"You know..." I set down my fork, my appetite finally satisfied. "I'm only going to be staying with them for two weeks, anyway."
Sage perks up.
"Oh?"
"Miss Phillip is working on finding me a replacement spot. Alternative housing. Somewhere without three Alphas who either tormented me directly or are related to someone who did."
Sage's eyes go wide, and she grabs my arm with sudden intensity.
"Mae! Maybe you could join us!"
"What?"
"Our dorm!" She's practically vibrating. "I'm not sure if there have to be four people, but we totally have space. It would be like old times! Sleepovers and late-night talks and me making you watch hockey instead of the other way around!"
"You like hockey now?"
"Iplayhockey now." She grins, wild and proud. "Omega league. My parents tried to force me into figure skating when they dragged me away, but I kept getting 'accidentally' kicked off teams for being too aggressive. Eventually, they gave up and let me do what I wanted."
Sage Holloway, tomboy extraordinaire, playing hockey.
Some things really don't change. They just evolve.
I smile at her enthusiasm, but a thought occurs to me.
I turn to Jace, frowning.
"Wait. If Sage is in an Omega dorm, and you're hanging out there..." I study him, trying to pick up his scent. Sandalwood and sea salt and caramel, yes, but there's something else underneath. Something I can't quite place. "Are you an Alpha?"
Jace's lips curl into a smirk that's equal parts mysterious and infuriating.
He doesn't answer. Just raises an eyebrow and lets the silence speak for itself.
I turn to Sage, pouting.
"Why won't he tell me?"
She's laughing now, covering her mouth with her hand.
"I'll explain later." She winks at me. "Trust me, it's a whole thing."
"A whole thing?"
"A whole entire thing. Complete with dramatic backstory and possible existential crises. You're gonna love it."
Jace groans.
"Can you not make my life sound like a soap opera?"
"I can only report the facts, and the facts are dramatic."
"The facts are complicated."
"Same thing."
I file this mystery away for later, adding it to the growing list of things I need to figure out during my six weeks at Valenridge.
Jace's designation: unclear. Possibly complicated. Definitely interesting.
