Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Romeo Hall, Sanctum
I stretch lazily in the bronze sheets, pulling them up to my chin.
Morning light spills through the windows over Ambrose’s bedroom.
Our bedroom , as he called it last night.
I smile at the memory of the way that my men and I scrambled to take turns in the bathroom to shower and brush our teeth.
Vito left the door open as he showered, yelling that we could floss and clean our pretty Omega faces , while he soaped his pretty Alpha ass .
That led to Ambrose joining Vito in the shower and soaping his pretty Alpha ass for him…thoroughly.
Afterward, we tumbled into bed together, cuddling and spooning each other in a way that felt like we’d been doing it for a lifetime.
I’m becoming used to waking up in a warm, comfortable bed without my muscles aching from over practice, the welts of a cane, or terror that Dimitri may burst in.
I throw my arms out, luxuriating in this sensation for a moment longer.
Yesterday, Vito introduced Swan and me properly to his pride and joy, Grace.
The way that Vito talks about his motorcycle, it feels like we already have a baby in the family.
“In summer,” Vito patted the Harley’s seat, “I’ll take you riding with me by the coast. There’s no freedom like being on the back of a Harley on an open road.”
“Riding fast on a Harley…?” Swan says with a hopeful but dangerous glint in his eyes.
“I’ve created a monster,” Vito mutters, before grinning. “What other way is there to ride?”
In the afternoon, Ambrose bundled Benedict and me in woolen coats, which were at least three times as thick as the ones that I wore in the academy.
Then Benedict took my hand and led me out into the snowy garden.
The air was crisp and sharp. The snow crunched on each step, and I held tightly onto Benedict to stop myself from slipping.
On the icy paths rather than a stage, Benedict was the one who looked at home and surefooted, while I was like a new born foal.
Yet it felt incredible to be walking in such open space.
I haven’t been used to it for years.
The garden was vast and covered in rippling mounds of silvery-blue snow. It ran down to the forest, which sparkled under the cold sun.
My stomach swooped at the thought that the academy was just on the other side of the dense forest.
Benedict’s pure joy at being outside sang through the bond.
It was startling.
“Look,” Benedict whispered, pointing at a large bush, which was veiled in snow.
“Oh, a bush with berries.” I tried to sound excited. On the ranch, Silvanus did his best to teach me about trees and nature, but I was too busy cleaning on my hands and knees with my chores to pay much attention. “It’s a pretty red and green. Like you, Foxy.”
In fact, Benedict with his brunet curls and dressed in a sweeping forest green coat amongst the ice white snow, was more than pretty.
He looked like a mesmerizing fox fae.
My Foxy.
Benedict gave me a sideways look. “It’s Winterberry holly. You can tell by its elliptical leaves that have sharp toothed edges. Do you see the berries? They’re a favorite food source for robins, blue birds, and thrushes. Look more carefully.”
I peered at the bush.
A gray-brown bird with a bright red breast was hidden deeply inside the bush, pecking at the berries.
Benedict could spot the smaller details, in the same way that Ambrose was good at looking at the bigger picture.
Together, that made them quite the power couple.
“I see it.” I bounced on my toes.
“ Him ,” Benedict corrected. Then he turned to me, nuzzling my neck. Against the cold air, his breath felt even warmer. “Until Alpha saved me, I lived inside. I could only read about birds in books, or sometimes, if I was lucky, steal glimpses of them from a window. But in books, birds look flat. I had no idea how they moved, flew, or what they sounded like. I never knew that the music of their song could be more beautiful than any music I’d heard. More beautiful than my own.”
I scrunched up my nose. “I didn’t bother to listen to it, when I had the opportunity to on the ranch. You take things for granted, when you have freedom: birdsong and sunlight. You never think that one day they could be taken away. So, you don’t cherish them. I’m never going to do that again. I intend to appreciate every day, even the ones that suck, because I’m alive and I’m with my pack.”
Benedict looked concerned for a moment, glancing at me through his curls.
