Page 189 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Fast as a snake strike, Olivia leans forward and rests the tip of the blade on Ambrose’s cheek over his scar.

I forget how to breathe.

Ambrose’s breathing, however, speeds up, until his chest is rising and falling too rapidly.

“Amby, control yourself,” Laurent orders, more dominantly than I’ve heard any Omega speak. “Don’t. Move.”

Only Laurent could sound like that.

I don’t think that he’s shown this side of himself in front of his mom before.

He’s taking a hell of a risk for his brother.

Olivia arches her brow in thought but doesn’t look away from Ambrose.

With more self-discipline than I believed even Ambrose had, he takes a single deep breath, dragging himself back from the edge of panic attack and holding himself as still as a statue.

I glance out of the corner of my eye at the way that Swan is deliberately holding Benedict behind him.

Benedict is the one who has broken, unable to cope with so many sudden changes and shocks in a row.

When Benedict growls, Laurent launches himself over the back of the couch in a move that’s far more athletic than you’d guess an untrained elite like him was capable of (except, Swan’s secretly taught him dance for years). He then nuzzles Benedict in his arms, even though I know that touch is hard for him.

Laurent is whispering to Benedict in a calm tone.

Laurent looks like a beautiful, sweet model, but fuck, he’s the type of Omega who I’ve wished that I could be: dangerously calculating and collected.

Except, his sharpness is brittle…fragile.

“Stop,” Vito bares his teeth, looking like he’s ready to tear out Olivia’s throat. “Send me to the Alpha Center but don’t hurt your own son—”

“Tell your puppy to back off, unless you want me to make you even uglier,” Olivia says, icily.

I wince.

Bitch.

Ambrose is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met.

When Olivia nicks Ambrose’s cheek with a casual flick of her wrist, blood trickles down like a tear.

“Kneel.” Ambrose’s voice is tight. “Show our Head Alpha that my fated know what it means to be a Romeo.”

Vito’s expression lightens like he understands.

Our plan still stands.

Benedict relaxes.

This isn’t about Olivia. This is about supporting each other through this.

Vito drops to his knees. “I’m sorry. Alpha instincts took over to fight for my pack, yeah?”

Olivia inclines her head. “It’s good to see but so is your obedience.”

At last, she removes the blade from Ambrose’s cheek, and he slumps forward. Vito snatches hold of his hand, squeezing.

Ambrose’s eyes blaze. “May we leave now or are there other props that you’d like to test?”

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