Page 183 of Juliet & Her Romeos

But I have a new family who need my support and focus.

I don’t imagine that Olivia is the kind of Head Alpha who accepts anything but immaculate Omegas.

I rush across the library. “Can I fix these?”

I point at Benedict’s buttons.

He nods.

Carefully, I do up his buttons, and he rubs his cheek against mine, enjoying the closeness.

His scent becomes sweeter.

Swan swaggers to join us, carding his fingers soothingly through Benedict’s curls at the same time tidying him.

At last, Benedict looks presentable.

“Okay?” I ask.

Benedict hunches his shoulders. “The Head Alpha doesn’t like me. I expect her harshness. But my fear is that our plans were based on her not returning for a couple of weeks. She is trying to catch out Ambrose and she will be furious about his bonding without permission.”

My blood freezes. “How do we play this?”

I’m about to face a murderer.

Someone who was complicit in my mom’s murder.

Who wouldn’t think twice about killing her own son to protect her company’s reputation.

I’m in more danger than I’ve ever been.

We all are.

Swan appears to know it, slipping his arm around my shoulders, as well as Benedict’s. “We’ve got a long game here because I want to take down the whole fucking lot of them. So, we let her play her little games and think that she has the upper hand still. By law, the Head Alpha has the authority. She doesn’t know that the secret is out. Ambrose isn’t alone against her anymore. These elite bitches think that they run the world. I say, let them. Until the moment that we’re ready to strike.”

Benedict glances out of the corner of his eye at Swan. “Ambrose should let you plot with us.”

Swan smirks. “He should.”

“But what if she hurts…” Benedict nuzzles against me. “She hurts me, after all.”

“She can hurt me. My bet is that Ambrose and Vito think the same. But I won’t let her hurt either of you,” Swan snarls.

“You will.” My gaze becomes determined. “If we have one shot at convincing her that we’re not a threat, then we take it. This is for Mom, Felix, ourselves, and every dancer in academies and companies across the globe. Hell, this is for every Omega and Beta without a voice. If we can endure just a couple of days more, then we can work together this time to change things for everybody.”

This time, Swan and Benedict give adamant nods.

Then we take each other’s hands, as we march together out of the library, down the grand, marble staircase and toward the lounge.

For the first time since yesterday, I’m not numb.

I’m scared but resolute.

I can feel it wind around the other men in the bond, settling over their distress, which has been unsettled in the background for the last hour, beneath my fogged grief that has muted them.

I push open the lounge door, keeping my chin tilted up, as we step into the lounge together.

The cold morning light shines through the high windows and gleams on the lounge’s marble and golds, highlighting the antique vases and mirrors. Satin ribbons dangle from the central chandelier.

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