Page 18 of Defiant Beta

Then I frown, confused when he spares me a passing glance on his way to the foils on the mat. I watch him, my confusion growing as he starts stuffing them into the wide black baskets.

He’s changed out of his fencing outfit and is now wearing black sweatpants and a black hoodie. I don’t know where he went after our lesson, but I can guess why he came back.

More humiliation.

I’m not about to turn my back on him for a second. “You’re not making me do it?”

He stuffs two more foils in the basket. “Nope.”

“And that other thing you said?”

His veiled accusation that I’m no omega.

He lifts his head, expression blank. “What other thing?”

I give him a searching look. So, he’s not mentioning it, and if he’s not mentioning it, I’m certainly not about to. “Nothing.”

He returns to collecting the foils from the mat.

I observe him for a bit longer, wanting to make sure that’s all he came back to do. When he doesn’t charge at me with a foil, I return to my practice.

“You’re favoring your right.”

I spin around, ready for an ambush I was too distracted to see coming.

He’s collecting the last of the foils and stuffing them into the baskets, head down.

“Excuse me?”

He darts a quick glance up at me. “You favor your right. It’s why I was able to knock the foil out of your hand so easily before, and it’s why you stumble every time you swing. You’re off balance.”

Hewaswatching me.

I scowl. “I don’t need your help. If you’re back to cause more humiliation…”

“I’ve told you what the problem is.” He gives me an indecipherable look. “Make of that information what you will.”

He bends his head.

I look at the foil in my hand. The information sounds right. Iamstumbling every time I swing.

I correct my stance and try again.

I feel steadier.

"Better," he says softly from behind me.

I try not to feel pleased at his approval. After the beating he gave me before, I don’t care what he thinks of me.

“Your footwork needs work, though.”

I swing around, scowling at him. I’d expected him to be focused on his task.

He’s standing with his arms folded, his head cocked, watching me. He does it so intently that I can’t believe I didn’t feel his stare.

“I can show you.”

My eyebrow rises. “You mean the way you showed me to the mat a million times before?”

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