Page 106 of Juliet & Her Romeos

“But Vito’s mission is over,” I insist, “isn’t it? And the thing is, I’ve developed somebigfeelings for him. Plus, he’s my scent match.”

Ambrose paces in front of the fire. “Twoscent matches…?”

He growls, rumbling and deep enough to make the hairs rise on the back of my neck.

I battle not to drop to my knees in submission.

So, he’s even more possessive than Swan is.

“You’re not in competition with each other,” I rush to soothe him.

“But I am,” Ambrose snarls. “Vito will leave at the end of the two weeks. He’s only a temporary member. You’ll have to choose who to be with. I could lose my pack.”

“No.” Desperate, I rush across the lounge to grip Ambrose’s shoulders. “You’re not letting this family be broken up. Do you know how hard Swan and I fought to win you?”

Ambrose’s mouth opens and shuts like he has no idea what to say to that.

Whoops, I wasn’t meant to admit that we’d turned the tables and courtedhim.

Ambrose quirks his brow. “Go on.”

“You’re ours now, including Vito and Bec. I don’t care that you started off as fake to save us. You’ve been Swan and my fated mate, whether you believe it or not, since we were kids. And we’re both falling for the rest of your pack. And they’re falling for us. So, whatever you have to do to fight to keep this us all together, then do it.”

“Did I miss the memo, while I was in England, where Omegas now give orders to Alphas?”

I push myself onto tiptoes, simply because he’s so much taller than me. “Probably.”

Ambrose cups my cheek. “Juliet, if this was about fighting, then I would battle to the ends of the earth for you. But it’s aboutforcingmy will on others. And I would die, before I did that. In England, Omegas are forced by Alphas throughout their entire lives because they aren’t considered to have free will. Their parents make decisions on how and where they live, what they do, and who ruts with or bonds them. I won’t…can’t…be anything like that.”

Bile rises up my throat at the thought.

Benedict was raised in England.

Is that why he flinches?

“But you’re nothing like that,” I reply.

“Wouldn’t I be, if I bonded with you because of the reprehensible Ballet Bonding Night tradition?” Ambrose looks anguished, stroking my cheek like he’s actually comforting himself. “Mom did that to my Beta dad. She plucked the best dancer to become hers, bled him out, and fucking broke him. If she catches him dancing even at home, she makes him kneel for hours, until he whimpers in pain. Dad begged me once to never use the tradition. He told me that it feels like his soul has been stolen from his body. I feel like a fucking bastard that I broke that promise. I never wanted to be like Mom.”

He balls his free hand into a fist tightly enough to slice his palm with his nails.

“Amby,” I whisper, “you’re not your mom.”

“I’m not. I only used the tradition because I couldn’t think of a more effective way to free both Swan and you. I’ve spent four years plotting how to give you a rose on that stage. I want to bond with you so fucking much but not because you were selected like a pretty doll for entertainment.”

He slides his hand into my hair, tidying it back from my face.

My throat is dry.

There’s so much that I want to say, but I can tell that Ambrose is struggling to tell me something difficult and I need to give him time.

Finally, Ambrose pulls me closer by the hair, leaning down, until our gazes meet. “My family took you captive. They locked you up, and I can never make up for that. But I’ll spend the rest of my life trying, if you’ll have me. If you want to leave with Vito, after the contest in two weeks, then I’ll also understand. I just want you to be free, my Juliet. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. Free to choose and make your own decisions. I won’t drag you into the dark with me.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Romeo Hall, Sanctum

Iwon’t drag you into the dark with me…

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