Then he drew away from me, stroking down his coat to soothe himself. “I told Alpha that I wished I didn’t sleep in so late. I wanted to hear the dawn chorus. But I can’t help how much I sleep. In England, throughout my entire life, I didn’t have anything to do but read and sleep. It’s a terrible habit that I’m trying to break. I don’t want to be a bad Omega anymore. The next day, however, Ambrose got up at five a.m. precisely and recorded the birds for me. Do you want to hear?”
Benedict slipped his phone out of his pocket, before switching it on. He held it up between us.
Our breaths froze to mists and mingled in the freezing air.
“Amby loves you,” I said. “That’s the proof you need that you’re a good Omega.”
Benedict needed facts. He took things literally.
Simply telling him that he was good might not work.
Benedict looked thoughtful, before he gave a soft smile. “I can’t read people’s faces. I don’t know what they’re thinking. What I like about Ambrose is that nobody can read him. He looks cold and hard. With him, things are simple. You don’t judge by what he looks like but what he does. It should be the same with everyone. And he gave me birdsong .”
When Benedict tapped his phone, a beautiful morning birdsong chorus sang out…like breath and life.
Together and united, two Omegas escaping our pasts, we stood in that frozen garden and listened to the song of freedom.
Now, I push myself to sit up in the bed, glancing around myself.
This is the first time that I’ve woken up in Romeo Hall alone.
Where is everybody?
It’s still early.
Vito and Ambrose are usually up at dawn, but Swan should still be here with me, and Benedict has to be winkled out of his weighted blankets at noon. Usually, with promises of coffee and cake.
Anxiety spikes through me.
I still have a lot of questions about the Romeos.
Why has Ambrose finally been able to return to Sanctum? Was it purely because his mom went to Paris?
Why was he sent away to England in the first place?
How was his face scarred?
Since he’s returned, even though he’s meant to be on mandatory bond leave, he’s been working in his study. Is his mom putting pressure on him or is he working on his own projects? Secret ones?
Plus, Vito has promised to reform certain aspects of the Romeo Ballet Company, but I can’t deny that Ambrose is still CEO of an oppressive institution.
I’m conflicted about his involvement.
Yet Ambrose’s mom is Head Alpha. By law, he must follow her orders.
Does he have any choice?
I glance around, before my lips curl into a smile.
Ambrose has left another note on the nightstand. This time, he’s decorated it with cartoon pictures of foxes in glass slippers dancing.
I laugh.
See, I need to judge Ambrose not by his cold looks but by what he does.
And what he does is leave me heart shaped love notes with doodled pictures of Cinderella foxes.
I have video conferences this morning, including with the Dance Master and Mr. Dimitri.
Spend this week relaxing. Enjoy getting to know Benedict and Vito.
Be happy.
Romeo, Romeo, Romeo!
Miss you already.
I clutch the note to my chest over my Soul Mark.
When I concentrate on Ambrose, I grit my teeth at the sharp distress that slashes through the bond.
What’s happening in these meetings?
My eyes narrow.
There are secrets here.
I still haven’t discovered what’s happened to Mom.
I should press Ambrose about Nova, but he’s been in England. He likely won’t know, and I’ll be putting him at risk from Olivia, if I push him to find out.
I know that if I ask him to, then he will.
I trust him in that.
I’ve learned with Swan that sometimes protecting protective men, means not immediately telling them when you’re hurt…or need their help.
Swan, Vito, and Ambrose, are similar in more ways than they’d like to admit: they have volatile, dangerous, and self-destructive streaks.
It makes them powerful, but if they burn down the world to protect me, then they could also burn themselves along with it.
I swing myself round on the bed, before slipping my feet into my fox slippers that are ranked next to it. My toes curl happily in the slippers’ softness. Then I snatch up my dressing gown from where I dropped it on the floor last night (Ambrose has become used to Vito’s messiness, and I’m reveling in no longer having rules to follow).
I shrug on my dressing gown, before strolling out of the bedroom in search of my mates.
It’s quiet in the long corridor of the mansion, but I can hear strange sounds from downstairs.
Cautiously, I edge down the sweeping staircase toward the raised voices and the roar of engines.
My brow furrows in confusion, as I cross the elegant foyer.
Finally, I push open the high, oak door that leads off from it on one side.
It’s the lounge, and one of the grandest rooms that I’ve been in.
