“I think I’m going to take the sex ss,” I say quietly.


    Both women frown at me and Laura looks at Mia. “I thought you’d already decided that you were.”


    “No, I mean, as a student.” Both women’s eyes go wide, and Mia’s eyebrow goes up.


    “Sebastian said that he would be willing–to be my partner so I could take the ss.”


    Mia smiles slowly. “You’re going for the leaderboard, aren’t you?”


    Laura’s heart rate ticks up. “You are?” she asks excitedly.


    “If I’m going to do it, I may as well go all in, right?” I ask, keeping my eyes on Mia. Laura is a great friend, but Mia was a Luna. If she thinks it’s a bad idea, I need to reconsider my ns.


    Her smile fades and she gets sérious. Laura steps in closer so she can hear.


    on to get


    “I think you have all the potential and talent that it


    on that leaderboard. I have no doubt that if you go all in this semester, your name will be up there. But here’s my concern. I already warned you about losing your heart to Alpha Sebastian. As his assistant, having sex with him wasn’t a requirement. It was a possibility if it led to that but not needed for you to assist him in the ss. If you take the ss, it will be a requirement. It’s part of passing that ss. Normally. I wouldn’t say you’d struggle with that, but you’re taking all the sses. For whatever reason, Alpha Sebastian has taken a vested interest in


    12 18


    you this semester, Christina. Make no mistake, he intends to strip you down to your core, just like they do with all of the young Alphas, and then build you back up again. I know there’s a lot more to you than most of these young, arrogant Alphas thate here, so I’m nothing. but excited to see the incredible Alpha that you be this semester. However, being stripped to your core makes you vulnerable. They will bare your soul for all to see, and while they’re doing that, you’ll also be getting intimate with Sebastian. That’s going to make it very hard for you to guard your heart. I love you like a sister, and I don’t want to see you hurt. So, I’m giving you do with it what you


    you the hard truth and will.”


    “Damn, I didn’t think about that,” Laura says as I think over Mia’s


    words.


    She reaches out and grips my arm. “No matter what you decide, we’ll be here for you. If you need to scream, if you need to cry, if you need punch someone… well, if you need to punch someone, punch Sebastian, but we’re here if you need us,” she says smiling before pulling me into a hug. I feel Laura’s arms go around me too.


    “Anything you need, Christina. I’m just d I get to see this before <i>I </i>leave,” Laura whispers.


    “I feel like I’m missing something important,” Sylvie says from behind <ol><li>us. </li></ol>


    I step back, feeling a bit overwhelmed with the love and support these women are giving me. I swipe a stray tear from my eye as Mia holds my gaze.


    “Christina’s taking <i>ALL </i>the sses this semester,” she says.


    “Ahh,” Sylvie says, walking up behind me and wrapping an arr around my shoulders. “Guard your heart and include me in whatever


    1218


    Chapter <b>39 </b>


    11


    Mia just said that had all of you hugging,” she says, making <b>me </b><bugh</b>.


    “I offered her shoulders to cry on and friends to listen to her scream, but I offered Sebastian as a punching bag,” Mia says.


    “Sounds pretty perfect. Anything you need, Christina. I can’t wait to see your name on that leaderboard.”


    “Am I the only one who doesn’t think I can make it to the leaderboard?” I ask.


    “Yes,” they all say in unison..


    I frown, but Mia and Sylvie both look at me like I’m missing something obvious and Laura shoulder bumps me before going back to work.


    “Let’s n onsagna for dinner. Fast, easy, and filling. We should have gotten ground beef in the food shipment,” Sylvie says.


    <i>“</i><i>We </i>did. <i>I </i>was just putting the food away. I’ll pull the beef and cheese out for tonight,” Mia says.


    “Perfect. I’ll be backter. I’m going on the tour with the others.”


    As I begin pulling out pots and pans, getting the kitchen back in working order, my mind goes back to Mia’s words of caution. It is a risk, a huge risk, to be vulnerable while developing a sexual rtionship with Sebastian. A part of me knows that <i>it’s </i>a bad idea, but another part of me, the <i>Alpha </i>in me, is excited to see what I can really do this semester. Yes, I’m attracted to Sebastian, but I think I can handle it. I know he’s not interested in anything serious, and he’s been very clear about his own arousal <i>just </i>being part of the process. <i>It </i>do. t have anything to do with me in particr. He’d have the same reaction if Mia was his assistant.


    <b>Chapter </b>40