Then Dorian: "What are your terms?"
"First: I'm in control. Of everything. When it happens, how it happens, what happens. You don't touch me unless I ask. You don't initiate anything. This isn't you helping me through heat—this is me using you for what I need. Got it?"
"Got it," Oakley says immediately.
"Second: No knots. Not yet. You haven't earned that."
Dorian's jaw tightens, but he nods.
"Third: No promises. No declarations. No 'you're ours now' bullshit. This is biology, not romance. I'm staying because leaving will kill me, not because I forgive you."
"Understood," Corvus says quietly.
"Fourth: After this, things change. I get full autonomy back. Full phone access, internet, freedom to come and go. You want me to stay here? Fine. But as a guest, not a prisoner."
"Done," Dorian says.
"And fifth—" I pause, making sure I have all their attention. "You apologize. Properly. Not just to me, but publicly. When we go back to Northwood, you admit what you did was wrong. All of it. The hunting, the claiming, the kidnapping. I want the record set straight."
"Vespera—" Dorian starts.
"Those are my terms," I cut him off. "Take them or I leave right now."
The three of them exchange glances. Some wordless Alpha communication I'm not privy to.
Finally, Dorian turns back to me.
"We accept your terms," he says. "All of them."
"Good."
The word comes out steadier than I feel.
Because I just made a choice. Not the one they wanted. Not surrender.
But not defiance either.
Survival. On my terms.
I chose to live. To use this biology they forced on me as a tool instead of letting it be a weapon against me. To take the heat that's coming and make it mine—my choice, my control, my rules.
They think they've won.
But they're wrong.
I chose to live. To use this biology they forced on me instead of letting it destroy me. To take what's coming and make it mine—my choice, my control, my rules.
This isn't surrender.
This is survival with teeth.
"I'm going back to my room," I say. "When I'm ready, I'll come to you. Until then, you wait."
I turn and walk away before they can respond.
Before Dorian can see the slight tremor in my hands.
Before Oakley can scent the fear underneath the determination.
