Page 16 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Only, the difference is that it’s clearly an obsession. And it’s one-sided.

Not only was that the least romantic bonding offer ever, does Dimitri think that his brand of bullying is courting?

I fucking blame the bully romances that Dimitri reads.

Swan looks as shocked as I am.

He’smyBeta.

The thought that Swan could be taken into Dimitri’s pack, having Katerina as his Head Alpha, makes me shake.

We’d truly lose each other then.

Andthatwould be hell for us both.

Swan tilts up his chin, taking a step away from Dimitri and toward me. I push myself away from the wall to stand at his shoulder.

“Generous offer,” Swan replies, “but I refuse.”

Dimitri looks stunned like it’s never crossed his mind that he could be rejected.

He storms toward Swan, raising his hand, as if to backhand him.

Swan doesn’t flinch.

Then Dimitri draws in a deep breath like it’s a struggle for him to calm down, before slowly lowering his hand and balling it into a fist. “You don’t get to refuse. Who the fuck are you? Trash that should be kissing my feet that an Alpha of my status has even looked at you twice. This company fucking owns you.Owns both of you.”

“Try and force me,” Swan growls, “and I’ll bite your cock off.”

Dimitri smiles, thinly. “But that’s what made me fall for you. I could make any of the simpering Betas, who fawn over me in class, bend over for me. I love your temper and passion. I don’t want to break you. But I will tame you.”

“Good fucking luck.” Swan’s lips curl up, baring his canines. “You know, I can’t bond with you anyway because you’re a Virgo and I’m a Sagittarius. It just wouldn’t work out.”

I smother my laugh against Swan’s shoulder, nuzzling his neck. He leans back against me, melting into my touch.

Dimitri’s nostrils flare. “One word is all it’ll take. I tell Mom about seeing you out of dorm late at night — kissing — and what do you think she’ll do? She’s stricter than I am about liaisons between dancers. She’ll make an example out of you. My guess is that she’ll send you to Siberia. Do you know the horror stories of how Beta dancers are treated there? I do. And your precious Omega will be sent to the Omega Institute to be retrained and sold.”

I whimper in terror.

Swan turns, wrapping his arms around me like he can protect me from those horrors.

He can’t.

And how can I save him?

My pulse is roaring in my ears. I entwine my arms just as tightly around Swan, as he’s holding onto me.

I wish that we were lost in our dance, where nobody could touch us.

“We’re going to win and become principals,” I say, loudly.

Fuck you.

It’s what I want to add but can’t.

“And if you don’t, Swan will bond with me.” Dimitri hooks his thumbs into his leather belt. “Now, tell me that you’re honored to accept my promise of a bond. And mean it.”

Swan looks down at me, helplessly.

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