Chapter 78: Sadie: Unanswered Questions

SADIE

"What?" My eyes widen, and the smug look on Ezra’s face makes me wish I’d kept the question to myself. "What proof are you talking about?"

"You were attacked by rogues that night, right?" He steps closer. "Guess who I heard that from."

I let out a scoff. "Trey? That’s what you’re calling proof? He saved me, Ezra. What are you trying to say?"

"Doesn’t that seem a little convenient?" he retorts. "Come on, Sadie. You’re smarter than this."

It would also be convenient if he shut up too.

"You’re not going to turn me against Trey, and you’re not getting us back together. Whatever you came here planning, it’s not working."

"Then tell me this." He presses on before I can move away. "Did you know he was in the next room that night?"

The next room? I almost ask him to repeat it, but he’s watching my face too closely. Whatever that means, I’m not giving him the satisfaction of seeing it bother me.

"And what does that prove, Ezra?" Impatience carries my voice higher. "Get it into your head that this isn’t going to work. We ended the mate bond. That’s final."

I start walking, hoping he’ll finally leave me alone, but he catches up and grabs my arm. When I try to pull away, his grip tightens, forcing me to turn toward him. His face is twisted with rage, and I tug again, no longer caring about anything he has to say.

"Let go or I’ll alert campus security!"

"You’re my mate, Sadie. Get that into your head. I’m the one who decides what happens between us."

My arm strains against his hand, but he won’t release it. Before I can try again, another hand closes over his where he’s gripping my arm.

The movement makes me pause. I look up at a face I don’t recognize, but the guy’s attention is already on Ezra.

"She said let go," he warns.

"This is personal business between mates," Ezra snaps.

"We’re not mates," I cut in, wrenching my wrist free at last.

My chest rises and falls as I try to catch my breath. Ezra turns fully toward the stranger, his jaw ticking, but the guy stays calm. His green eyes make me take a closer look.

He’s an alpha and I doubt Ezra wants to add an ass beating to the list of things that haven’t gone his way this morning, especially with me here to witness it. He’s trying to convince me to take him back. Watching him get folded probably won’t help.

He steps back, which answers that, but gives me one last glare before turning away. I know better than to think he’s accepted anything I said. He just prefers leaving with all his teeth.

I watch him walk off, still trying to understand what he expects to gain from any of this. Getting me back?

Making me doubt Trey?

I hate that the second one is working even enough for me to think about it. Trey never mentioned being at the hotel that night, let alone in the next room. But I never asked what he was doing in that area when he found me, either. He could have been there for his own reasons. He saved my life, and now Ezra has me questioning how he happened to be there.

Then there’s Howard, who never actually said which brother got me fired. Except he also said that brother helped me get the job in the first place. Two years ago, Trey was barely more than a name to me. We hadn’t crossed paths. Why would he have been helping me then?

"Hey, are you okay?"

I blink, remembering the guy who helped me is still standing here.

With Ezra gone, I notice more than his green eyes and long hair. A snake tattoo winds around his neck, disappearing beneath his red shirt. Wolves from Blackridge usually wear those tattoos, and paired with his eyes, it makes me wonder if he’s the Alpha’s son.

I clear my throat, realizing I still haven’t answered him.

"Yes, I’m fine. Just got... um." I give up on finishing that thought. "Thank you for helping me out."

"It’s nothing. Assholes like him shouldn’t be going around harassing women." He looks back at my face. "You still look shaken, though. Are you sure you’re okay?"

I nod. "Yeah. Just wondering where he gets all that audacity."

He chuckles and holds out his hand. "I’m Adrian, by the way. Junior."

"Sadie. Senior." I shake his hand, grateful to have something else to talk about.

"I think I’ve seen you around a couple of times."

"You have?" I look up at him in surprise. "I didn’t think anyone—"

"Noticed you?" He smiles. "You’re pretty noticeable. At least, you were at the Delta Rho party."

"Oh." My hand goes to the back of my neck as I realize what he witnessed. "That’s not a great first impression."

He tilts his head, still smiling. "What about a second impression?"

I press my lips together and glance in the direction Ezra went. "Watching me argue with my ex-mate probably isn’t much better."

"Then what about you as Quiz Bowl captain?"

My hand drops from my neck as I turn back to him. "Quiz Bowl?"

"What I’m trying to say is, I want to join. You guys should advertise more. I’d never heard of the club before, and now I’ve only got a year left at Boreal to be part of it."

"You want to join? Yes, oh my gosh." I stop myself from getting any louder, though I can’t quite contain my smile. "You actually want to join?"

"Yeah." He grins at my reaction. "Unless your ex has put you in too terrible a mood to explain how."

"No." I shake my head, already feeling better. "This is perfect timing, actually. I have a class in about an hour, so there’s plenty of time to walk you through it."

"Good. Where should we talk?"

"I was going to grab breakfast. Have you eaten?"

"Nope. Breakfast sounds nice."

I gesture for him to lead the way and fall into step beside him, still trying to contain my smile. After everything Sophie said about the club, someone has just asked to be part of it. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that until now.

Good riddance to her. Quiz Bowl is still going to grow.

********************

An hour with Adrian tells me more about him than I expected, starting with the fact that he’s a nerd. Not mildly interested in a few things, but obsessed with dolphins and full of historical facts he’s very willing to share. Once he gets going, there’s plenty to hear about both.

He’s also competing in the Ascension Trials, and he’s already finished reading for the quiz section. That part is less enjoyable to hear, mostly because it makes me think about how much Trey still has to cover.

It’s not that Trey isn’t prepared, but Adrian knows enough to make me wonder how well Trey will do against him, let alone anyone smarter. Hopefully, that knowledge doesn’t extend to everything else they’ll have to do that day. There must be something Trey can beat him at without remembering which century it happened in.

Not that any of this changes who I’m rooting for. Adrian is nice, and I’m glad he wants to join the club, but Trey has to win.

I’m heading to Statistical Inference when my phone beeps.

Speak of the devil.

Seeing his name brings a smile to my face before I can check what he wants.

Trey: Busy?

Me: Got class. What do you need?

Trey: Why do I have to need something?

Me: Fine. What do you want?

Trey: You to act like you like me a little.

A laugh slips out, and I press my lips together as someone walks past. He’d be unbearable if he knew how well that worked.

Me: Maybe give me something to like.

Trey: Come see me when I’m out of class. Got an hour left.

My pace slows. I’m about to text yes when I remember Ezra claiming he has proof.

Should I ask Trey when I see him? We agreed to be more open, but "Hey, your brother said you got me fired, and I thought he might have a point" probably isn’t going to make him happy to see me.

I need to go see that fat glutton, Howard. He told me a Mercer got me fired, so he can tell me which one. Whether he’ll agree to speak to me is another question, but I’ll find a way to get an answer out of him.

Not because I believe Ezra. I don’t. But I won’t carry a question like that around unanswered, not when it’s this easy to settle. One name. That’s all I need, and then I can stop thinking about it.

Me: Okayy. Where am I meeting you?

Trey: Bioinformatics block. Taking you somewhere. You dressed like a thug today?

Me: I dress better than you most days.

Trey: Keep telling yourself that.