Chapter 113: Sebastian
Sebastian
I wake earlier than normal and realize that I’m alone in bed. Not only am I alone, the ce where Christina should be is cold as if she’s been gone for a while. I’ve gotten used to having her in my bed. I want her here, today, tomorrow, and forever. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her I love her every night when we’re together and multiple times a day when she does something that just makes me love her more. But I bite it back. I’ve waited this long. I can wait one more week.
James and I have been keeping track of how many points everyone has so we know that our leaderboard, which has been pretty steady for the past five years, is about to get wrecked by this incredible ss. I don’t know if there’s ever been another time in our history when three Alphas from the same ss were vying to get their names on the leaderboard.
Because of that, I refuse to distract her with my professions of love. One more week, then I will tell her everything. And then, I’ll have a heart to heart with my son. I’ve had toe to terms with the fact that even if Ryan isn’t okay with me taking another mate, it’s not his decision, it’s mine. Suzanne was my mate, and I’ve made peace with the idea that it’s okay for me to find. happiness again. I’m a different man than I was when she was alive, so it makes sense that the woman I’ve fallen in love with is different than Suzanne was. She’ll always live in my heart, but my heart now belongs to Christina.
I’m not sure why Christina left this morning, but I can’t wait to
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see her. Goddess, I had herst night, multiple times just like every night these days, but I still can’t wait to see her smile, touch her, talk to her.
I get out of bed quickly and shower before heading downstairs, expecting to find her there getting her coffee. But she’s not there. It’s thest weekend before finals week, so maybe she’s doingundry.
“How’s everyone feeling about finals week?” James asks the other Alphas as we grab our breakfast and go sit.
hate taking tests,” Noah says.
“You’ll be fine, young Alpha,” Jo says, mussing his hair as she walks by.
“Should I bother taking the tests? I don’t have enough points to pass this semester,” Logan says.
“Take the tests. It’s good practice for next semester,” I tell him.
I see Christinae in from where she was obviously out for a run. I try to catch her eye, but she avoids me. Instead ofing to sit at our table after getting her food, she goes to sit with the other assistants. It’s notpletely out of character, but something is obviously wrong, and it makes something twist inside my stomach. First, she was gone this morning, now she won’t make eye contact.
“Alpha Noah, I’ve spoken to your father. Sylvie and I will be returning home with you. I’d like to get your father to agree toing to the Academy and that will give him a week to prepare <b>to </b>leave the pack in your capable hands,” James says to him.
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<b>Chapter </b>113. Sebastian
“I really do hope he will ept the position. He needs this,” Noah says.
“Then, we’ll make sure he epts,” James says.
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“How are the rest of you feeling about going home?” James asks before looking at Logan and Liam. I know I should be paying attention, but I’m distracted by Christina. She’s forcing a smile as she talks to Charlotte and Haley, something I haven’t seen her do in weeks. What the fuck happened overnight?
I reyst night in my head. It was basically the same as every other night over the past several weeks. We fucked hard, made love, then went to sleep. Did I slip and tell her I love her? I’m wracking my brain trying to figure out if I said something that might have offended her, but I’m noting up with anything.
As soon as I see her get up to leave, I do the same. I realize I’ve just interrupted a conversation that was going on at the table, but I don’t care at the moment. I need to know what’s going on. James gives me a look. He knows I’m distracted and I’m sure he’s realized who is causing my distraction.
I throw my garbage away and set my tray on the tray table for cleanup before following Christina to theundry room. She’s just walking out with a basket of clothes. I reach out to take it, but she pulls it away.
“I’ve got it. Thank you, Alpha Sebastian.” It’s like she’s erecting walls right in front of me.
“Sebastian, Christina,” I growl. It’s one thing for her to call me Alpha in the bedroom. That’s yful and teasing. This isn’t. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on? What is this?” I ask her.
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I feel someonee up behind us and I step aside, watching her as she uses the opportunity to skirt around me. Mia looks between us as she goes into theundry room.
“Christina,” I growl, as she continues walking away from me. I catch up to her quickly, but we’re still downstairs where everyone is mostly milling around.
“I’ve decided that I need to focus on my studies this week, Sebastian. I don’t need any distractions. The semester is nearly over, and I need to be ready for finals this week.”
“I can help you…” I begin.
“NO!” she says sharply. “No. Thank you. I’ve got this,<i>” </i>she says, walking past me and up the stairs to her room.
It feels like there isn’t enough oxygen in the room, like I can’t breathe properly.
“What’s going on, Alpha?” Mia asks quietly.
“I don’t know. She won’t talk to me. Everything was fine, but
now…
“She’s got a lot to think about right now, and we all know that she, Ezra, and Tyler are neck and neck for the leaderboard. Maybe she’s just realized that she needs to double down so she can do her best.”
I nod, but I know in my heart that’s not it. Something happened, something caused this switch in her.