The domed windows with violet drapes look out over the back stone terrace and gardens. The high ceiling is molded with roses around three chandeliers, which drip with blooming petals of light.
A roaring fire under a marble mantel crackles, making my eyes sting with blooming smoke.
The walls are a burned gold like the antique armchairs and couches.
There’s only one modern thing in the entire room: A giant television that’s attached to the far wall with a range of gaming consoles.
Sitting on the floor underneath and yelling loudly like their lives depend on the outcome of their game, are Vito and Swan.
They both look more casual this morning. Something about that pulls on my heart.
Swan is dressed in a gray polo neck and jeans. I’ve never seen him in comfortable clothes like this.
They suit him.
Next to him, Vito is wearing a scarlet sweater over leather pants.
The noise of the cars is loud, as they swerve around the imaginary racetrack, cheered by fictional crowds.
The two men’s gazes are intently fixed on the racing car game that they’re playing. They’re swerving and jostling each other as they play like they’re truly driving the cars.
Swan’s never played on a computer before. As Betas in the academy, you don’t play, you work.
I haven’t seen Swan this playful with anyone but me.
My eyes widen.
Play.
This is what Ambrose meant in his note.
Ambrose and Vito must have thought this out together. It wouldn’t surprise me if they have a list of experiences that they’re trying to give to Vito and me, as if they can make up for everything that we’ve missed out on.
I need to speak to Ambrose.
I don’t understand the guilt that’s tearing him apart. I can sense his agony through the bond.
I don’t need him to try and make up for everything. I simply need him .
Whatever his burden is, I want to share it with him.
“Would you look at that, Little Snake.” Swan smirks. “I’m about to beat your McLaren ass again.”
“How are you so good?” Vito tries to take a corner so fast in a last ditch attempt to overtake Swan that he spins off the track completely. “Fuck, I’m out. You’re a noob. You’ve never even picked up a controller but you’re playing that thing like my sweet honey plays the piano.”
It’s true.
I watch the fluid, artful way that Swan’s fingers dance over the controls.
“I’m a natural.” Swan races over the finish line, dropping the control and jumping to his feet to twirl into a bow. “A natural winner.”
“It’s co-ordination,” I explain from the doorway. “We’re taught about that, along with timing.”
“Don’t give away my secrets.” But Swan’s grinning as he stalks to the doorway and grabs my hand. He pulls me into the lounge. “You were sleeping too happily for me to wake. When did you do that, before we came to Romeo Hall? It’s better than pancakes to finally see you sleeping. They’ve got all these amazing games here. It’s incredible, JuJu. It feels like you’re really there. It’s like magic.”
“Morning.” Vito sprawls back, leaning on his hands. “Honey is being meanly hoarded by Ambrose. Something about important things to discuss together in the study blah blah . But you’re just in time to see our Beta beating my ass again.”
“I should have guessed that you loved racing games.” I settle on the floor next to Vito, as Swan slouches on the couch behind us.
Vito looks affronted. “This is Ambrose’s game. He’s obsessed with cars, in real life too. In fact, obsessed with all competitive, deadly shit. I’ve never beaten him in any game. It looks like I won’t defeat our Beta either. How about you give me a game?”
I cross my arms, trying not to smile. “Oh, I get it. The Omega walks in, and you think that you’ve scented easy prey?”
“You show him the true strength of Omegas, my Queen.” Swan pushes himself up from the sofa, before prowling to the other side of Vito and sitting behind him with his arms around his waist.
Seated like that, it’s as if Swan’s holding Vito as our prey .
My core throbs at that idea, and it’s impossible to miss in his tight trousers, how much it’s turning Vito on as well.
I snatch up the controller. “Omega vs Alpha. Let’s play.”
Vito nods, before quietly running through what the different buttons do for me.
A thrill of anticipation rushes through me.
“What does the winner get?” I ask.
“More like,” Swan turns Vito’s head by the chin to whisper roughly against his lips, “what’s the consequence to the loser?”
I like this game.
I’d never have felt safe to play like this with any other Alpha.
Swan winks at me, then looks significantly at Vito, as if to say that he’s caught him, and now I need to make my move.
I clench my hands around my controller.
