Chapter 27
Christina
–
Since it’s our last day on the Train, I don’t have much to do other than spend some time going over the coursework for the two classes where I expect to struggle the most Financial Management and Managing a Pack. While Dane has told me over and over that he has a place for me in his pack, I’ve never taken him up on it and therefore, never learned the intricacies of running a pack. I download the books to my tablet. and begin reading until it’s time to help prepare for lunch. I’m not on lunch duty, but I know that there will be others preparing for the larger, later dinner tonight, and Sylvie put both Charlotte and Emma on for lunch.
“Excuse me, Emma, are you available to talk?” Alpha Benjamin asks as I step into the car.
“Of course, Alpha,” Emma says, no doubt excited about having an excuse to get out of lunch duty and leaving Charlotte to herself.
“Actually, Alpha, Emma is on lunch duty. If she is pulled away now, lunch will most likely be late or require extra people to help get it ready. Is it possible that someone else can help you or can your conversation wait?” I ask him.
“Oh, it can wait. I just wanted to make sure we’re on the same page for our class since it starts Monday afternoon. We’ll talk after lunch,
Emma.”
D00%
12:14 M
Chapter 27
“Of course, Alpha,” she says, giving him a sour smile before glaring at
- mc.
“Assistants have to balance many different duties while they are here, Emma. You don’t get to skirt one to handle another,” I tell her sternly.
“You’re not in charge of the assistants, are you? I don’t answer to you, Christina,” she sneers, emphasizing my name without the title and making it sound like I’m no better than an omega. This girl is a piece of work.
I see Charlotte eyes widen at the blatant disrespect.
“Christina is a senior assistant on this Train, and you will answer to her just as you answer to me, Emma. Am I clear?” Sylvie asks, walking up behind me.
Emma continues to glare at me.
“Am I clear?” Sylvie barks, making Emma jerk.
“Yes, Luna.”
“Get your ass back in the kitchen and get to work before I decide to drop you at the next station and leave you there,” she growls.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…” Alpha Benjamin begins.
“She did She knew exactly what she was doing. Alpha This isn’t on you,” Sylvie tells him.
He sighs, looking in the direction where Emma stomped back into the kitchen before turning and leaving the car.
“Two weeks can’t get here fast enough,” Sylvic murmurs.
“Agreed. I was going to help, but…”
“Work with Charlotte. I talked to her this morning, got her caught up. but I’d like yours and Mia’s impressions as well. I already got Laura’s.”
“And?”
“She’s a hard worker, even if she has no filter.”
“So, it’s a lack of filter not that she’s literal?” I ask.
“I think it’s a little of both, but I like her.”
“Then I’m sure I will too,” I say, as we walk into the kitchen. I turn to where Charlotte is slicing tomatoes.
“Is she always so rude to you?” she whispers as I walk up.
“Only when I confront her.”
32.65%
1214
She snorts. “What can I do for you, Alpha?”
“I think the question is, what can I do to help you, Charlotte? You and Emma are both new this semester. I wanted to make sure you know where to find what you were looking for and talk through your meal ideas if you haven’t decided yet.”
“I was going for simple since, like you said, it’s my first time. Emma said she doesn’t know how to cook, so I thought various types of sandwiches, with pasta or potato salad and a side of fruit.”
“I love it, let’s get to it.”
I spend time getting to know Charlotte as we work. I agree with Sylvie immediately. She’ll do well this semester and be a very helpful addition since I’ll be taking the classes.
After lunch, I return to my studies until I hear the whistle blow that we’re coming into the station. I put my tablet away and head out to greet the last of this semester’s Alphas.
“Where have you been hiding out today?” Sebastian asks, walking up behind me. For a large Alpha, he’s very stealthy. My body tingles in recognition as he moves close enough that I can feel the heat of his chest against my back.
“Not hiding. Studying.” I say, looking at him over my shoulder.
12 14
Pride flashes in his eyes. “Of course you were. We can talk about it tonight and I’d like to talk to you about the extra points I added to the strength class.
“Are we talking about it as instructor to assistant, or instructor to student?” I ask him.
“Both,” he says, smiling.
“Are you going to give me a hint?” I whisper as we stop to greet the Alphas. I’m closer than usual, standing next to Sebastian. He’s always second or third to greet the newcomers.
“Defeat an Alpha on the Beast,” he says.
A thrill of excitement rushes through me. It’s exactly the kind of challenge that I would need to push myself to get better.
I turn to look at him. He’s watching me intently, the smile on his face mirroring mine.
“Which Alpha?” I ask.
“The Alpha of your choice,” Alpha Daniel says from my other side.
“What’s the Beast?” Logan asks.
“How many Alphas can we challenge?” I ask, ignoring him.
Benjamin begins chuckling. “You were right Sebastian.
“You can challenge all of us, except Will. He’s excluding himself. But you can only win points once,” Sebastian says.
Oh yes, I’m winning those points.
“And that’s the look I expected to see on your face. Glad you told her when we were all together so I didn’t miss it, Seb,” Alpha James says. nodding in approval.
Ezra leans around Logan looking over at me and nods. “Challenge accepted.”
“Absolutely!” It comes out in an excited growl.
“Oh yeah, this is going to be a fun semester,” Will says, watching us.
“What’s the Beast?” Logan asks again.
“It’s the obstacle course that is part of the strength class, young Alpha,” Mia tells him.
“As the name implies, it’s very difficult,” Sylvie says.
“I’ve been trying to get through it for over a year and I still can’t complete the damn thing,” Laura complains.
12:14
“How many times have you completed it. Alpha Christina?” Tyler asks
- me.
“I’ve never tried. I’ve never taken any of the classes before. This will be my first time.”
I can hardly contain my excitement. Monday can’t get here soon enough.
“You’re taking the classes this semester?” Tyler asks.
“I am,” I say, and I watch his eyes change from observant to assessing. He’s now looking at me as the competition, not just as an assistant.
The doors open and I get my first look at Alphas Noah and Liam. Noah is as I expected, somewhere between Ezra and Logan when it comes to taking this semester seriously. And Liam is exactly as I expected.
He steps onto the Train, looking around with all the arrogance of an Alpha.
“Time to ride the fucking Train, boys!”
12-141