I watch her the rest of the day. In ss, she actively avoids my gaze as the instructors begin to review what the Alphas have
Chapter 113- Sebena
<b>learned </b><b>over </b>the semester preparing for finals.
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Saturday night I wait for her toe to me. I knew she wouldn’t, but it still hurts that she doesn’t. Sleep doesn’te easy and by Sunday, I’ve had enough. Whatever is bothering her is going to impact her ability to focus on her finals. She can tell me that she’s studying, but she’s already getting dark circles under her eyes fromck of sleep.
I wait until the end of Communication ss which is thest ss of the day. When everyone is walking out, I call out to her<b>. </b>
She stops, finally looking at me, with eyes that are haunted. It breaks my heart to know that I’ve done something, something to hurt her, but I have no idea what it is.
I wait until everyone is gone, James giving me <b>a </b>re, silently warning me to fix this, before closing the door.
“Have a seat at the front of the ss. I’m taking Alpha position,” I say, my tone holding room for argument. She starts to argue
anyway.
“Sebastian…”
“You can do it now, just the two of us. Or I’ll have James set it up in our next ss and you can do it in front of the others. Your choice, Christina. But one way or another, we’re talking.”
She turns, looking so defeated that I just want to take her in my arms and tell her that I’ll fix whatever it is. I’ll make it better.
I follow her to the front and sit across from her, leaning forward. She leans back, crossing her arms over her chest, still not meeting my gaze.
Chapter 113 Sebastian
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learned over the semester preparing for finals.
Saturday night I wait for her toe to me. I knew she wouldn’t, but it still hurts that she doesn’t. Sleep doesn’te easy and by Sunday, I’ve had enough. Whatever is bothering her is going. to impact her ability to focus on her finals. She can tell me that she’s studying, but she’s already getting dark circles under her eyes fromck of sleep.
I wait until the end of Communication ss which is thest ss of the day. When everyone is walking out, I call out to her.
She stops, finally looking at me, with eyes that are haunted. It breaks my heart to know that I’ve done something, something to hurt her, but I have no idea what it is.
I wait until everyone is gone, James giving me a re, silently warning me to fix this, before closing the door.
“Have a seat at the front of the ss. I’m taking Alpha position,” I say, my tone holding room for argument. She starts to argue
anyway.
“Sebastian…”
“You can do it now, just the two of us. Or I’ll have James set it up in our next ss and you can do it in front of the others. Your choice, Christina. But one way or another, we’re talking.”
She turns, looking so defeated that I just want to take her in my arms and tell her that I’ll fix whatever it is. I’ll make it better.
I follow her to the front and sit across from her, leaning forward. She leans back, crossing her arms over her chest, still not meeting my gaze.
<b>Chapter </b><b>113</b><b>: </b>Sebastian
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“Talk <b>to </b><b>me</b><b>,</b>” I say softly.
I watch her lips quiver, and she sniffs, before quickly swiping a tear from her cheek.
“You called me Suzanne,” she whispers.
Of all the scenarios I’ve gone through, of every possible thing I could have said, never once did this enter my mind.
“What? When?” I ask. I can’t imagine ever calling Christina Suzanne. They are so different. Yes, I love Christina as much as I loved Suzanne, but that’s the onlymonality between them<b>. </b>
“Friday night. I got up to use the bathroom,” she says. I vaguely remember hearing here back into my room and snuggling her against me again.
“You said, ‘Everything okay, Suzanne?“” Now she turns those haunted eyes on me.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t remember…” I begin.
“I know. It’s not your fault, Sebastian. I lost sight of my ce in your life…”
“Christina, don’t,” I begin.
“Please, Sebastian. I need to say this. I lost sight of my ce in your life, but that very clearly reminded me. This has been a fun semester, and I’ve had a great time. I’ve learned a lot about myself and the kind of person that I am and want to be. But I can’t do this anymore. I can’t. I need you to respect that and give me the space I’m asking for. I need to focus on finishing this semester. Please, Sebastian. Please stop fighting me on
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this. I need to focus this week.”
I feel like my heart is breaking. “And after this week?” I whisper.
She shakes her head and wipes more tears off her cheeks. “I can’t think that far right now. I need to focus on this week. The rest will have to wait,” she says.
I grit <b>my </b>teeth, not wanting to let her go. I want to fight for her, I want to scream that she’s mine and I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right. But she’s right. That will only distract her this week and while I know this is an avoidance tactic, it’s also one that is needed at the moment.
“Okay, Christina. I’ll respect your decision this week. But after that, we need to talk.”
She nods. “Thank you, Sebastian,” she says, standing and getting her things. She walks out without turning to look back at <ol><li>me. </li></ol>
It feels like she ripped my heart out and took it with her when she left. I sit in the chair, long after she’s gone, feeling the emptiness of losing her deep in my soul. I have to find a way to fix this. I can’t let her go. I can’t.
Chapter 114 Christina: