“You said you wanted me. You said there’s a possibility that we’re mates.‘


    “Which means that there is a possibility that we AREN’T mates as well.”


    <i>” </i>


    I slide my foot over his. “I want to know what it feels like to be with a man, Christian. Someone who was number one on the leaderboard, someone would knows how to make my first time special,” I say.


    He closes his eyes, pressing his lips together tightly.


    “Tell me why you’re still not sure about the Academy,” he says, changing the subject.


    I sigh, then I get an idea.


    “If I tell you, if I’m honest with you, will you kiss me again?”


    He stares at me a moment. “You’re ckmailing me with kisses for information?”


    “ckmail is an ugly word. I would say that I’m finding mutually beneficial options for us to both get what we want.”


    “Options?”


    I shrug. “You can say no.”


    “Fine. It’s a deal. But we talk first. Why aren’t you sure about the Academy?”


    I didn’t think he’d agree, so I’m not truly prepared to discuss it. But I want that kiss and I did


    tell him I’d be honest.


    “I’m terrified I’ll fail,” I whisper. I look up and see him watching me intently.


    “Why would you fail?” he asks, just as softly.


    “You and Sebastiana were raised to go to that Academy. You’ve known all your lives that you were going. You’ve had any number of family members and family friends who excelled at the Academy training you probably since you could stand. I’m seventeen, Christian, and I never once considered going to the Academy. It was never an option for me before now. How


    0.00%


    08:18


    :


    288 Vouchers


    can I possibly prepare to attend an Academy that will have other Alphas who have been training to go there for most of their life?”


    “First, I think that’s a very valid fear,” he says, moving out of his chair anding to sit beside me on the loveseat. He lifts my feet, then puts them in hisp. I’m not sure if it’s intentional, but he begins rubbing my feet with his strong hands.


    I whimper involuntarily at how good it feels.


    “Sorry,” I whisper as he chuckles.


    “Are your feet sore?”


    I nod and he puts his drink down and begins massaging my feet for real.


    “Holy Mother Moon Goddess,” I moan as my eyes roll back in my head. “Where did you learn to do that?”


    “I’m a man of many talents,” he says, and I don’t have to open my eyes to know he’s grinning smugly.


    “That


    <i>” </i>


    you are,” I moan.


    “Back to our discussion, it’s important to remember that not everyone, in fact MOST people, don’t make it onto the leaderboard. You can pass the Academy, you can do very well, without getting on the leaderboard. The pressure that Sebastiana and I are under to be the best is not pressure that you need to take on. All you would need to do is go and do your best. The instructors are there to help you seed. If you want to seed, you will, they will make sure of it. I know you don’t know my Uncle Dane but imagine my dad and Alpha James as instructors. They worked together for years. Do you see either of them letting someone fail if they wanted to seed?”


    “No,” I say immediately.


    “No. They wouldn’t have. You didn’t spend a lot of time with Alpha Benjamin, but he’s the same. The instructors take it personally when someone doesn’t pass the Academy. You have to actively NOT try in order to fail.”


    47.34%