Page 36 of Knot Your Romeo

“Who said anything about secrets?”

“You did. Just now. When you talked about coexistence and finishing what we started.” Her smile is sharp with pain. “I know what that means. It means you want all the benefits of having an Omega with none of the complications of actually committing to one.”

“That’s not—“

“Isn’t it?” She meets my gaze directly, and the hurt there makes my chest ache. “Because from where I’m sitting, that’s exactly what you’re offering. The same thing your son Romeo suggested. You’ve just given your offer with better manners and more expensive gifts.”

The mention of Romeo makes something cold and dangerous unfurl in my chest. “What did Romeo suggest?”

“Nothing I was interested in hearing.” She opens the car door, effectively ending our conversation. “Thanks for the ride down memory lane, Mr. Silver. But I think we’re done here.”

She’s gone before I can respond, leaving me alone in the car with her lingering scent and the growing certainty that I’ve just made everything infinitely more complicated.

Emmie is my son’s scent match, not mine, which means biology will win out in the end, despite what I want or Cerise demands. So what I have to ask myself is, what am I willing to sacrifice to have her for myself? Especially as Romeo has made it clear he doesn’t want her, and she doesn’t want him as far as I can make out.

Yet, for me, walking away isn’t an option anymore. For better or worse, Emmie Masters—or Jolie, or whoever she’s trying to be—is now part of my world. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anyone else hurt her the way I already have.

14

Emmie

I’m still shook upwhen I reach my biology class. And I’m so lost in thought I almost bump into him—Romeo—standing outside the classroom door. His arm is draped possessively around Cerise’s shoulders, her long blonde hair cascading down her back as she laughs at something he’s said.

He sees me the moment I see him, and something flashes in his eyes before his expression hardens.

“Masters.” He steps away from Cerise, blocking my path. “We need to talk.”

Cerise’s perfectly sculpted eyebrows rise as she looks between us. “Romeo, leave her alone.”

He doesn’t listen. His hand shoots out, gripping my arm. Not painfully, but firmly enough that I can’t pull away without making a scene. “Stay away from me at school. And stay away from Eli.”

Cerise grins and turns to her friend, suitably happy.

The mention of Eli’s name sends a chill through me. Before I can respond, Romeo turns back to Cerise. She turns and gives me a sickly sweet smile when he wraps his arm around her waist and leads her into the classroom. She’s so fucking stupid that she doesn’t understand it’s him that follows me.

I follow a moment later, choosing a seat in the front row instead of the middle. I need to be as far from Romeo as possible.

Throughout the lecture, I feel his eyes boring into the back of my skull, but I refuse to turn around. I’m not taking in the lesson as I wonder why Romeo cares if I talk to Eli or not.

When the bell rings, I gather my things quickly, determined to escape before Romeo can corner me. But as I hurry down the hallway to my next class, I spot him and Cerise by the lockers, his varsity football jacket a stark contrast to her cheerleading uniform. They look perfect together. The Alpha football star and his beautiful Beta girlfriend. Nausea churns in my stomach as I watch him kiss her.

I duck into the nearest bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. The girl in the mirror looks pale, frightened. Not at all like Emmie Darling, the girl who once had so much confidence she commanded attention in every room. That girl not only had confidence, she had style, a future mapped out. This Jolie Masters is a shadow, hiding beneath baggy clothes and downcast eyes.

Put your shoulders back and go to the classroom.

Before I can gather enough courage, a commotion erupts in the hallway. I stand still as female voices and laughter get closer. The door bursts open and Cerise enters, flanked by two other cheerleaders. The same three girls as before. Their cruel eyes lock on me.

“There she is,” Cerise hisses, her lip curling. “The little Omega who thinks she can steal my boyfriend. I think it’s time for us to have a chat, considering the water didn’t put you off.”

The threat in her voice is unmistakable. I shake my head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t even like your boyfriend.”

She studies me for a moment, then laughs. “Really. He tells me you’ve been smiling at him whenever my back turns. He’s already told you to fuck off. Now fucking back off. Or else.”

“Or else.” Her flat hand slaps across my face.

The walk home feels longer than usual, each step heavy with dread. What had I done to make Cerise hate me so much? Romeo had been the one to approach me, to kiss me. I never wanted any of this. If she knew what her perfect boyfriend suggested, she’d realize what a bastard he was.

As I walk down the driveway after my disastrous conversation with Beck, I consider going to find my mother who’ll be working inside the manor, but the thought of facing any more Silver family complications keeps me walking toward the cottage.

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