“How do I fix it?” he asks earnestly.
I sit back, looking at him.
“You have a long fucking way to go, and you did it to yourself. You want to know what Sebastian did to earn my trust?”
“Yes!”
“He talked to me. He asked me about myself. He and I would meet at night and talk about each of you on the days you got on the Train. We talked about me taking the classes this semester, what that would mean for me. We talked about which of you I thought was my biggest competition and why. He took an interest in ME. He showed me that he cared about ME as a person.”
“She’s refusing to even talk to me!” he insists. “How can I build trust if she won’t talk to me?”
“You practically violated her, Liam! Do you think she’s just going to forgive you? You’re lucky this whole fucking Academy didn’t come raining down on you. Mia is a wonderful, intelligent, strong, loving woman. We ALL care about her. And do you know WHY we didn’t come for you, Alpha? Because of her! She was willing to give you a second chance. The only reason you haven’t been kicked out of his Academy and lost your future position as Alpha, is because of her.”
I see the shock on his face. I’m sure James told him he was on very thin ice here at the Academy, but maybe he wasn‘ t quite as blunt as I’m being.
“How do I fix it?” he whispers.
I look at him for a long moment. I can tell he means it. For once, there is no arrogance on his face, only a pleading for me to help him.
“Check your ego at the door,” I say more calmly. When he opens his mouth, I raise my hand. “I’m talking, you’re lis- tening.”
He nods and closes his mouth.
“So far, you’ve been trying to talk to her on YOUR terms, privately, away from others. Why would she trust you in that environment? You’ve already proven that you’re not trustworthy. Get rid of the arrogance, be willing to be hum- ble, and find a way to talk to her when she’s in a group. She may not talk to you right away but start talking to the as- sistants around her. Ask them about themselves. Ask them about their day. Ask them why they chose to ride the Train. Ask them anything that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. Get to know them and when she sees that you mean it, that you’re being honest about it, she’ll start talking to you. Then, you have to contin- ue to do it. You have to mean it. You don’t have to like her, but you do have to respect her. And you have to care
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Chapter 79
enough to get to know her as a person.”
He sits back, obviously thinking through my response.
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“Well done, Alpha Christina. You’ve given Alpha Liam a lot to think about,” Alpha James says. “You two can go back to your seats.”
Alpha James goes on to discuss how my focus on Liam was perfect, even though I called out others as part of the con-
versation.
I look over, seeing Sebastian leaning against the wall, watching. He catches my eye and winks at me. I smile and re- focus on class.
At dinner, I’m pleasantly surprised when Liam walks to our table and asks to sit with Luna Mia, Luna Sylvie, Laura, Alpha James, Alpha Sebastian; and I.
Mia stares at him, but Sylvie offers to let him sit. He’s obviously struggling and this time, I’m not going to throw him a bone. He knows what he needs to do and it’s up to him to do it. Apparently, Alpha James and Sebastian feel the same way because neither of them helps him open the conversation either.
“So, um… how was everyone’s day?” he asks.
Laura looks around, obviously feeling the pressure, but she’s always been very easy–going, so she opens up.
“My day was great. I got to video call Kevin, that’s my mate,” she says.
“It must be hard for you to be away from him,” Liam says, taking the lifeline she threw him and running with it.
“It’s really hard. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be, and it’s only been a week.”
“Do you think it’s harder because it’s new?” he asks.
“No, I think… well, I never truly understood how powerful the mate bond is until I met him,” she says, looking at the
others at the table.
“It’s very powerful. I don’t think you can describe it in a way that others would understand if they’ve never felt it,” Sylvie says, joining the conversation.
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