Chapter 8
Sebastian
James got Luna Josephine’s name from Sylvie and called her after breakfast. She’s apparently spending some time with her daughter and newest grandpup, so she isn’t willing to join us for a few weeks, knowing that it’s a two to three month commitment once she’s here.
“So we’re stuck with Emma until then?” I ask him.
“Hopefully she’ll get her shit together,” he says. I give him a look. Pack members like that, someone who seems to obviously be trying to find. or trap an Alpha into a mate bond, don’t last in the Academy.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll keep looking,” he says.
“Who are you pairing her with?” I ask him.
“Benjamin. He should be fine with her.”
“What classes is he teaching?” I ask.
“I have him scheduled to lead Dealing with Crisis and he’s back up in Communication and Pack Finances,” James says.
Since we have a lot of instructors who rotate in and out of the Academy, James and I take lead on two of the classes and back up on one class. We let the newer instructors lead one and act as back up on two classes, that way, there’s always at least two instructors in every class. In the sensory class, we always have three, one who excels in each of the senses we focus on sight, sound, and smell. I’m a scent. wolf. If I hadn’t been an Alpha, I could have been a tracker.
–
“Dealing with Crisis is more about scenarios. If he’s on top of it, it shouldn’t be a problem, even if she doesn’t pull her weight,” I tell him.
“What class am I leading?” Will asks. James grabs his paperwork and shuffles through the assignments.
“We’ll go over it together as a group tonight once everyone is on the Train, but right now, I have you leading Pack Finances, backing up Benjamin in Dealing with Crisis, and as the sight lead in the Sensory class.” James says.
“I like those choices. Hopefully everyone else is just as happy with their assignments.”
“Dealing with Crisis will be a bit tougher this time,” James tells him.
“Why is that?”
“We’ll be going through the Alphas tonight once everyone is on the
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Train, but you heard about Alpha Tanner, right?”
“The young Alpha that died in that horrific accident?” Will asks, looking from James to me.
“That’s the one,” I tell him.
“What about him?” Will asks.
“His brother is riding the Train this semester,” James tells him.
“Ah, shit! He’s the second son?” he asks.
“He is. His name is Tyler. I know next to nothing about him other than he and his pack are still grieving the loss of their Alpha and now he’s here, taking up the mantle. And what makes it worse is his brother is number four on the leaderboard.”
I’ve already planned to speak to Alpha Tyler. He’s another one who will be chasing the ghost of his brother this semester, and he’ll be doing it while his grief is still raw.
Will scrubs his face. “Damn shame about that kid. How old’s the
brother?”
“I understand he’ll turn eighteen right after he leaves here,” I say.
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“I’ll keep an eye on him,” he says.
“We all will. He needs to succeed, not just because he’s an Alpha, but because his pack desperately needs a leader,” James says.
“Who’s leading the pack now?” I ask.
“I understand their father, Alpha Trent, has stepped back into the Alpha role waiting for Tyler to finish the Academy,” James says.
“Excuse me, Alphas,” Christina says, stepping up to us. “Laura’s on dinner duty tonight and she wants to make steaks. Is that…”
“YES!! LAURA, I LOVE YOU!” James yells.
“Stop flirting with me Alpha. I have a mate now!” she yells back.
“Damn, I’m going to miss her,” I say, smiling. James and Christina are also smiling.
“Me too,” Christina says.
“You have a very interesting dynamic here on the Train. The hierarchical lines that you see in the packs are much more blurry here,”
Will says.
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Chapter B
“That is true. No matter their rank, the assistants are never treated as omegas. They are here to work and they do their job, just as we do. There’s more equality on the Train and in the Academy,” James says. “But, at the end of the day, I’m still in charge of everything that happens here. As instructors, we’re responsible for the young Alphas and the welfare of the assistants, but things aren’t as rigid as they are in the packs.”
“It’s not for everyone, Alpha. I’ve known some Alphas that have struggled with the lack of structured hierarchy. They don’t usually last more than one semester. And even for those who don’t have a problem. with it, unless they remain for more than a semester or two, they never really fall into the easy camaraderie that many of us have. The assistants still respect the rank of the Alphas, young and old, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t get sassy when the opportunity presents itself,” Christina says.
“Who are you calling old, young lady?” James asks her.
“Definitely not you, Alpha,” Christina teases, the look on her face saying she’s placating James.
“Does that mean you think I’m old, Christina?” I ask her.
“Aren’t
you younger than Alpha James, Sebastian?” she asks, her eyebrow raised in challenge. I didn’t realize she knew our ages. He and I are only a few years apart, yet she knows that I’m younger. It makes me wonder why she knows that. And it makes my wolf very pleased that she cared enough to find out.
“I am.” I say.
She glances away from me, seemingly embarrassed that she knows my age. Thankfully, Will comes to her rescue. “I guess that leaves me then as the old fart.”
Christina smiles at him. “How about I rephrase and say the Alpha trainees and instructors?”
“Much better,” James says. “I nowhere near old.”
“We’ll be serving sandwiches for lunch since we’ll have appetizers prepared when the others board the train. Dinner will be at six o’clock, Alpha James, so if you want to plan your meeting with the group at eight o’clock, that will work,” she tells us.
“That’s perfect. Thank you!”
“is the meeting you mentioned, James?” Will asks.
“Yes. The instructors and assistants always sit and review the semester‘ s group of Alphas. We discuss pairings, class schedules, and I also make sure that every assistant knows the boundaries of being in the sex class and spending so much time with Alphas. We’ll have a similar meeting with the Alphas once all of them have boarded the train and then on Sunday night, once everyone is settled at the Academy, we’ll go over the rules of earning points and expectations for the semester.”
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“It sounds like you’ve got this running like a well–oiled machine,” Will
says.
“We certainly try,” James says.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Christina says.
“Christina, we’ll meet after the big meeting?” I ask her. I’m looking forward to spending time with her again tonight.
“Absolutely.”
“Have you made your decision, yet?” James asks her.
She looks at me. “Sebastian and I are still talking about it, but I’m leaning toward yes.”
“Well, that takes some pressure off of me. Luna Josephine isn’t available for a few weeks, so if you’re not willing, let me know as soon as possible,” he tells her.
“I’ll make my decision by tomorrow morning. Will that work, Alpha?”
she asks him.
“It will, thank you.
Chapter &
She nods and walks back toward the kitchen.
convince her to be my assistant.
0000ave one more night to
“Something I should know?” Will asks, watching me.
“Seb’s teaching the sex class this semester and Christina’s never done it. She’s assigned as his assistant, so he wants her to participate,” James
says.
“I’m making sure she knows what to expect and we’re working through her concerns. I’ll make sure to resolve those tonight so she can make her decision by tomorrow, James.”
“Should I be looking for a replacement, just in case?” he asks.
I sip my water, watching the place where Christina walked out.
“No. I think we’re good.”
