The Alpha Train (Christina) novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

When the train arrived at the next destination, Haley and I had just finished putting out the appetizers. The final day of instructors and assistants joining the train is a big one because Alpha James goes over everything to expect before the Alphas start boarding the Train. But before that, we like to take a little time to get to know each other or in the case of those of us who work the Train all the time, catch up on the week we’ve been apart.

So, when Mia and Sylvie step into the train, I rush to them, hugging

them both.

“Christina!” they say. Sylvie gets on first, hugging me, then yelling for Laura and hugging her while I hug Mia. As Mia passes me, I introduce myself to the Alpha walking up.

“Good afternoon, Alpha. Welcome to the Alpha Train. I’m Christina.”

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

He steps around me, and I look at the last member of the group.

“And you must be Alpha Daniel. Hi, I’m Christina,” I say as he steps onto the train.

“Alpha Christina, if I’m not mistaken.” he says.

“I’m just Christina on the Train. Alpha.”

“I’ve met your brother, he’s a good Alpha,” he says as he steps into the

train car.

“Yes, he is.” I tell him, stepping back so he can meet the others.

“How is the devilishly handsome, Dane,” Mia asks me.

“Still devilishly handsome and practically perfect,” I tell her.

“The Alphas always are,” she says.

“Thank you,” all five Alphas say at once.

She and I look at them and Sylvie bursts out laughing.

“Some things never change,” Sylvie says.

Sebastian winks at me and goes back to talking to Alpha Benjamin.

“Did Laura tell you her news?” I ask, looking at Laura.

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“I haven’t had a chance yet,” she says.

“Oh, do tell me there’s a reason your scent has changed,” Mia says.

Laura looks like she’s about to burst in her excitement as she pulls her shirt away from her neck.

“Congratulations!” They hug her and ask about her mate.

Haley is standing back, looking a little lost. I link my arm through hers and bring her to meet the Lunas.

“Mia. Sylvie, this is Haley. Haley makes pasta from scratch. You didn’t hear it from me, Luna Sylvie, but Alpha James may or may not have professed his love for her and her fresh gnocchi,” I say, watching Alpha James smile at my teasing even as he continues talking with Alpha Daniel.

Well, they do say that the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” she says, turning to smile at Alpha James.

“It may be the fastest, but it’s not the only way,” he clarifies.

“Oh, hello,” I hear Emma say as she walks

say as she walks up behind me.

I watch as Mia and Sylvie zero in on her. It’s never good to get on the

Chapter 9

bad side of the Lunas. These ladies are tough as nails, and they don’t take shit from anyone. They’ve run packs with their mates and sometimes helped their sons maintain their Alpha status until they could attend the Academy and officially take over their packs. Nothing gets by them, and they don’t tolerate bullshit. Since I know that Alpha James has already talked to Luna Sylvie about Emma, I’m not surprised that they quickly assess her. I can tell immediately that their assessment is the same as mine.

“You must be Emma,” Sylvia says, stepping forward. I notice that even though Mia steps up to meet Emma as well, her hand gently touches Haley’s arm, as if to let her know that she’s not forgotten.

As the Lunas introduce themselves to Emma, I turn Haley to meet the Alphas. I can tell she’s already feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure what to do in the small space that is now occupied by so many powerful male auras. When you add mine, and the Lunas, it can easily become overwhelming for someone who isn’t ranked.

I watch Alpha Benjamin and Alpha Daniel, making my own assessments of them as they introduce themselves to Haley. Both are younger than the other three Alphas, probably in their late thirties and probably having recently handed their packs over to their sons. Many Alphas do a semester on the Train right after they give up the pack, not knowing what else to do with themselves, and these two seem to be the same. Because their mates are still alive, I doubt that they will last more than this one semester. It also means that they aren’t used to the casual hierarchy that we have on the Train, as evidenced by Alpha Daniel’s clarification that I’m an Alpha. It’s part of what Alpha James goes over on this first night, explaining that we aren’t to be treated as

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omegas, no matter our rank. This is not a pack, we are here to do a job, not serve them. Some do better with that than others. I’ll be curious to see how Alpha Daniel docs.

“Alphas, can we get you something to drink?” I ask.

I already know Alphas James, Sebastian, and Will’s drink choices, so I only need to focus on Benjamin, vodka tonic, and Daniel, scotch on

the rocks.

I take Haley with me, getting her away from the Alphas and letting them know there is food out for them.

“Breathe, Haley. It’s not like in the packs. You’ll see when we meet tonight.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re an Alpha. You probably don’t even feel the pressure of so many auras, do you?”

“I don’t. If it becomes too suffocating, let Alpha James, Alpha Sebastian, or me know. We’ll help you.”

“What are we helping you with?” Sylvie asks, walking in. She grabs the bourbon, making a drink for herself and James.

“Haley isn’t ranked, so all of our auras are a bit overwhelming for her.”

Chapter 9

She turns to face the other end of the train car. “Yo, Alphas! Listen up! You need to tone down your Alpha aura. We’ve got a couple of non- ranked she–wolves in this very small space. There are a lot of us who are ranked, and we need to be mindful of our auras, especially once the young Alphas join our group,” she says.

I watch as Alpha James and Sebastian smile at her. Alpha Will looks. concerned about Haley, and Alphas Benjamin and Daniel look confused.

“You heard her, tone it down,” Alpha James says.

I continue making drinks while watching Haley. When she finally seems to be breathing easier, I give her Alpha Will’s drink. He’s her instructor this semester and I’ve already got a good feeling about him. When she hands him his drink, he pulls her aside and helps to calm her. I smile and grab the other drinks before heading out.

“Well done, Christina,” Sebastian says quietly.

“I didn’t do anything,” I tell him.

He watches me as he takes a sip of his drink. Something in his eyes makes heat spread across my cheeks.

“You’d have made a great Luna,” he says.

Chapter 9

“Wouldn’t she?” Mia says, walking over. “Sylvie and I wanted to make her an honorary Luna, but it would have been a demotion in her title.”

I watch as several Alphas nearly choke on their drink. Mia looks at me, smiling.

“Are you telling me you weren’t in charge in your pack, Luna Mia?” Sebastian asks her.

“I wasn’t the Alpha,” she says with false innocence.

“Riiiiight,” Alpha Benjamin says.

“No Alpha worth his title thinks he runs his pack, Lunas are the true leaders, and we all know it,” Alpha James says.