Chapter 271

Chapter 72
I turn so he can’t read my lips as I talk to Sebastiana. “I think I understand why you enjoy getting under his skin so much.”
Sebastiana bursts out laughing. “I absolutely do!”
I spend the morning introducing her to our omegas, talking to them and asking about their families as they show us around the kitchen. Sebastiana asks a lot of questions. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. From what I know of her, when she makes a decision, she jumps in with both feet.
By the time lunch rolls around, the omegas are completely relaxed around her, answering her questions easily and laughing with her when she makes jokes.
‘Christian, are you joining us for lunch?” I ask, wondering if he wants lunch in his office.
“Yes, I am,” he says behind me, making me jump. “I was just coming to look for you.”
He studies me in the way that I’ve become accustomed to. It’s his way of assessing if I’m okay or not. Once he’s decided that I’m good, he turns to Sebastiana.
“So, what do you think?” he asks her.
“I think these poor omegas are overworked, Christian,” she says, making the omegas grin.
We make our way out of the kitchen, headed toward the dining hall.
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Chapter 72
289 Nouchers
“I have to admit, I had no idea how much work went into running a packhouse,” she says.
“That’s just the kitchen. We didn’t even touch on keeping the packhouse cleaned and ready for guests,” I tell her.
“Are you kidding?” she asks.
“Why do you think Lunas are so important, Sebi? They not only keep the pack settled and happy, they are also responsible for the day–to–day operations of the pack. That includes financial management since what they do directly impacts the pack’s finances. They have to monitor how much is being spent and somehow balance that with the money coming into the pack, all while making sure the pack doesn’t go hungry, Christian says, smiling at me. “It’s an admirable job and a hard one. One that is often taken for granted.”
“Fine, accepting that I was wrong,” she says, but I don’t think that’s why Christian is saying what he’s saying. It feels like he’s praising me. It feels like the equivalent of an emotional caress, just like the physical ones he gives me when we kiss.
christian. I get it! I was rude. I already apologized and I’m
“Oh, Shane! Thank goodness. Please save me from my brother’s judgement,” she says, and I swear Christian is about one second away from rolling his eyes at his sister.
“Since when does your brother judge you, Sebastiana?” Alpha Christina asks her, walking up with my brother.
I finally drag my eyes away from Christian’s to see Sebastiana has linked arms with my brother and is pulling him away.
“Whenever I don’t measure up to his oh–so–high standards of perfection, ” she grumbles, waving without turning back and dragging
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my brother off to who knows where.
He looks at me. “I don’t judge my sister.”
I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Okay, sometimes I do. But I also know that she’s just Sebastiana. She is who she is.”
“Do you think she’ll knock you off the leaderboard?” I ask as Christian, his parents, and I find a place to have lunch.
“Absolutely,” all three of them say at once.
I look at them. “You’re confident?”
“Sebi is like a wolf with a bone. Once she sets her sights on something. nothing gets in her way,” Christian says.
“My brother might get in her way,” I say.