Page 74 of Juliet & Her Romeos

“We’re first.” Swan takes my hand and pulls me to the edge of the stage. His eyes flame with determination. “The fight begins.”

“To become principals.”

Swan grins at me. “For our new pack.”

I grin back. “To show everybody why we deserve this.”

Unexpectedly, Dimitri pushes through the dancers toward Swan and me. He towers over everybody in the tight space.

Frightened, the dancers part for him.

I stiffen, and Swan pushes me closer to the stage, in order to block Dimitri from reaching me.

Dimitri’s military neat ice white hair and beard are gelled down more than normal. His pale blue eyes blaze. He’s wearing an immaculate ivory suit.

“Here to wish me luck?” Swan asks, cockily.

Dimitri yanks Swan closer by the front of his costume, pretending that he’s only inspecting it. He uses the opportunity, however, to pat Swan down more roughly than needed.

Swan grimaces.

I ball my hands into fists.

Stop fucking touching him.

Then Dimitri raises his hand to threateningly rest it at Swan’s throat. He doesn’t tighten it. He doesn’t need to.

He’s making a point.

“I’m here to remind you of our deal.” Then Dimitri leans in and whispers, “Mom invited Mr. Romeo and his new pack to dinner last night. They’re not my type — trash who need to be sent to the Alpha Center to be trained and a dumb Rej who can’t talk properly — but they appear to behis. He spent the evening pampering and indulging them.”

“Wow,” Swan shakes his head, “what abastard.”

I desperately pretend my laugh is a cough.

Behind me, I hear Mary laugh without trying to hide it.

Dimitri’s expression darkens to a thundercloud. “He doesn’t know that a true Alpha needs to show strength and put his mates in their place. I learned that growing up.”

Dimitri tightens his hand threateningly around Swan’s throat.

I grit my teeth.

Swan’s arm has only just healed in time for this performance. If we have to go out there with his throat encircled with bruises, then we’ll have lost before we’ve danced a single step.

“Please,” I whisper, “we have a deal. Swan isn’t your Beta yet.”

He’s mine.

For a long moment, Dimitri only flexes his fingers. Then finally he lets go, patting the front of Swan’s uniform like he was merely helping him tidy it all along.

Swan resolutely doesn’t raise his own hands to rub at his neck.

Instead, he stares at Dimitri challengingly in a way that no Beta should.

It’s Dimitri who drops his gaze. “I’m trying to help you. I’m aware that a ridiculous rumor has run riot through the company that this Christmas Eve will also be a Ballet Bonding Night. But it’s false. I’ve met Mr. Romeo’s mates and he already has his hands full. He’s clearly in love. Why would he choose to select an enemy Omega and a low status Beta?”

Swan and I both wince.

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