sore?” I ask without thinking.
He chuckles. “I think you’ll find that you mentally shut down the aches of pains of the day, Christina.”
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Suddenly, his face is beside mine and his voice is in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “But don’t worry. I’ll make sure to work them
all out for you