Page 44 of Knot What She Seems
“You abandoned me. It’s a fair payback. Now, where are you going?” she asks.
Caught, I tell the truth. “Kickboxing class.”
Her eyes widen, mascara-coated lashes blinking in shock because my response is very un-omega. “Really?”
“Yeah. It’s all betas, so I figured, why not? Before I’m chained to a recipe book for the rest of my existence, I thought I’d try out pretending to be a badass.”
One of those little snorts fights its way up her nose again—seemingly against her will because she’s still mostly stiff and serious.
“Wanna come?” I ask, immediately feeling ridiculous and vulnerable for asking. I’m not supposed to be including anyone in this plan of mine. But she looks hurt and alone…and hitting things is supposed to be a rage-purging exercise…right?
Her eyebrows fly up. Her eyes blink a moment in disbelief. But then my supermodel suitemate surprises me.
“Yeah. Thanks. That sounds fun.”
And it is.
So much fun.
An hour of horribly humiliating kicks, grunting punches, sweaty foreheads, and eighties music later, we sneak back to the dorms and we’re full of giggles and inside jokes about Tight-Shorts Tim, our instructor.
It’s one of the best afternoons of my life.
Of course, that means everything turns to shit right after.
15
LUKA
The black coffeeburns the back of my throat as I chug it down, making sure to catch every last drop.
I’m not like Kylian, who requires an ample amount of sunlight to evenbegingetting out of bed, but I’m also not a morning bird like Ridge.
And while being “demoted” to instructors is humiliating, I do appreciate having a tight schedule to follow.
Today, I only have one class—Offensive Training.
Since the weather is moderate today, we chose to have the class outside. Dark clouds skid across the sky, blotting out the sun. A sudden burst of wind sends a chill throughout the clearing, but the students know better than to visibly react to the cold. They’re training to be the best of the best, the strongest warriors, the most capable protectors of not only their chosen mates but the country as a whole. If they can’t handle a little wind, then what the fuck are they doing here?
I set my to-go mug on the edge of the broken fountain—an intricate monstrosity displaying the three heads of Cerberus, all three of his faces bared in a snarl—and assess the awaiting alphas…and one beta, if you count Sam, whose parents bought him a place here.
I allow my gaze to linger on Teddie a second longer than the others. What an ungrateful, pretentious, stuck-up punk. How dare he try to fire my team. Just who the fuck does he think he is? His position as the crowned prince means nothing to me and the others here. Does he expect to always have his mommy and daddy at his beck and call? What does this mean for our country as a whole if our fearless leader isn’t even able to fight his own battles?
It also doesn’t help matters that he appears incredibly unkempt. Would it kill him to brush his damn hair? Or find clothing that doesn’t swallow his frame?
An intense surge of loathing pulsates through me.
“Eyes on me!” Ridge snaps at the students. He stands near the edge of the clearing, his hands clasped behind his back and his chin hefted imperiously in the air. There’s nothing pretty boy about him right now while his commander’s sneer is in place. “Today’s your first day of Offensive Training. Does anyone know what that means?”
Sam—the beta—tentatively lifts his hand in the air. “That you’re teaching us how to attack first?”
Ridge gives the smaller man a sardonic look. All he needs to do next is slow-clap to really make Sam feel like an idiot. “Congratulations. You know what the wordoffensivemeans.”
Sam’s cheeks redden. Beside him, Teddie’s lips purse as if he wants to say something. A part of me wishes he would, if only so I can put the prick in his place.
“But what is thepointof this training?” Ridge continues, beginning to pace. “Wouldn’t it be easier to have a class encompassing all types of combat, both offensive and defensive?”
“Because defensive is synonymous with reactive. You don’t have time to think or plan. But when you’re on the offensive, everything comes down to strategy. The side with the best plan will ultimately win.”
