Page 31 of Knot What She Seems
Resentment gives the back of my mouth a sour flavor, but the thought of my mother’s betrayal only solidifies my decision to keep my parents out of the loop for this plan. Teddie is too important to risk.
“Yes, it’smewho’s stupid.” I agree, the fire in my tone lacing with disdain. I don’t point out that his team was clearly pulled from the battlefield and dumped here out of the way at Eros. But I don’t have to. Luka seems quite capable of following my implication. His teeth gnash together as he jerks his head at his puppet.
“Again.”
I raise my arms to block, but it does no good. Antonio’s reach is so long that I can’t do anything to stop him. The next punch to the gut rearranges my organs, and when I sputter out a cough, I’m shocked that droplets of blood don’t spray from my lips. The pain is so intense that my eyes want to water, but I blink hard, refusing to let anything resembling tears creep onto my face.
Blowing out careful, steady breaths to restore my calm, I glance at the clock. Thirty more minutes. Just thirty more.
My shoulders ache when I pull my fists up in the ready position. My stomach is probably a giant bruise. If face hits were allowed, I don’t know what I’d do. I’d have to tell the professors over at Darling that I fell down a flight of stairs. I suppose it’s a small mercy that we’re only supposed to try for body shots and this “guy” suit helps absorb some of the impact.
Every breath I take, I tell myself that it’s almost over. That I’m counting down. That this class will end soon. I absolutely refuse to think about the future beyond that or acknowledge the fact that I’ll have to be right back here in this torture chamber next week.
“Princeling’s never been in a fight before, huh?” Luka scoffs as he hovers nearby, as though degenerate behavior is something to be proud of.
“Why would I be in a fight? It’s not like there are Noths roaming the streets,” I retort, tired of his constant harassment. And then, that same impulsive whim that made me volunteer to take Teddie’s place takes control of my lips. I find myself saying, “And normally, I don’t waste my time on base bastards like you.”
That’s a mistake. The alpha immediately marches forward until we’re chest to chest.
I’m in the fighting fatigues that Eros requires—an all-black getup that I’ve supplemented with a full-length undershirt despite the warmer weather. He, on the other hand, looks dressed for the beach in a white collared shirt and board shorts. But the way he grabs my collar and yanks me forward until I’m nearly dangling from his fist is anything but casual.
I might not know how to punch, but my words definitely hit their mark.
His scent drifts over me and sends me into a daze even as my muscles throb with pain and anger pulses in my chest. He’s got a disgustingly clean, fresh scent that reminds me of a warm blanket just out of the dryer.
My mouth gapes slightly in response, omega instincts tickling up my spine.
No!
I want to hate his scent like I hate him.
“I’m surprised you haven’t been in a fight because you’re such a little prick,” he comments before dropping me and watching me stumble backward, disgust stamped across his features. “Antonio, go join that group over there. The little prince here doesn’t even know what to do when someone’s trying to choke him.”
I watch with panicked regret as the man who’s been pummeling me for the last hour turns and retreats, because I know whatever is about to happen now is going to be far worse.
Luka squares off with me, his deep brown gaze withering under his arched brows. “Grab my neck,” he orders.
My mouth dries out. Trepidation shoves the marrow from my bones and replaces it until the tremble running through me feels like it’s bone-deep.
I really don’t want to do this.
But I have no choice.
I poked the bear.
So, I try to lock out my fingers and keep them still as I reach up and slowly clasp them around the Adam’s apple of the professor in front of me. Immediately, the position feels intimate to me because his pulse thrums beneath my fingertips. Because the skin of his neck is soft while the slight scruff of his beard drags across the upper part of my hand. Because it’s been a very long time since I’ve actually touched another person outside of my tiny circle.
The fluorescent lights in the gym seem to shine brighter behind him, and I automatically breathe deeper, trying to pull more of his scent into my lungs. The urge to step all the way into him and press my body against his is as unconsciously innate as my own heartbeat—something outside of my control.
But, while the urge is there, I can fight against it.
I can’t nestle up to Professor Luka while I’m Teddie.
And I won’t ever nestle up to him.
Not to any alpha, but most definitely not to this asshole.
My fingers tighten as my resentment over my own instincts strengthens.
