Chapter 112: Trey: Pups, My Ass

TREY

Scientists should be paid more than athletes, if we’re being reasonable. I’ve nearly burned my fingers off this morning and barely scratched the surface of my project. At least on the ice, I get to take my frustration out on someone.

I strip off my gloves, toss them in the designated bin, and head out of the biotech lab.

[Lola should be waiting,] Trex says. [Hurry up before they leave without us.]

It’s barely nine. That’s when I agreed to meet Lola and Sadie, though listening to him, you’d think they’d been standing outside for an hour while I fucked around for my own entertainment.

[This is a golden opportunity. We need to show her we can behave.]

Agreed, it’s an opportunity, but I’m not a peacock about to perform a mating dance for approval.

For all I know, Lola arranged this to give us a chance to be in the same space. The text came from her, along with a very clear warning that Sadie wasn’t thrilled about my involvement. Knowing her, she’ll either ignore me or glare at me for the entire trip. Possibly alternate, depending on how much I irritate her by existing.

So, as opportunities go, this one isn’t looking particularly pleasant.

Still, I said yes. A day of being near her is better than sitting in my apartment wondering when she’ll speak to me again. Between the drive and helping her find answers about her parents, a conversation has to happen eventually. Once it does, I’ll figure out the rest.

I take a deep breath of the Saturday morning air as I make my way toward the student center. By the time it comes into view, my watch says nine ten. Lola and Sadie have probably spent every one of those extra minutes discussing my inability to arrive on time. I pick up my pace. There’s still time to make this a decent start if I—

"Hey, Trey."

I nearly walk straight into a clown-looking—

Oh. Paige.

My brows draw together. What the hell am I looking at? I’m a guy, and sure, there are things I don’t know about makeup, but I’m fairly certain I’m not supposed to see where each product starts and ends.

That’s hardly my biggest concern, though. What’s she doing here? How did she know I’d be here? She’s been missing in action long enough that I’d stopped expecting to run into her. Not that I’ve been concerned. Campus has been less irritating.

And now she’s smiling at me like we have something pleasant to discuss.

[No need for questions,] Trex snaps. [We’re late. Get rid of her.]

"Were you waiting for me or something?" I ask anyway.

"Yeah." Her grin widens. "Surprised?"

"That you’re still walking around? A little." I look her over. "Last I checked, you’d thrown Dixie at Sadie and vanished."

Her smile twitches. "That wasn’t my fault."

"Sure it wasn’t. How did you know I’d be here?"

She waves the phone in her hand. "It’s easy to find out where you are. Just ask in the group. There’s always someone nearby who can help." She sounds pleased with how efficiently that works. "You asked the student lab coordinator for access today. She mentioned it in the chat."

Oh. Interesting. My eye twitches at the thought of my lab booking becoming a campus announcement. Apparently, requesting access to equipment also gives everyone access to me.

"Well, good for you."

I hitch my bag higher and start to turn, but she steps into my path, reaching for me. I take a wide step away before her hand makes contact.

Trex growls, and I glare at her. If she gets her scent on me right before I meet Sadie, I might let him eat her.

"Rushing somewhere?" Her arms fold across her chest. "You might actually want to talk to me now that Sadie’s taken you for granted."

My fingers tighten on the strap.

"I heard about what happened at her little club," she continues. "Humiliating you in front of everyone over a membership? Who does she think she is?" She scoffs, watching me as if we’re about to agree on something. "You show a little interest, and suddenly she thinks she’s better than you. At least now you know what she’s like. Don’t you think it’s time to give up on her?"

You’d think disappearing for this long would mean she’d missed something happening on campus. But no, she’s still picking up every fucking signal. Someone should put her to work as a satellite dish.

"My feelings toward you haven’t changed, Paige. They’re not going to change because Sadie and I are having a rough patch." I nod toward the space she’s blocking. "Focus on Ezra. You won him fair and square. Get out of the way."

"I can help you beat Ezra," she chokes out as I start walking.

That stops me. Whatever she’s about to suggest is probably a terrible idea, but there’s enough desperation—and confidence—in her voice to make me wonder what the hell she thinks she has.

When I turn, she closes the distance between us.

"I can help you win the Trials. Isn’t that what Sadie’s doing?" she asks. "Ezra’s your biggest threat. I could make sure he isn’t a problem that day."

My brow lifts. "Meaning?"

She glances along the path before looking back at me. "Poison. Something to keep him from competing. Nothing permanent. It’s easier and more effective than what she’s helping you with."

For a moment, I can only gawk at her. Unfortunately, she interprets that as interest.

"Think about it, Trey. We make sense together. My family owns land all over Silvercrest. With our influence, we could be untouchable." She reaches for me again. "And imagine our pups. A Lycan and a pure Alpha bloodline. Why keep chasing Sadie when you could have that?"

Frowning, I step away. The hope on her face starts to fade.

"Poison? That’s what you stopped me for?"

Her mouth opens, but I’m not finished.

"I’m messed up, Paige, but you’re downright rotten. And pathetic, if you think I need Ezra poisoned to beat him."

"You—"

"And I like Sadie’s method. There’s more reading than I’d prefer, but she puts her whole heart into helping me. I enjoy spending time with her. An hour, a club meeting—whatever she’s willing to give me, I’ll take it. None of that is something I need you to rescue me from."

Her gaze slips past my shoulder, and the little color left in her face disappears. "Trey, stop talking."

"Gladly, if you’d stop following me around." I hitch my bag higher. "I’m trying not to let my wolf out just to get you away from me, and you’re talking about our pups?" My gaze drops to her hand before returning to her face. "What exactly is so impressive about your Lycan blood? Sadie broke your hand easily enough."

I turn before she can answer, then stop so suddenly that my bag slides down my shoulder.

It takes me a few seconds to register who I’m looking at.

Lola and Sadie stand a short distance away, watching me. Lola recovers first, her open mouth slowly curving into a smirk. Sadie still looks stunned, her eyes wide and her lips parted around something she hasn’t managed to say.

I glance between them, trying to work out where to start.

When the hell did they get here? More importantly, how much did they hear?

"Paige, if I were you, I’d actually drop out this time and never show my face again." Lola peers around me to make sure Paige gets the full benefit of that advice.

I barely look at her. Sadie is still staring at me, until she seems to realize it and closes her mouth, shifting her attention to Paige.

"Bad-mouthing me on a Saturday morning?" she asks. "You must be really jobless."

Right. They heard at least that much.

Paige stays silent behind me, which tells me enough about how she’s handling this. I keep my attention on Sadie and immediately get glared at for it.

Before I can decide whether that’s about Paige or just me in general, she takes Lola’s arm and walks off. I hesitate, then follow, quickening my steps to catch up.