Chapter <b>13 </b>


    “Charlotte will be joining us at the second Alpha stop. We’ll need to get her caught up once she arrives…”


    “Mia and I can make sure she’s caught up,” Sylvie says, still looking over the documents. She and James run this Academy very well, very much like an Alpha and Luna.


    “Let me know if you need any help getting her caught up. I’m happy to help as well,” Christina says.


    “It’ll be good to have an extra assistant since Christina will be taking the sses,” Sylvie says distractedly.


    “I’m not nning to take all of them,” she says and all of us turn to look at her. I want her to take all of the sses. I want her to see just how strong she ispared to the other Alphas and if I have anything to say about it, her name will be on that damn leaderboard. Since I’ll be the one pushing her this semester, I have a lot to say about it.


    “I have to work too,” she says, frowning at all of us.


    “We’ll talk. We’ll–find a way to make it work. The sses where I’m lead are morning and night,” I say.


    “So, maybe you work the lunch shift every day. We’ll make it work, Christina. We’re all excited that you’re taking the sses this time,” Sylvie says.


    “I’m taking sses too,” Emma says.


    “And we’ll work around your schedule,” Sylvie tells her, her tone not exactly pleasant. “The same goes for you Haley, if you decide to take a ss,” Sylvie says, much more kindly.


    “I may too, but I’ll let you know. It’s myst chance, but since I won’t be in the sex ss, I can do dinner,” Laura says.


    “We’ll figure it out and we’ll make it works for everyone,” Sylvie says.


    James waits to make sure she’s done then resumes. “The only ss with three instructors is the sensory ss. I’ve already confirmed that Will’s strength is sight. Daniel, I have you as the scent lead, is that okay?”


    “I’ve got a great nose,” he says smiling. I’ll be interested to hear Christina’s assessment of the Alpha. I’ve made my own assessment, which apparently she wants to hear as well, but I’ll be interested to see if she’s noticed anything that I haven’t.


    “I notice that we, the new instructors, have one lead ss and two back up sses, while you and Sebastian have two leads and one back up


    Chen 11


    ss. Is that standard procedure?” Will asks.


    more


    “Yes. He and I have been running these sses for


    750 W familiar with the cadence of the Academy and ss schedules. We wanted to give all of you time to prepare and develop your own course work. We have the standard curriculum, which is provided in your packet, but we appreciate any insights or real–life examples that you can bring to the ss. In my experience, that helps these young Alphast learn and take in what we’re teaching them.”


    “A good example of that was two years ago when Alpha Eric taught the Finance ss. He used the dissolution of Alpha Martin’s pack to showcase the effects of financial mismanagement. He did such a good job, and it was so impactful to the young Alphas, that we added it to the required curriculum,” I tell them.


    “Is there a problem if we sit in or participate in sses that aren’t ours?” Alpha Benjamin asks. “I’m particrly interested in being a part of the strength ss, not only to see how these young Alphas do, but three months is a long time to go without participating in warrior training.”


    “There is a gym on campus. Because of their tough schedule, it’s rarely used by the young Alphas, but the instructors and assistants use it quite frequently. However, most instructors like to participate in the strength ss and even other sses. You’re always wee in any of our sses,” James says, gesturing between me and him. “I’d ask the others if they are okay with instructors sitting in on their sses.”


    Η


    Will shrugs. “It’s fine with me.”


    “Me too,” Benjamin says.


    “No problem here,” Daniel says. “Although, since I have Managing the Pack, if you sit in, I may ask if you have other insights. Every Alpha. manages their pack differently, I’m sure. It would be a good way for these young Alphas to see how other Alphas do things, not just me and Sebastian.”


    I see Christina tilt her head as if considering Daniel’s words. I wonder if she’s reassessing her impressions of him.


    “I’d say the same probably goes for all of the sses. I know I’ve taught and been second in Dealing with Crisis many times. Each Alpha who teaches that ss brings something different to the table,” I say.


    James nods. “There’s nopetition between instructors at the Academy. We check our egos at the door. If you haven’t already, you need to. We are here for one reason and one reason only. To make these young Alphas the best fucking Alphas they can be. So, let’s take a look at the Alphas that we’re going to whip into shape this semester.”


    We all open our packets. Each Alpha has a one–page biography, so the instructors know who the Alphas are and what pack theye from.


    “You put MY bio in here?” Christina asks, obviously shocked. I look over and, sure enough, James has added Christina’s bio to the packet. I


    wonder when he did that.


    “You’re an Alpha taking the sses, aren’t you?” he asks her, raising an eyebrow at her.


    “I’m not taking over a pack,” she says, frowning. I look at James. I think all of us expect that Christina could make it onto the leaderboard if she tries. But I don’t want that pressure added to her right now. She’s already weighed down by the pressure of living in her brother’s.


    shadow.


    “Is there anything on there that isn’t true or is particrly concerning to you, Christina?” I ask gently, watching her closely.


    There is a tinge of pink on her cheeks. I’m sure she was nning to fly under the radar this semester, just like she has been for years, but I refuse to allow that. Now, all of the instructors will be treating her like a student when she’s in their ss, not as an assistant taking the ss.


    As she reads, I pull out her bio. It’s basic information. The only thing that is telling about it is where her parents are listed. Both are listed as deceased and then Dane is listed as her previous Guardian. Because he‘ s her Guardian and raised her for several years, his current standing as well as his previous standing on the leaderboard are listed, two and one. However, her father also made it to the leaderboard in his Academy days and his rank is listed three. He pushed his son to be a better Alpha than he was, and I have no doubt that he pushed his daughter simrly. I know if I’d had a daughter, I would have pushed her to be the strongest fucking Alpha female there was. And that’s


    11


    exactly how I intend to push Christina.


    “No. I guess I just wasn’t expecting that I’d be treated like a student. that’s all,” she says quietly.


    “I’m giving you a ne on Sunday night, just like the other Alphas, Christina. So perhaps you should start considering yourself a student as well as an assistant this semester,” he tells her.


    The ne is where the Alphas put the dog tags that they earn over the semester. It’s how we track their points and determine if they meet the criteria for the leaderboard. I have no doubt that James will be keeping track of Christina’s points as the semester progresses just like I


    will.


    As I look around the table, I realize that the other Alphas and the Lunas will be too.