Page 159 of Juliet & Her Romeos

“Less romantic.” I try to look round at Swan, but he kisses my neck to stop me. “What are you plotting?”

Swan opens the back door, however, and gently pushes me outside into the cold night. “Have fun.”

“Hey.” I twirl around, but Swan’s already slammed the thick, oak door shut. I still shout through it. “How are you spending New Year’s?”

Swan and I have always stayed up to midnight together in the academy, trying to make as much of a party out of the evening as we could by ourselves.

The thing that I missed most was fireworks.

On the Cinders ranch, every pack member, as well as the dancers, would be invited to a party each year. It would end with a breathtaking display of fireworks like exploding stars.

One New Year’s Eve, Swan stole Dimitri’s soda stash for us. Another time, his iPod, so that we could dance to his embarrassingly large collection of songs by boy bands that were uploaded onto it.

Swan’s punishment the next day for taking the iPod was so severe that I tried to make him promise to never steal again.

I failed.

“Worth it,” was all Swan murmured through bloodied teeth.

“I’m spending it with Bec,” Swan replied through the back door. “He’s not feeling up to a party. I’ve promised to join him in his nest in the library. I have beers, popcorn, and a comedy movie set up for us to watch. I’m looking forward to quietly ringing in the New Year with him and then kissing the fuck out of him at midnight.”

I blink.

Then what am I doing out here?

Have fun?

It’s Friday night now and this last week has been both a mix of pleasure and work.

In fact, that suits both Swan and me perfectly.

I’ve labored for most of my life. I couldn’t become an elite Omega, who lays around in a nest the entire day, doing nothing but being pampered and coddled.

I need to prove myself.

I love to dance and more than anything, I need to use my skill as the principal to save my pack.

This last week, I’ve fallen into new rituals with these men, which are becoming familiar: Ambrose’s heart shaped notes on the nightstand, Vito’s freshly baked pastries for breakfast, waking Benedict up at noon with coffee and then helping him to dress because otherwise, he forgets the order of his buttons.

The small moments make me the happiest.

The way that Ambrose’s gaze softens every time that it settles on Benedict, the lively debates between Vito and Swan on everything from pancake toppings to indie bands, and how Benedict licks across every one of my bond bites in turn each evening.

Yet Olivia’s phone call has been like a cloud over us.

This calm that we’ve found and carved out together can’t last.

We’re in the eye of the storm, and the hurricane will hit us.

Ambrose knows it as much as I do. It’s why he had a barre fitted on the side of his bedroom, which is kitted out as a gym.

Swan launched himself into Ambrose’s arms, when he saw it. “You want us to practice.”

Ambrose patted Swan on the back, awkwardly. “I knew that you were dedicated. But I didn’t suspect that you’d be close to sucking my dick over the offer to train.”

“Is that a request? It’s better than an order. I always want to suck your gorgeous cock, Amby. But I’ve missed dancing. And a part of me…”

I knew what he meant.

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