I crave to have fun with this Alpha in the same way that I do with Swan.
When I crawl onto Vito’s lap, his espresso scented pheromones become thick with desire.
“The loser will be punished,” I murmur.
Vito’s neck flushes red.
I’m in charge here. This is my decision.
I never thought that would be possible.
“How?” Vito’s gaze is half-hooded.
I stare deeply into his blue eyes. “You’ll have to wait and see, since you’ll be losing.”
Vito gives a surprised laugh. “Confident, now that’s fucking sexy. Okay, gamer Omega. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
My lips quirk, but I don’t move from my spot on his lap.
It may be unfair to make Vito play while peering over my shoulder and being held tightly in place by Swan behind him, but I’m prepared to play dirty to win this.
I want to give Vito his delicious punishment.
He doesn’t seem to mind.
Instead, he kisses the back of my head. “Kinky gaming. This could catch on.”
“Good luck, JuJu,” Swan whispers. “You can do this.”
I hold my breath, as the countdown on the racing game begins, studying my Ferrari. Then I explode from the starting line.
Shit, this is tougher than I thought.
Vito overtakes me.
I struggle with remembering the buttons.
But then, it becomes easy.
It is all about co-ordination, muscle memory, and timing. I fall into the zone, concentrating as I would during a dance routine.
I swerve around a corner, overtaking Vito.
“Shit, how are you…?” Vito struggles to catch me up. “That’s… Come on this is…” He’s laughing, even as I zoom across the finishing line in front of him.
“And the Omega wins. The crowds go wild.” Vito cheers.
I’m vibrating with the buzz of winning.
I drop the controller, twisting on Vito’s lap to place my hands on his shoulders.
I did it.
I truly beat an Alpha.
Vito throws down his controller. “I give up.”
“What was that?” Swan’s voice is low and dangerous.
He pins Vito firmly in place.
“Jules wins.” Vito doesn’t seem at all unhappy about it. “I lose,” he adds, merrily.
I lean closer to Vito, and his breath hitches. “Now, take your punishment.”
“We did make a bet.”
I kiss him, slow and deep.
Swan holds Vito in place, making sure that he takes every moment of his sweet punishment.
Vito opens his mouth, begging for more and not less.
We kiss, until my lungs are burning, and all I can taste is vanilla espresso.
Then I release Vito from his punishment with a final lick across his lips.
Vito’s eyes are dazed. “Have I told you yet what a bad, bad , Alpha I am? I definitely deserve a lot more punishment. Daily. You should set up a rota so that you don’t forget.”
Swan chuckles. “We won’t. But if you deserve more now…”
Swan slides his hand to the front of Vito’s trousers and undoes the button. Vito takes a shuddering breath.
“I deserve it.” Vito winks at me.
I struggle to keep a straight face.
I knew that sex could be relaxed and playful like this with Swan. But I never guessed that it could be the same with an Alpha.
With Alphas like Dimitri, they made claiming sound painful and about giving up control.
Alphas like the Dance Master warned us dancers against it, as a terrible loss that would be like dying.
It’s clear that with the wrong Alpha, that’s exactly what it can be.
I’m so fucking lucky to have these pack bonds.
I slide off Vito’s lap to give Swan more room, and Swan wrenches Vito’s trousers and underwear down his thighs, revealing his gorgeous, tattooed cock, which is already at half-mast.
At the sight of it, I become wet.
I lick my lips, pushing my dressing gown off my shoulders.
Vito’s gaze is fixed intently on me. “Shouldn’t the winner claim the trophy…?”
Swan strokes up and down Vito’s cock with a twisting motion that makes him shiver. “It’s a gorgeous one. I know where my Queen should keep it.”
Swan fondles Vito’s balls, at the same time as jerking him faster.
Vito gasps. His cheeks pink.
He never looks away from me.
I push down my pajama pants, rubbing my fingers over my clit a few times. Electric sparks excite me at the touch.
I’m wet and ready.
When I dip my fingers in and out of my pussy a few times, Vito’s eyes dilate.
“You’ve earned this.” I raise my glistening, slick covered fingers to Vito’s lips.
It’s meant to sound like a punishment. This is role play.
