"He's bouncing off Omegas every other week. New conquest every few days, it seems like. And I swear to god, that man is bipolar, possessed, or both, because one day he's an absolute assto everyone breathing, and the next day he's a saint who opens doors and smiles at strangers."
"Sounds exhausting."
"For everyone involved. You literally never know what you're getting with him. It's like a personality roulette. Will it be Nice Rafe or Asshole Rafe? Spin the wheel and find out!"
Great. So my childhood bully turned hot Alpha is also emotionally unstable. Perfect.
"And Cal?" I prompt.
Sage's expression softens slightly.
"Cal's actually pretty fun, from what I've seen. Gets along with most people. Doesn't seem like a big flirt, which is refreshing for an Alpha his age. He's more of a follower than a leader, honestly. Like, Rafe makes the calls, and Cal backs him up. But he's not a pushover about it, if that makes sense?"
I think about Cal in the locker room. The way he'd looked at me with those amber eyes full of curiosity.
The dimples that appeared even when he was clearly confused about what was happening.
Follower, not a leader. Yeah. That tracks with what I remember from sixth grade, too.
He never started the bullying. He just laughed along.
Which doesn't excuse anything. But it's... data. I guess.
"The three of them are normally together," Jace adds. "Like a unit. They eat together, train together, probably sleep in a puppy pile for all I know."
"They do not sleep in a puppy pile," Sage scoffs.
"You don't know that."
"Neither do you!"
"Hence why I said 'for all I know.'"
I interrupt before they can derail into another argument.
"How long have they been at Valenridge?"
"Not long." Sage picks at her second entree, some kind of chicken dish. "They got scholarships here, actually. Athletic ones, for hockey. Showed up like a week ago and immediately became the center of attention."
"So even if they do find an Omega along the way, they'll be staying for the full season?"
"At least through playoffs," Jace confirms. "The junior team has serious potential this year, apparently. And with Rafe as captain, scouts are already circling."
NHL dreams. Miss Phillip mentioned that.
So he's chasing glory while I'm running from my family.
Different goals, same arena. Literally.
I focus on finishing my pasta, letting the information settle.
Rafe: Emotionally unstable manwhore with NHL ambitions and a history of making my life hell.
Cal: Friendly follower who laughed while I cried but seems nice enough now.
Étienne: Not actually a bully, just an unfortunate lookalike to his asshole brother. Secret romance author, if the worn paperback is any indication.
What a roster…wonder how these next six weeks are going to be.
