Page 19 of Knot Your Romeo

Because tonight, I know I can’t forget the way Romeo looked at Cerise like she was his entire world…

Not me.

8

Eli

The night air carriesa scent that doesn’t belong among the carefully cultivated roses of Silver Manor. Something wild, honeyed, with notes I’ve never encountered before. I pause in my evening garden rounds, my gun still in my hand, and breathe deeper.

Omega.But not just any Omega.

The scent is layered, complex in a way that makes my Alpha instincts surge with interest despite myself. There’s the expected sweetness, yes, but underneath—something like sunshine breaking through storm clouds, warm and golden and utterly unique. It’s the kind of scent that could drive lesser Alphas to madness, the kind that wars are fought over.

And it’s laced with fear.

I holster my weapon and follow the trail through the moonlit garden, past the marble fountain where my brother and I used to play as children, toward the wooded area that borders theeastern edge of the property. The voices reach me before I see them—Romeo’s aggressive tone, sharp with dominance and frustration, followed by a female voice I don’t recognize.

Something protective stirs in my chest. Whatever’s happening in those shadows, my instincts scream that it’s unacceptable.

I quicken my pace, pulling out my flashlight and letting the beam cut through the darkness as I call out, “Romeo? Are you out here?”

The voices stop abruptly, the sudden silence more ominous than the arguing had been. When I round the copse of pine trees, the scene before me makes my blood run cold. Romeo stands with predatory stillness, his posture screaming barely leashed aggression. His scent is spiked with arousal and possession, the dangerous combination that precedes an Alpha’s rut or worse, a claiming.

In front of him, a young woman leans against a tree trunk, her slight frame dwarfed by the massive tree. Her eyes are wide and her scent now smells like fear, but there is also a look of defiance on her face that reminds me of a cornered animal preparing to fight despite hopeless odds. She was the source of that intoxicating scent. And from the way Romeo has positioned himself between her and any escape route, he knows exactly what kind of prize he’s cornered.

I call his name once more. Finally, he turns and walks to me.

“What’s going on here?” I ask when he reaches me, keeping my voice deliberately calm as I lower my flashlight. The last thing this situation needs is another Alpha adding to her fear.

Romeo’s jaw tightens, his eyes flashing with irritation at my interruption. “Nothing, Eli. Just having a chat with our housekeeper’s daughter.” The way he emphasizes “our” sends warning signals through my brain. There’s ownership in that word, like she is a possession he’s already claimed despite the girl’s obvious distress.

I turn to her, taking in her delicate features properly for the first time. Amber eyes that reflect golden in the moonlight as they stare at me, dark hair escaping from a ponytail, and clothes that look like this girl doesn’t give a damn about how she is perceived by anyone.

She’s beautiful in a way that hits me like a punch to my guts. She’s all soft curves and quiet strength. But it’s her scent that nearly brings me to my knees—that sunshine warmth wrapping around me like a promise of better days.

“You must be Jolie,” I say, walking to her and offering what I hope is a reassuring smile. “Mr. Sampson mentioned you’d arrived. I’m Elias. I take care of the grounds.”

Her eyebrows lift slightly as she takes in my work clothes and dirt-smudged hands. She doesn’t know, then. She doesn’t know that I own half of everything she can see, that the manor house Romeo lives in with my brother is half mine.

It’s refreshing, actually. People treat me differently once they learn about my wealth. But right now, this girl sees me as just a groundskeeper, and there’s something liberating about that.

“Nice to meet you,” she breathes, but her eyes dart nervously to Romeo, and I can smell the spike of anxiety in her scent.

“It’s late,” I observe, noting the slight tremor in her hands, the way she’s pressing herself against the tree as if it could somehow protect her. “Were you headed back to the cottage?”

Before she can answer, Romeo steps between us, his movement fluid and territorial. “I was just about to walk her back myself, Eli. No need for you to trouble yourself.” The possessiveness in his tone is unmistakable, as is the subtle threat underneath. Romeo may be younger, but he’s never lacked arrogance. The fear that flashes across Jolie’s face at his words tells me everything I need to know.

My inner Alpha rises in response, a slow burn of protective fury that I keep carefully leashed.

“Actually,” I say, my voice carrying just enough authority to remind Romeo exactly who he’s talking to, “your father called earlier. He wants to speak with you about tomorrow’s board meeting. Something about the quarterly projections you were supposed to prepare and if you’re not ready tomorrow, he’s getting an outsider in to do the job.”

It’s a lie, but a believable one. My brother has been pushing Romeo to take more responsibility in the family business, with limited success.

“I’m ready,” Romeo growls, but uncertainty flickers in his eyes.

“Are you? Because he seemed to think you weren’t taking it seriously.” I let just a hint of disappointment color my voice. “Maybe you should call him before he gives up on you entirely. I’m sure Jolie won’t mind if I escort her home instead.”

Romeo’s eyes narrow dangerously, his scent spiking with aggression. “She’s fine with me.”

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