Chapter 459
Chapter 52
Once we’re all seated, Alpha Ryan stands at the front of the class. He and Alpha Benjamin teach this class.
“Young Alphas, we’re coming to the end of hell week. I’m sure all of you are happy about that. I know I am. We don’t like breaking young Alphas, but it’s the only way to build you into someone stronger. You may have noticed that Alphas respond in one of two ways when they’re broken. Some withdraw into themselves and some lash out. Sometimes, you start one way, then end up moving to the other. Sometimes, you stay in the space you started in, aggressive or withdrawn. As leaders of your pack, you will need to be able to handle pack members who respond in both ways. So, today, since we’re all still reeling from this week’s breaks, we’re going to start the healing process.
He steps back and Alpha Benjamin steps forward. “We have two choices for you today. We will choose the Alpha who will begin dealing with their break. You, as Alpha heirs, may choose to sit in as the assisting Alpha, or Alpha Ryan and I will sit in. This week, there is no expectation for you to sit in as Alpha. It’s perfectly acceptable to sit, watch, and learn while you’re dealing with your own issues. But the offer is available if any of you would like to try,” he says.
Ryan steps forward again. “Alpha Shane, you’re up first
Great. Just what I don’t fucking want today.
I sigh, pushing myself out of my chair and walking to the front of the
room.
“Would any Alpha like to try their hand at talking Shane through this
288 Vouchers
week?” Alpha Benjamin asks.
“I would,” Cole says, surprising me.
“Alpha Cole, please, come take the Alpha seat.”
I sit, crossing my arms over my chest. I know it’s a defensive posture, but I have no idea what to expect and I’m not sure how I feel about my ‘friend’ being the one to interview me.
“Can I just start, or …” he asks, looking at Alpha Ryan and Alpha Benjamin.
“Do what you think will help. We’ll intervene if we need to,” Alpha Ryan says.
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Cole nods, then looks at me, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the way you were broken, Shane. Almost as much as I’ve thought about my own break,” he says, chuckling humorlessly. “Nearly everyone heard how Alpha Ryan and Alpha Dane broke you. And EVERYONE heard what Sebastiana had to say about it,” he says.
I glance up at her and realize that her posture mirrors mine with her arms crossed over her chest. She’s slumped back in her chair as if hoping she’ll dissolve into the furniture. As soon as my gaze meets hers, she looks away.
“Here’s the thing that’s been running through my head, Shane. When we got on the train, I was so envious that you and Sebi already had such a tight relationship. Hearing about her family and then realizing that you’d not only been coached by her brother, who has been number
one on the leaderboard for the last year and a half, but you’d also been training with previous instructors, people who have been on the leaderboard at one time or another, and also with Sebi, who has trained for the Academy her entire life. For me, it was really intimidating. Honestly, I was surprised when you let Alpha Ryan and Alpha Dane make you believe that Sebastiana was using you to get ahead at the Academy. If it had been the other way around, if they’d said YOU were using HER, it would have been easy for any of us to believe. Her family practically grew up here. Hell, I’m surprised there isn’t a wing named after them. She’s helped several of us overcome obstacles to work through The Beast. She didn’t give us the answers, but she gave us enough to figure it out for ourselves. Is that the kind of person who uses others to get ahead? Why would she help any of us, if her goal was to use you and leave you in her dust?”