Chapter 27 Unlikely Victories
Sienna
“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.
Keisha was definitely trying to mess with my head. Of all the people in this stadium, she’d somehow managed to team me up with Elizabeth along with a woman named Gael and a guy named Teyam.
“We can do this, guys!” Elizabeth chirped, clapping her hands together with enough perky energy to make my head ache.
She looked like she was ready to lead a parade, while I was just trying to figure out how I was going to survive the next hour without rolling my eyes into the back of my skull.
Gael spared me a glance that was less than welcoming. “Since you’re the youngest, just stay out of the way and follow our lead.”
I felt that familiar spark of rebellion flare up in my chest. Follow their lead? I wanted to tell her exactly where she could shove her lead, but I didn’t.
I swallowed my pride and forced a stiff nod. I wasn't going to let my temper ruin my chance at Silver Spring.
We tore through every task like our lives depended on it. First, we had to haul an "injured" packmate—who was basically a two-hundred-pound guy playing dead—across a muddy obstacle course.
My muscles were screaming, but I didn't let my grip slip once. Then came the high-pressure bandaging and the fire simulation, where we had to navigate a building filled with thick, synthetic smoke and heat while timers ticked down like bombs.
Honestly, I’m skipping the boring play-by-play because the only detail that actually matters is the result: We won.
I hate to admit it—like, it actually physically pains me—but Elizabeth really knew what she was doing. She didn't just participate; she led. She was calm under pressure, calling out orders and spotting hazards before we even reached them. She wasn't just pretty and popular; she was actually good.
"Great job," I told her, forcing the words through gritted teeth. I hated how much I actually meant it.
Her eyes lit up, and she gave me this humble, radiant smile. "It was a group effort, Sienna," she said. "We made a great team."
"Congratulations to our winners."
My heart did a double-thud as Sev stepped toward us. He had that calm, authoritative smile on his face—the one he used when he was being the 'Alpha'.
"I trust you'll be ready to move out by nine tomorrow morning," he said, his gaze sweeping over us. "I’m heading out this evening to handle things ahead of time. I’ll notify the Beta to expect you in his party for the journey."
"Of course, Alpha!" the rest of my group chirped back, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Of course," I echoed.
Everyone else was probably dreaming about the hot springs, but all I could think about was the fact that I had to share this win with my biggest rival. I was stuck on a week-long field trip with the homecoming queen.
“Hi, good morning!” Elizabeth greeted me the second I showed up at the Academy entrance.
I just gave her a short nod and hauled my bags to a corner as far away as possible. I wasn't about to play "besties" before I’d even had my coffee. Soon, Gael and Teyam showed up, leaving us with one missing person: the Beta.
“Damn, Gael, you moving in?” Teyam asked, eyeing the mountain of at least five suitcases she’d brought.
“It’s a week, Teyam. Use your brain,” she snapped, giving his single, sad-looking duffel bag a kick. “I actually plan on changing my clothes. I bet you’ll be wearing the same pair of underwear for seven days straight.”
“How’d you know?” he asked with a smirk. Gael looked like she was about to gag.
Those two were basically at each other's throats during the entire competition, and honestly, the only reason they weren't screaming now was probably because they didn't want to upset "sweet" Elizabeth.
I checked my phone. 9:30. Tristan was officially late.
I was just about to start complaining when a white van pulled up. I stepped back instinctively—in the city, white vans usually meant you were about to be abducted. But then the door slid open and Tristan stepped out, looking way too smug for someone who just kept a group of people waiting in the sun.
“Sorry, sorry. I got held back by my kids,” he said, though he didn't sound sorry at all. “One is a handful, but three? It’s a circus.”
He didn't look sorry at all. He started loading our bags into the back, and soon enough, we were finally on the highway.
Tristan was driving, and thankfully, he actually had decent taste in music. Some R&B was pulsing through the speakers, and he was humming along like he didn't have a care in the world.
Teyam snagged the passenger seat, I took the first row, and Gael and Elizabeth sat right behind me, whispering and giggling about something.
“Psst. Sienna,” Gael hissed, making me turn my head.
“What?”
She reached over the seat, handing me something while making sure the guys up front couldn't see. I looked down at my palm and nearly choked. It was a condom. XL.
I slammed my hand shut, glancing nervously at the rearview mirror to see if Tristan was watching. “Where did you even get this?” I whispered.
“Our pack isn't some group of uncultured swines, Sienna. Of course, we have condoms and lube,” she said. Her voice was harsh, but that was just Gael. She was even more ill-tempered than I was.
Then, she leaned in closer. “The Spring Pack is all about romance. You never know who you’ll meet there. Even you could score the Alpha, Elizabeth.”
I froze. My heart skipped a beat, while Elizabeth started stuttering. “G-Gael!”
“You realize we can hear every word you're saying, right?” Teyam called out, peeking over his shoulder. “A condom, seriously? Don’t corrupt Elizabeth, Gael. She’s way too innocent for your brand of crazy.”
Tristan let out a loud, barking laugh. “Well, she’s not wrong. It is a pack of romance. You’ll probably need more than a condom, though. Might want to pack some ointment too, since you’ll probably get wrecked. Right, Sienna?”
I froze again. My blood went cold. The way he said it—it didn't feel like a random joke. It sounded like he knew exactly what had happened in that room.
“How would I know that?” I snapped, rolling my eyes so hard it hurt. “And isn't that a little inappropriate coming from a Beta? You're supposed to be a role model.”
He just chuckled, unfazed. “We’re all adults here, aren’t we? And you’re healers. Don’t tell me you don’t make dirty jokes in class.”
“Most of the time,” Teyam added, laughing along.
He wasn't lying. You can’t get through a Health Sciences lecture without a few dirty jokes; it’s basically part of the curriculum. But Tristan’s comment about the "ointment" felt too specific. Too meaningful.
Screw it. He knows. But how?