Page 199 of Juliet & Her Romeos

We need Silvanus on board. Ambrose believes that he can beat Silvanus; I can sense his calm belief through the bond.

So far, he’s only been playing with him in this fight. He hasn’t even got warmed up yet, but Silvanus looks tired.

Silvanus looked tired, before he even climbed into the ring.

I’ve spent years needing to be independent of any Alpha, trusting myself and Swan to survive. But I’m in a bonded pack now.

It’s time that I trusted an Alpha as well.

I nod.

Ambrose’s shoulders relax. “Agreed. And if I win, then you listen to me.”

Silvanus smirks, swaggering across the ring toward Ambrose. “Is that all?”

Ambrose bares his teeth. “You listen to me, then you put aside the feud between the Cinders and the Romeos. You agree to work with me.”

Silvanus’ eyes widen, before he laughs. “You’re fucking with me.”

Silvanus launches himself at Ambrose.

Ambrose defends himself from Silvanus’ hook by shifting his weight and rolling out of it.

Unbalanced, Silvanus twirls around.

Ambrose stands still like he’s refusing to fight. “Do you take the bet? You win, you foster my pack. I win, then you end the feud, and we work together to my terms.”

Frustrated, Silvanus’ gaze darts to me once again, before he nods. “I’m winning.”

“You’re being knocked on your ass.” Ambrose’s pheromones become even more darkly dominant.

I whine, as my knees buckle.

Swan helps me to the floor. I kneel next to him.

All at once, in a savage flurry of jabs, Ambrose attacks.

I’ve never seen anyone move so fast. He’s like a blizzard. His blows are precise, coldly efficient, and deadly.

Silvanus yelps, stumbling backward. Ambrose follows, never letting up for a moment.

When Silvanus’ lip busts, blood covers his teeth. Another blow explodes across his eye, which starts to swell.

I wince.

From Ambrose’s expression, this looks therapeutic.

But Silvanus is still my cousin. I feel torn in two.

Silvanus desperately raises his gloves to cover his face

An upper cut to his chin makes him stagger backward, hitting the ropes. He lowers his gloves, when Ambrose punches him in the gut.

Silvanus looks dazed. His eyes are glassy.

Silvanus clumsily dodges, staggering back into the center of the ring.

Casually now, Ambrose follows him. He draws back his fist and lands a shattering right cross on Silvanus’ jaw.

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