Chapter 415
Chapter 7
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“We ARE proud of you, Sebastiana. You should never doubt that. No matter how different you and I are, I admire you for the strengths that you bring to our family and this world. And if your goal is to live up to the reputation that our family has started, then you will. You will because
you don’t know how to fail, Sebi. I think sometimes you just might need to restructure your definition of failure.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Your goal has always been to be number one on the leaderboard. It’s a lofty goal and one that I believe is achievable for you. But are you a failure if you, like Enya, get fifth on the leaderboard? You need to think about what you really want to achieve while you’re at the Academy. I’m not saying lower your expectations. Go for number one. Bump me off the top spot. I’d love it if you did. But if you don’t, that doesn’t make you a failure, Sebi. That’s what I mean about changing your definition of failure.”
I look at him and smile. “You’re proud of me?”
“Everyday. Do you make me crazy sometimes? Absolutely! But I still love you and I’m still proud of you every single day.”
He stands and opens his arms for me. I set my drink aside and stand, letting my brother wrap me in his embrace.
“Thanks, Christian.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, kissing the top of my head. “For what it’s worth, Shane was nervous
too.”
I look up at him. “He was?”
He nods.
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“But he’s become so confident in the last year. I mean, he’s like night and day since I first met him.”
“And yet, he’s also worried about failing. His reasons are different than yours, but the fear is still there.”
I take a deep breath, hugging my brother a moment longer before pulling away.
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“Thanks.”
“Oh, there is one more thing.” he says.
“What’s that?”
“Ryan is an instructor this semester,” he says, grimacing at me.
Oh, holy hell!
Sebastiana
288 Vouchers
I stomp back into the packhouse and the room where Enya and Mom are still chatting. Everyone stops when I enter.
“Did
you know Ryan was going to be an instructor this semester at the Academy?” I ask my parents.
My father looks at Christian, then back at me.
“I didn’t realize it was a secret,” Christian says.
“It’s not. Not really. But you were already starting to get yourself worked up, Sebi. Your mother and I decided to wait to tell you.”
“Wait until when? Until I’m boarding the Train?” I ask, my voice rising.
“Let me guess, you just found out about Dad?” Raif says walking in.
“You knew too?” I ask him. Raif isn’t just my nephew, he’s also my part–time Alpha. Mom and Dad, and therefore me, travel between his pack and my cousin Devin’s pack.
He holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Sebi, he lives here. Of course I knew he and mom were going to be gone for six months.”
I collapse into a chair. “This is so much worse than I thought it was going to be.”
“Don’t you think this is going to be a good thing, Sebi?” Enya asks, walking over and crouching in front of me.
“No! It was bad enough when Uncle Dane was going to be there. Even Christian said that it was easier for them to break him because Uncle Dane knows him. Now I’ll have TWO family members who know me? You may as well just break me now and throw me onto the Train tomorrow in pieces!” I say.
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Chapter 8