Chapter 26

Chapter 26
Haley
I was pleasantly surprised at how well my crepes went over this morning. I enjoy cooking. It makes me feel good to do something nice for others. I’m not a ranked member and I’m not even a powerful warrior, although I can hold my own. So, cooking has always been my way of pulling my weight in my pack. My Alpha wasn’t exactly excited when I told him I wanted to ride the Train this semester. He told me to expect that he’ll be a waif when I return.
I help to clear the dishes, then head toward my room.
“Hey, Haley. Can I talk to you?” I turn, seeing Alpha Tyler walking up
to me.
“Is everything okay, Alpha. Did you need something?”
The sadness in his eyes is hard to watch. I’ve never known pain that can make someone look so devastated and I hope I never do.
“Uh, is there somewhere private we can talk?” he asks, looking around.
“Oh, I think the meeting room is empty. Or at least it will be until the Alphas begin preparing for their classes this semester. That’s usually where they meet. But we should have a few minutes before they arrive,” I say, gesturing in the direction of the meeting room ca
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“After you,” he says. I don’t know why the simple act makes me blush. but I dip my head as I feel the heat food my checks and lead him to the meeting room car.
“Uh, so. I may be way off base here, but I sort of overheard you talking to Alpha Christina this morning, and I know you were crying, and it sounded like maybe that was because of me. I wanted you to know, you don’t have to worry about me. And you shouldn’t cry tears for me. You don’t even know me,” he says. His eyes are soft, and his tone is gentle and it just makes me ache for him even more.
“I’m sorry for the loss of your brother. I’ve never lost anyone that I loved, and I was telling Alpha Christina that it’s hard to see that kind of pain on someone’s face. You seem like a kind Alpha and that makes it even harder. I didn’t know what I could do to help you, but Alpha Christina said that I should just be here for you whenever you need
“That’s very kind of you, Haley, but I’m not sure I’ll have a lot of time to take you up on that offer,” he says.
“Actually,” I say, looking around as if I could have missed an Alpha’s aura in the room. “You’ll find out tomorrow, but I already know that I‘ ve been assigned as your partner for the sex class. So… I guess we will be spending time together. I just want you to know that I’m here, if you need to talk or if you just want company, even if we don’t talk,” I say, shrugging.
He looks at me for a moment. His gaze searches mine, but for what, I’m
not sure.
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“Are you nervous about the sex class?” he whispers.
I nod. I almost didn’t agree to it, but one of the older she–wolves in my pack said it was the best way to get accepted because they always need partners for the class, so I did it.
“I am too,” he says conspiratorially, making me giggle. “I’ll tell you what, how about we agree that what happens in sex class, stays in sex class. If I screw up royally, you don’t say anything. And if you have, say, a mole on your hip that you don’t want anyone to know about, I won’t say anything either,” he says.
I laugh and he smiles a real smile. It doesn’t reach his eyes, but it’s a bigger smile than the one he had this morning.
“I don’t have any moles,” I continue whispering.
“That you know of,” he whispers back. “If you do, I guess I’ll find them.”
I hold out my hand. “Deal.”
He takes my hand in his. His hand is much larger than mine and calloused from hard work and running long distances in his wolf form, but it’s warm and firm. “Deal.”
“I should get back,” he says, nodding his head toward the other cars.
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I nod. “Oh. Alpha, I doubt there will be anything for me to keep quiet about. Apparently, we can practice as often as we both agree to,” I tell
him.
“Hopefully, you’ll be agreeable then.”
I nod again. “I’m glad I got assigned to you, Alpha Tyler.”
“I am too, Haley,” he says before stepping out of the car.
Don’t fall in love. Don’t fall in love. Don’t fall in love. It’s the number one rule for assistants and I already know it’s going to be very hard for me to follow that one.
Sebastian POV
“Here’s my planned structure for the strength class,” I say, handing it over to James. As the Lead Instructor at the Academy, he approves all of the curricula for the semesters.
James looks it over and raises an eyebrow. “You’re adding another category to earn points?”
“There are five of them this semester. It’s going to be harder for them to make the leaderboard with so many of them, if Logan doesn’t count.”
even
I hear Benjamin snort behind me.
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James looks at the group. “Sebastian wants to add a category option that will be available to all students. Anyone who defeats an Alpha on the Beast gets a 10–point coin. Anyone disagree?”
I turn and look at the group.
“Do they get to pick their Alpha?” Daniel asks.
I look at James and he looks at me. “I’d say yes.”
“I would too,” he says.
“Take me out of that pool of options. I’m older than all of
You and
unlike the two of you,” he says, gesturing to me and James, “I haven’t stayed in tip–top shape.”
“How many times can they challenge us?” Benjamin asks.
“As many as they want but they can only win the points once.”
“It’ll be interesting to see if any of them challenge more than one of us after they win their points,” Daniel says.
“There’s one you can pretty much count on,” James says, looking at me. I nod. Christina will want to know how she compares to all of us. Defeating one of us won’t be enough for her.
“She’s really that tough?” Benjamin asks.
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“I think so. Plus, I’ll be pushing her. Once she gets past the point where she’s stripped to her core, I expect to see a monster of an Alphat emerge,” I say.
“Add Tyler to that equation and I couldn’t agree more. You’re going to be pushing her to step out of her brother’s shadow and he’s going to be reminding her every day of why she put herself there,” James says.
“Exactly.”
“Well, if she does it, you can almost guarantee that all of the Alphas will try their hand at it. I doubt even Logan would want to be shown up by another Alpha,” Benjamin says.
“Agreed,” Daniel says, smiling. “I guess we’re all going to get a chance to revisit The Beast this year.”
“I feel like I’ve stumbled across one of the most exciting semesters this Academy has ever had, ” Will says.
It’s definitely going to be interesting.
Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Christina