Torn Between Tides

Chapter Twenty Six

"Hernandez has been really fast, especially for a freshman," Lou said, and the others nodded in agreement.

"Yep. He practices religiously too, he's a good kid. Has a great chance to be captain after Roman," Jeremy added.

"Someone's gotta carry on the legacy," Lou spoke.

"Legacy is a big word," Roman muttered.

"You've won more medals for Havenswood than each of its swimmers combined in history, dude. There's no other word but legend for you," Lou continued, "and what do legends leave? Legacies."

"Yeah, yeah whatever," Roman grunted, trying to seem modest. "Who's throwing the after-party this time?"

"I think Jo—"

"Aw, didn't know you boys are going to throw a party after we win." A familiar voice pitched in. All the eyes followed in its direction, and Roman couldn't help but groan as his gaze fell on Mitch Brookfield.

"The fuck are you doing here, Brookfield?" Trevor asked.

"What? You own the mall or something now?" Mitch retorted, and the werewolf rolled his eyes as he scoffed.

"You fucker," Jeremy muttered. "You only won that one time because you framed Roman. If you were a real man and athlete then you would play fair, even if that meant losing."

"Framed?" Mitch gasped as he shook his head. "I can't believe you're accusing me of cheating! I did have it on good authority that Roman was on 'roids. He does work at the hospital, doesn't he? Who knows, maybe he fudged the test results or something."

"Wow, the fucking audacity to—"

"It's okay, Trev," Roman finally spoke. He stood up, taking a step towards his rival as he stared down at him, his face devoid of any expression. "I don't care what you fucking do this time, Mitch. You're not going to keep me from participating. So pull all the tricks that you want, I'll be waiting for you at the finish line."

"We'll see about that," Mitch smirked, giving Roman one last look before turning around and leaving with his friends.

"It's official, there's no one I hate more than that asshole." Trevor whispered the latter half under his breath, though Roman heard it in bits and pieces, "if I tell Colt he's going to smash Bitchfield like a fucking bug."

"That's a little unnecessary," Roman said to his friend. "Besides he hasn't even done anything yet. If he does then we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

"He better not," Trevor huffed.

Trevor remembered being pissed when Roman was disqualified from participating the last time because of Mitch. But it was different now. He wasn't enraged simply because Roman was his friend and teammate, but he was also his Alpha's mate. That automatically led to a strong urge to want to protect him at all cost, as despite Roman being human— Trevor had already begun considering him a part of his pack.

"Aw, Trev is such a cutie when he's all red and angry," Lou said as he pinched the werewolf's cheek. "You're like an adorable baby Hulk."

"Don't call me cute and adorable. I'm too manly for that," Trevor retorted with a slight frown.

"Manly men can be cute and adorable too. Don't go spreading that toxic masculinity around me, kiddo," Lou spoke.

"I'm literally six months older than you," Trevor deadpanned. "And toxic masculinity? Excuse me but I'm very much in touch with my fem—"

Roman lost track of the conversation after that. He was just glad that Lou had managed to lighten up the mood as always.

Roman would be lying if he said he wasn't a little worried about Mitch causing trouble again. He might've challenged him in front of his face, but at the end of the day he was the mayor's son and had more power and connections than Roman did. Roman only had a little over a year left, and he wanted to participate in as many competitions as he could before he gave up swimming to work some dead end job in whichever town his brother decided they should move to next.