Page 124 of Juliet & Her Romeos

When Vito reluctantly looks like he’s readying to push himself out of the nest, Swan tightens his hold on his hair.

“You’re not going anywhere, Little Snake,” Swan growls. “You’re our Alpha too.”

Ambrose’s expression becomes shuttered. “He may not have told you the truth but—”

“He has.” Swan looks like he’s trying very hard not to snarl for my sake. Finally, he loosens his hold on Vito’s hair, smoothing it down with a stroke. “He’s spent the afternoon explaining.Youmay be fostering him, but nothing is fake about the way that JuJu and I feel about him. If you told the truth, you’d accept that you feel the same way as well. My Queen, all that matters is whether you want Viper to stay.”

I hold out my hand to Vito. “Alpha, don’t leave me.”

Vito’s face lights up.

He scrambles to reach for my hand, entangling our fingers. “Never, my Omega.”

I’m certain that a look of relief flashes across Ambrose’s expression, before he can hide it.

Ambrose coughs. “What an Omega in heat wants, they get.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’ve screwed up our first Christmas, haven’t I? You had this amazing Christmas lunch planned. Plus, present giving and—”

“Pfft,” Vito squeezes my hand, “that can happen any year. This is your first heat. It’s the most awesome gift. It’s the best Christmas of my life because I’m part of a pack. I’m honored that you’ve selected me to help you through this heat.”

Swan grins. “See? Last night, an Alpha selected you, but now, an Omega has the power to selectherAlphas. I love a good role reversal.”

I shudder, sinking even further into my heat. Voices are sounding muffled like I have cotton wool in my ears.

It’s becoming harder to concentrate.

Think.

Speak.

“How am I in heat?” I struggle to force out.

Ambrose pushes himself to his feet, pacing back and forth across the shadowy library. “I don’t need a doctor to tell me the answer. When I was in England, I toured the neighboring country, Scotland, which is a rare Omegaocracy. Alphas are warriors there but only in the service of their Omegas. There’s even an Omega King. So, they have Omega ballet dancers. I became close to the artistic director and learned much about the best way to run it for dynamics besides Betas. One of the dangers was too intense training, which could damage or delay heats.”

My skin feels clammy. My eyes burn.

I can’t imagine a country like Scotland or ballet companies where everyone is like me.

It hurts to think that my heats were delayed because no concern was paid to my dynamic, or as Katerina would put it,accessibility adjustments.

“But JuJu is having a heat now,” Swan says, cautiously. “She’ll be okay.”

Ambrose doesn’t answer.

Benedict abandons his nest building to wrap his arms around me.

“Please, Alpha.” I bury my face in Ambrose’s jersey. “I hate secrets more than storms. Even if it’s frightening, I’d prefer to know the truth.”

“Would you?” Ambrose turns to face me. He looks tired and haunted. “Isn’t that just a lie that people say?”

“Not me.”

“Brave Omega.” Vito tightens his hold on my hand.

“When Omegas with delayed heats from over training finally have them,” Ambrose says through clenched teeth, “the heats are intense. They hit with a vengeance. Most end in death.”

Death?

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