Page 54 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Swan is eying the motorcycle excitedly.

Vito catches the look, and his chest puffs out with pride. “She’s awesome, huh? I don’t give a shit about most possessions but I saved for years to buy Grace.”

Swan wrinkles his nose. “Don’t tell me that you named her after your Omega.”

Vito pats the handles, comfortingly. “Actually, after my favorite album by Jeff Buckley. Music and this motorcycle are the two things that help me feel free.”

I swallow. “Like my dancing.”

Vito strolls back to his motorcycle and opens the latches on the clam-style saddlebag. “Then you should never stop. Freedom, however you can find it, is the most important thing to fight for. Well, that and family. But I believe in you. Whatever you want to achieve, I know that you can do it.”

“Alphasplaining,” Swan arches his brow. “Don’t you just love it? You have no fucking idea how we battle every day to survive. It must be a true warzone in your kitchen. Flour like grenades and terrifying bread knives. Scary shit.”

“Don’t disrespect bread knives. They can be deadly.” Just for a moment, Vito looks dangerous, before he turns back to his Harley. “Ta-da!” He pulls open the saddlebag to reveal pink boxes inside with a donut logo on them. My mouth is already watering from the waft of sweet and cinnamon scents from inside those boxes. Swan’s stomach rumbles. “These are from my bakery, the Dough Knot. Well, I may be overselling that. It’s also my Omega sister’s bakery.”

“Seriously?” I stare at him.

Whoever’s heard of an Omega running a business?

Yet Vito says it casually like it’s nothing out of the ordinary.

What the hell has been going on in the four years that I’ve been buried in this academy?

Did I miss an Omega revolution?

Swan exchanges a wild look with me like he’s just as excited but blown away by the thought.

“Okay, you caught me out. I was boasting before. You can’t blame an Alpha for wanting to make a good first impression.” Vito settles on the saddle of the Harley, pulling one of the pink boxes next to him. “Candy’s the real baker. She’s a creative genius. She creates new recipes, orders equipment, supplies, and ingredients. I mainly deal with the marketing, business, and bookkeeping side. Also, supply the pizza and movie nights for her entire pack, the Saints. But we’re a good team.”

Swan shoves himself to his feet with a twirl of his coat.

Disbelief is painted over his face. “And you helped an Omega, allowingherto take the lead over an Alpha…?”

“Why not, when she’s the one with the talent? When it makes her happy?”

Swan and I both freeze.

Vito says that like it’s simple.

Obvious.

It takes away my breath.

Swan looks like every Christmas wish from throughout his life has just popped into existence in front of him.

I didn’t know that they made Alphas like this.

Is Vito a liberal?

I don’t think that I’ve met one before.

I remember my uncle ranting about the dangers of liberal Alphas.

My pack are Traditional. So are the Romeos.

What the fuck is a liberal doing riding a motorcycle of all things into the academy?

The Alphas here are going to kick his ass.

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