Lara's POV
After we finish eating, Austin collects our breakfast trays and disposes of them, then reaches for my hand as we stand waiting for our new companions. I'm not sure what to call them yet. Friends feels like foreign territory for me. Throughout my life as an Alpha female, genuine friendships have been nearly impossible to cultivate. Other women either feel threatened by my position or attempt to exploit it for their own gain. Finding someone who wants to know the real me, beyond my title, has proven elusive. My interactions with other Alphas were mostly limited to Gerry and his relatives, and he never had any sisters in his family.
Austin appears to have embraced our new acquaintances without hesitation. Perhaps growing up in such an expansive family prepared him for this, or maybe Alpha males simply navigate social dynamics differently. Whatever the reason, he seems ready to trust our three classmates completely.
