The Alpha Train (Christina and Sebastian) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Christina

Logan is such an idiot. I mean, I knew it, but he’s just proving how stupid he is. Does he not realize that these Alpha start assessing you the moment you walk on the Train? And all he’s done since he got here was let them know that he’s not serious about his position. I mean really, who parades around with his hickeys on display? Like everyone here didn’t know that he and Emma were hooking up. He’s the kind of Alpha that won’t graduate unless he starts taking the Academy seriously. Even Alpha Daniel seems to be over his antics, and it’s barely been twenty–four hours since Logan got on the train.

I like Charlotte the moment she steps on the train. Something about her, whether it’s her wide–eyed innocence or the feeling of gentle kindness, pulls on the Alpha in me to protect her. It’s the same feeling that I have with Haley. Neither of them are omegas, but the feeling they elicit in me is similar to the feeling I have about protecting Dane’s omegas back home.

And then Tyler walks onto the train and it’s like a swift kick to the gut, completely unexpected and knocking the air out of my lungs. He looks. so much like Dane did after we lost our parents. I grit my teeth, fighting the flare of memories and pain from all those years ago. Tyler’ s pain is blatant in his formented eyes, in the set of his mouth, and in the clench of his jaw. But he’s here. His shoulders are squared and he looks around, quickly assessing the room before quietly introducing himself to James. I know instantly that I was right. He will be my biggest competition. He has so much to prove, and he can’t afford to

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fail

“Hi, I’m Charlotte,” she says, going down the line and shaking hands with everyone.

“Hey, I’m Christina,” I say when she gets to me.

“Christina Kneeland?” she asks me.

“That’s me.”

“Oh, my Alpha said you were smoking hot and super nice. He also said that if you think you can skirt around your brother, he’d be happy to host you at our pack any time.” I see Alpha Ezra’s eyes track to us as he listens. I also feel the heat of Sebastian’s gaze as it focuses on me.

“He told you to say that?” I ask.

“Well, not the first part, although he was right about you being smoking hot. I mean, wow, you really are. But he did ask me to say the rest of it.”

“Well, the next time you talk to your Alpha, you tell him that if he’s not man enough to try and skirt my brother to get to me, and he’s willing to send someone else to do his dirty work for him, then I’m not interested.”

“Okay, I’ll tell him!” she says cheerfully. I’m pretty sure Charlotte is

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totally and completely literal.

She moves on and I watch Ezra fight the smile that’s tugging at his lips.

I look up in time to see Sebastian greeting Tyler. He leans in, saying something quietly so the rest of us can’t hear him. Tyler nods and Sebastian grips his shoulder before he moves on.

When gets to me, his voice remains soft, but his handshake is firm. “Hi, I’m Alpha Tyler.”

“I’m Christina. It’s nice to meet you, Alpha.”

He lifts his nose in the air, frowning. “Alpha female?”

“I am.”

He nods and gives me his best effort at a smile before moving on.

“Okay, we have a short amount of time for those of us who have been on this train for a while to let our wolves out to run. Is anyone staying on the train?” Alpha James asks.

“I am Alpha. I wanted to take this time to talk to my mate,” Laura says.

“Perfect. Would you show Charlotte and Alpha Tyler around be! that?”

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“Sure thing.”

“The rest of you, be back here at… what time does the train pull out of the station Syl?” he asks.

“Four o’clock.”

“Be back here no later than three forty–five. If you’re late, we’re not waiting for you. You either meet us at the next stop or you wait until next semester. You have an hour and a half. I suggest you use it,” he says, and we all begin getting off the train.

Behind the train station, the land backs up to a national forest that’s perfect for letting our wolves run.

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“Oh, I definitely will,” he says.

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“Ready?”

We both get into position.

“Set? GO!” he yells and we both leap at the same time, shifting into our wolves and taking off like a shot.

The first thing I feel is the bliss of letting my wolf run, letting my muscles stretch and contract as I run. Then, I lift my head, sniffing the fresh air and listening to the sounds around me. There’s a creek about a mile to my left and animals scurrying everywhere. I’m pretty sure I hear the sounds of Alpha James and Sylvie mating in wolf form off to the right of us, Alpha Ezra is running towards the creek, as is Alpha Benjamin. Alpha Will is taking a slower run, this being his first time in the forest, Alpha Daniel seems to be running sprints or just needing to expend some energy, and Luna Mia is showing Haley the forest lands since this is her first time too. I don’t hear Logan or Emma. Logan is either changing or making more stupid choices.

Once I have my bearings, I turn my attention to Sebastian. I’m not sure if this is his idea of being playful or if he’s pushing me harder, but I feel his teeth nipping at my heels. I yip excitedly and push harder. At the foot of the mountain, the forest opens up and it’s almost like this is where Sebastian decides to hit the gas. The entire.run so far, he’s been at my heels, literally, but as soon as we break from the trees, he begins pushing harder, catching up quickly.

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I start pushing harder as I hit the foot of the mountain. The uphill climb is too steep for hikers but not steep enough for mountain climbers. There’s usually one or two around though, but they’re so busy with their own climb that they don’t pay much attention to wolves running past them. And even if they did, they’re not out here hunting.

Halfway up the mountain, I feel the strain of the race in my muscles. but I refuse to give in. I push harder, ignoring the pain as I run, leaping over downed trees and debris from winter avalanches and spring mudslides.

We’re neck and neck up the mountain only a nose between first and second place. When I’m almost at the top, I slide on some debris, and

and reach the top just that’s all Sebastian needs to get ahead or

before I do.

He howls his dominance to the sky, then collapses onto the ground, shifting as he does.

I collapse too and assuming he wants to talk, I shift as well.

We both lie on the ground, staring at the blue sky filled with puffy clouds above us as we try to catch our breath.

“Damn Christina. That was the best competition I’ve had in a very long time.” He turns and looks at me with a damn satisfied smirk on his face. “Made better because I won.”

I can’t help but think that by losing, I still win.

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Chapter 22

Chapter 22