Page 16 of Defiant Beta

“Um…”

His eyebrow arches. “Or did you want to sit this out with Ms. Huffman?”

My lips flatten. Maybe I shouldn’t take it as a criticism to be compared to the shallow Ms. Huffman, but I can’t help how I feel.

When he comes at me, it feels like less of a lesson and more of an attack.

He swings. I do the smart thing and duck. Someone laughs.

Mr. Tomaz motions me forward again. “You seem afraid.”

There’s a taunt in his voice that makes it easy to shake off my wariness. “Just getting my footing.” I roll my neck and hope I’m not making a mistake by not sitting this out.

“There are several offensive movements to win a point,” he explains.

“Okay. I’m ready to?—”

“The lunge.” He lunges toward me, and I yelp, throwing myself to the side before he can skewer me.

“Then there is the compound attack.” He comes at me with a series of strikes that make me squeal, back up, trip over my foot, and crash onto my ass.

Rubbing my sore ass, I look to Ms. Huffman. Not for a rescue, but I’m an omega here—a fake one, butstill. She should be protecting me from a teacher beating me up.

She’s on the floor with her eyes closed, head tilted back against the wall, and mouth half-open, snoring.

She might not sweat, but she sure knows how to drool.

“If this is too much for you…” Light green eyes taunt me through the fine mesh of his fencing mask.

Bristling, I scramble to my feet, fingers tightening around the hilt of my foil.

He puts me on my ass again.

And again.

And fuckingagain.

Ms. Huffman conveniently sleeps through my punishment as the other omegas watch with increasingly concerned expressions.

This isn’t a one-to-one lesson.

This is humiliation.

I snatch up my foil for the millionth time, wanting to smack this guy over the head with it.

Did I get out of bed on the wrong side this morning, or am I being paranoid in thinking I have two teachers out to get me?

My fingers tighten around the handle, and I prepare to run it through him. Will I go to jail for it? Probably. Will it be worth it? Abso-fucking-lutely.

A soft female cough pulls my gaze to the side of the mat.

Mr. Huffman is awake and back on her feet.

She raises her eyebrow at me. “Were you getting ready to charge him with that thing, Delilah?”

Why isnowthe time she decided to wake up?

“No. He…” His smirk silences me like nothing else could. I sound like a kid snitching to their parents. “Never mind.”

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