Page 65 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Swan and I exchange a glance.

Who the hell is this Omega?

“Laurent is my friend too,” I say, carefully. “I’m Juliet, and this is my mentor, Swan.”

Swan sweeps a dramatic bow.

To my surprise, the Omega pulls himself to his feet and returns the bow with equal formality.

How does he pull off looking stylish and suddenly like our hot English professor when he does that?

“I’m Benedict. Delighted to meet you.” He clasps his hands behind his back, as if to avoid shaking our hands. “Laurent calls me Bec. If you’re his friends, does that mean you can call me that too?”

Confused, I reply, “Ehm, that’s up to you.”

“Is it? Well, I rather like the name Bec. So, you may call me that. Laurent is my only friend, and he says that people may like me more if I’m less formal. Apparently, people are here in America.”

His only friend?

My chest tightens, as sadness blooms through me.

Didn’t Benedict have any friends in England? Or is it simply that he’s been dragged here and forced to leave all of them behind?

He must be lonely. I hope that I can help him.

“Just be yourself,” Swan advises. “People will like you for who you are. And if the assholes don’t, then they weren’t worth knowing in the first place.”

I know that he’s thinking of Remington. That wound still hasn’t scarred over.

Benedict bends over to brush the dust off his trousers with a grimace like he’s trying to gain the time to process what Swan’s said. “Be myself… Well, that will never work. I’m a bad Omega.”

Pain surges through me.

Bad Omega.

It’s the worst thing that you can call an Omega. It shames and marks them, as much as being labeleddefectiveor aReject.

No Omega is bad.

No Omega is beyond redemption.

And every omega is worthy.

Next to me, Swan’s eyes are blazing like he’s ready to tear out every Alpha’s throat who’s made this incredible Omega feel like that.

Benedict isn’t young. He’s clearly lived a difficult life, before he’s arrived here.

It may be a long list.

“You’re not bad,” I reply, softly. “I hope that we can get to know each other well enough for me to prove that to you.”

Benedict’s shoulders stiffen. “You truly aren’t meant to be here. You’re not on my schedule. They’re always rather clear about my routine. They help me and they’re very particular. I don’t want to get my new friends in trouble because that’s wrong. But I’d have remembered, if I’d been scheduled to meet…” Benedict’s gaze raises to assess me. His cheeks tint a pretty pink. “…my soul mate.”

I gape at him.

Swan splutters with laughter. “He may be the anti-Rebel but he’s a charmer. Can we keep him?”

I glance at Swan, surprised.

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