But we all know that this is a reward.
Sensually, Vito licks my fingers clean.
I bite my lip at the way my skin tingles at the rasping sensation of his tongue and the worship in his eyes, while he does it.
“Now, let me show you what you deserve .” I raise myself up, before settling myself down, inch by inch, onto Vito’s cock.
It fits me perfectly, stretching and deep but not as giant as Ambrose’s cock.
It’s like Vito himself.
Beneath me, Vito is breathing fast. He’s struggling not to move, as I slowly sink onto him, held in place by Swan.
“Fuck.” Vito rests his forehead on my shoulder.
Tremors of pleasure run through him.
I rest my hands on his shoulders, meeting Swan’s gaze over his shoulder.
Then Swan kisses me. “Punish our Little Snake — hard .”
I rise up, before slamming down.
Vito whines.
Then I ride him, using the strength in my thighs from dancing. I clutch onto Vito’s shoulders, while kissing Swan.
It feels amazing.
I’m in control of my own pleasure.
Ecstasy is building up in me.
When I begin to slow down, Swan notices as he always has during exercise, and reaches around to rest his hands on my hips and help me to rise up and down to keep up the brutal pace.
Vito is shaking and growling, deep in his throat.
His sweaty hair hangs forward, as he’s used ruthlessly, yet his pleasure winds as strongly through the bond as mine does.
Delighted, I realize that as fated mates, if I concentrate hard enough, I can connect our pleasure. I reach for his in the bond, at the same time as I force myself to ride him even faster. Then I rest my hand over the glittering wolf Soul Mark on his chest and press down.
With a howl, we both come at the same time.
Vito’s eyes are blown wide at the orgasm that’s been wrenched from both him and through the bond.
I fall forward as well, trembling at the intensity of our new connection.
“Okay?” Swan checks.
Both Vito and I nod, shakily.
I’m too exhausted and sated to do more than allow Vito’s cock to slip from my pussy, before I collapse forward onto his lap. He loops his arms around my waist and rests his forehead tiredly against mine.
“I ordered a gaming morning,” Ambrose says frostily from the doorway. “But it appears that you arranged an orgy, Vito.”
“I lost the racing car game, sir.” Vito waves his hand in the air like it’s a white flag. “Losers get punished.”
“Then why aren’t you being spanked?”
Protectively, Swan lets go of Vito and launches himself to his feet to stand in front of both Vito and me. “You promised that you didn’t discipline your pack, Amby.”
Ambrose looks surprised and then hurt. “I was teasing.”
“It’s this whole bantering vibe that we have going on,” Vito explains. “I brat, he pretends to tame me; everyone’s a winner. Well, apart from me today because I suck at racing games.”
Swan’s expression gentles, before he prowls to Ambrose. “Come and join us then. All work and no play makes Amby a dull Alpha. How about I see if I can kick your ass? Vito boasts that you’re the reigning champion.”
“Do I get to punish you, if I win?” Ambrose arches his brow. “And in case it’s not clear, that was also teasing.”
Swan reaches up to smooth down the front of Ambrose’s tie, before tightening his hold on it. “You can punish me for hours…”
Ambrose’s amber eyes become molten, before he clears his throat. “Let go of my tie. You’re creasing the silk. I still have meetings to attend.”
Swan rolls his eyes. “Your loss.”
“It is.” When Ambrose’s expression becomes troubled, worry rushes through me. “I’ve just had a call from Mom. She knows that I’m here, but not about the bonding. Yet she only allowed me back from England to oversee the choosing of the principals, as well as the annual Rose vs Slipper Ballet Contest because she had to be in Paris with Laurent. If I lose that contest, she informed me that she’s going to send me back to England, permanently.”
“No,” I gasp.
I’m flooded with fear. I clasp more tightly onto Vito.
In England, Omegas have no rights.
Benedict is terrified of being sent back there. What would happen to Swan and me?
“I won’t let that happen,” Ambrose promises. “With Swan and you dancing, we’ll win. We must because if Mom also finds out that I’ve bonded without permission, it’s the only way to stop her punishing the entire pack. And she won’t be teasing or playacting. Her punishments are more brutal than you can imagine.”