Now we're getting somewhere. "Team gossip? I'm your man." I downshift as we approach a stop sign. "Let's see. Bo's the motherhen, despite the muscles and the drawl. Looks like he could snap you in half but actually stress-bakes cookies before big races."
"Really?"
"Don't tell him I told you. He'd deny it to his grave." I turn onto the lake road. "Beckett uses humor as a shield. Smarter than he lets on. Tyler's the actual genius – dual major, perfect GPA, family expects him to take over their tech company someday."
"And Jackson?" she asks. "He barely speaks."
I hesitate. "Jackson's... complicated. Had a bad experience with an Omega his freshman year. Some kind of bond gone wrong. He doesn't talk about it, but he's been wary of new people ever since."
Her fingers tighten around the strap of her bag. "What about Eli? And Cameron?"
"Eli's our strategist. Analytical to a fault. Would chart his bowel movements if he thought it would improve his performance." I pull into the boathouse parking lot. "And Cameron... well, nobody really knows Cam's deal. He showed up at tryouts freshman year, rowed like he was being chased, and barely speaks unless necessary. Total enigma."
"Sounds like a fun group."
"We're a mess," I admit cheerfully. "But we row well together."
I park next to Gray's Range Rover, noticing the captain's shoulders tense when he spots Reese in my passenger seat. Territorial bastard that he is.
"Thanks for the ride," Reese says, gathering her things.
"Anytime, Cox." I pause before she exits. "Hey, just so you know… this team sticks together. Whatever's going on, we're solid."
She looks at me, her expression guarded.
"I don't—"
"No need to explain. Just letting you know."
For a moment, something softer crosses her face. Then she's back to business mode, shoulders straight.
"See you on the water, Hollis."
She exits the Jeep and heads toward the boathouse, her small figure straight-backed and determined. Gray watches her approach, his face impassive but his scent spiking with something other than his normal irritation. Something almost… warm.
I grab my own gear, thinking about what I've observed. The scentless room. The hidden medication. How she keeps her distance from everyone. The way she's always scanning like she's expecting trouble.
Beta females have scents, mild compared to Omegas, but definitely there. Reese smells like nothing at all.
I joke around a lot, but I pay attention. And something about Reese Callahan isn't adding up.
As I join the team for warm-ups, I notice how she circles around Jackson, our most scent-sensitive teammate. She keeps more space between them than anyone else.
Interesting.
Reese Callahan has her reasons for being here, and I doubt they're just about rowing. Whatever she's hiding, it'll come out eventually. Teams this close can't keep secrets for long.
chapter SEVEN
Jackson
Something's off abouther scent.
I can smell it, or rather, I can't smell it. The moment Callahan steps onto the dock for afternoon practice, my irritation spikes. Everything about her reads Beta on the surface, but there's something unnatural in her lack of scent. Too clean. Too neutral. Like a scent deliberately wiped away.
The thought nags at me as I set up my blade, keeping my head down, focusing on the familiar routine. Muscle memory. Safe. Predictable. Everything this new coxswain isn't.
"Reed." Gray's voice cuts through my thoughts. Our captain stands nearby, his own oar balanced perfectly against his shoulder. Always perfect. "You're quiet today."
