Page 24 of Knot Your Romeo

“There’s a bathroom just through that door,” I tell her. “Take your time.”

When she emerges a few minutes later, she’s stopped dripping, but her clothes are still damp and her hair hangs in wet tangles around her face. She looks young and lost and utterly defeated.

“Sit,” I say gently, gesturing to the comfortable chair across from my desk. “I’ll make some tea.”

“Please,” she says quietly. “I just want to go home.”

“Of course.” I stand slowly, keeping my movements non-threatening. “But let me drive you. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

She protests, but I can see the exhaustion in her posture, the way she’s holding herself together through sheer willpower.

“My mother will be worried when she sees me.”

“I’ll explain,” I promise.

Something seems to break her resolve. Fresh tears spill down her cheeks, and she nods wordlessly.

The drive to Silvercrest Manor is quiet except for Jolie’s occasional sniffles and the soft classical music I play to help calm her.

My mind is racing, putting together pieces of a puzzle that become more disturbing with each connection. Romeo’s aggressive interest in Jolie. His confrontation with Cerise. The way he’s been prowling campus all day like a predator denied his prey. And now this. His girlfriend attacked Jolie in a way designed to destroy her appearance, to mark her as damaged goods.

When we reach the estate, I turn to Jolie. "Should I speak to your mother?"

“No, it's unnecessary,” she says as I park near the cottage. “And thank you. For everything.”

“Jolie,” I say carefully, “if you need someone to talk to, someone who understands what it’s like to be an Omega in a complicated situation, my office hours are posted on my door. Or you can call me anytime.”

She looks at me with those expressive amber eyes, and I can see her weighing whether to trust me and then she whispers, “You’re an Omega?”

I nod. “I take suppressants to neutralize my scent. Most people think I’m a Beta and I prefer it that way.”

“Why?”

“The same reason you are,” I tell her. “To hide.” I can’t tell her I’m hiding from more than an Alpha scenting me and thinking I am theirs. I can’t tell anyone how rare I am.

“It’s hard,” she mumbles, and I know I don’t have to ask her to keep quiet about my status. “Always looking over your shoulder.”

“It is.” Her words tell me more about her fears than any direct confession could. “But remember. Power without choice is just biology. What makes a relationship meaningful is the decision to build something together, not just the chemical pull. I don’t know what is happening between you and Romeo, but you can say no.”

She nods slowly, processing this. “I know that’s what you said in class, about always having choices...but do you really believe that?”

“I do,” I say firmly. “No matter how strong the biological pull, no matter what anyone tells you about destiny or fate, you always have the right to choose what happens to your body and your life.”

“Even if saying no makes everything harder?”

“Especially then.” I turn to face her fully. “The right choice isn’t always the straightforward choice, Jolie. But it’s always worth fighting for.”

She gets out of the car without another word, but I see her shoulders straighten slightly as she walks toward the cottage. It’s not much, but it’s something.

When I return to campus, I head straight to the administrative office. Principal Morrison looks up from her paperwork as I knock on her open door.

“Jude,” she says, gesturing for me to sit. “How did things go with Miss Masters?”

“Not well,” I admit. “She was attacked today. Cerise Hamilton and two other cheerleaders dumped water on her in the hallway. Public humiliation, and clearly targeted at her.”

Morrison’s expression darkens. “Was this reported through proper channels?”

“I’m reporting it now. And she needs some counseling support. That girl is petrified of something. I’d also like permission to provide additional academic help, because she’s bright, but she’s also struggling with the change.”

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