Page 20 of Knot Your Romeo

“I can walk back alone,” Jolie suddenly interjects, her voice stronger than before. “It’s not far.”

What a brave little Omega, trying to defuse a situation between two alphas. It makes something protective and tender unfurl in my chest.

“Nonsense,” I say, stepping closer to her but keeping my movements non-threatening. “These woods can be confusing at night, even to those who know them well.” I turn to Romeo, letting my expression grow serious. “I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow. Now go call your father. He should still be at the Chicago hotel.”

For a moment, I think Romeo might challenge me. His Alpha pheromones spike aggressively, and I can see him weighing his options—his desire to claim whatever he thinks he’s found in Jolie against his respect for my authority and his fear of disappointing his father further.

I hold my ground, letting my Alpha assert itself subtly. I’m older, more established, and despite Romeo’s size and strength, right now my Alpha outranks him in every way that matters.

With a last glare at Jolie. One that promises this conversation isn’t over. Romeo stalks off toward the main house, his movements sharp with frustrated anger.

Once he’s out of earshot, Jolie’s shoulders slump as if she’s been holding herself together through sheer willpower. “Thank you,” she whispers, and the gratitude in her voice closes the hole in my chest slightly.

“Don’t mention it.” I hesitate, then ask gently, “What was he doing to you out here?”

She wraps her arms around herself, suddenly looking very young and vulnerable in the moonlight. “It’s complicated.”

I nod, respecting her privacy even as every protective instinct I have demands details. “May I walk you home? No ulterior motives, I promise. I just want to make sure you get there safely.”

After a moment of consideration, she nods.

We fall into step along the garden path, moonlight silvering the white roses on either side of us. I keep a respectful distance, acutely aware of how overwhelming my Alpha scent might be after whatever Romeo put her through. But I can’t help breathing in traces of her scent as we walk—that impossible combination of honey and sunshine that makes something deep in my chest ache with longing.

“So you’re the gardener?” she asks after a minute of comfortable silence.

I smile, running a hand through my hair. It’s easier to let her think of me as just the groundskeeper for now. “Among other things. I handle the estate grounds, the orchards, the organic vegetable gardens that supply the local restaurants.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

“It is. I love being out here.” I glance at her profile, struck by how the moonlight catches in her dark hair, how it illuminates the delicate line of her neck. “Nature makes sense to me in a way people often don’t. Plants are honest—they either thrive or they don’t. No games, no hidden agendas.”

She laughs softly; the sound sends unexpected warmth through my chest. “I’ve never thought about it that way.”

“And you?” I ask, genuinely curious about this enigmatic girl who’s appeared in my perfectly ordered world. “Are you in school?”

“College,” she nods. “Just started at Silvercrest College.”

“Studying?”

“Biology, maybe pre-med. I haven’t decided yet.” She hesitates, then adds, “I enjoy understanding how things work. Bodies, cells, the science behind... everything. But—“ She pauses, as if she’s revealed more than she intended.

“But what?” I prompt gently.

“Nothing,” she says quickly, but I suspect I know what she was going to say. She wants to study Omega biology, probably to understand her own nature better. And judging by her reaction, she’s scared to admit it—which suggests she’s been hiding her true self for reasons that have nothing to do with shame and everything to do with safety.

My curiosity about her intensifies. There’s something different about this girl, beyond just her unusual scent profile. Something that calls to me on a level I don’t fully understand. I’ve been careful not to let any Omega get close since Kate left me three years ago. We weren’t scent matches, but losing her still nearly destroyed me.

And Jolie...there’s something about her that makes me want to take risks I swore I’d never take again.

As we near the cottage, warm light spilling from its windows like a beacon of safety, Jolie slows her pace.

“Can I ask you something, Elias?”

“Call me Eli,” I say automatically. “And of course.”

She bites her lip, clearly weighing her words carefully. “If Romeo doesn’t like me, will Mr. Silver fire my mother?”

This brave girl is worried about her mother’s job security because my nephew decided to terrorize her in the woods. “Of course not. Your mother’s employment has nothing to do with Romeo’s behavior. And I’ll be having a conversation with my Mr. Silver about tonight as soon as he gets back from his business trip.”

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