"And since I have no interest in becoming a tossed-around broodmare for whatever rich Alphas my mother has deemed acceptable," I continue, "I opted into playing pretend student at a school that can give me enough time to figure out what I actually want in life. Time to make my own choices before someone makes them for me."
I spread my arms wide, gesturing at the room around us.
"So here I am. Six weeks to sort my shit out before my twenty-fifth birthday rolls around and my autonomy gets revoked. Happy?"
Nobody says anything for a long moment.
Rafe is frowning now. Not the annoyed, hostile frown I have come to expect from him. This is different. Deeper. Like he is actually processing what I said and finding it genuinely disturbing rather than just annoying.
Weird. I did not expect him to care about my problems. I barely expect him to tolerate my existence.
I clear my throat, pushing past the awkwardness before it can swallow us whole.
"Anyway. Rule number four." I hold up four fingers. "As roommates, we should have at least one day a week where we are all together for some kind of activity. Cooking, cleaning, watching a movie, doing some sort of hobby. I do not care what it is. Just... something."
Cal tilts his head, those amber eyes narrowing slightly.
"Why would we want to hang out with you?"
I pout, feeling the sting of the words even though I know he does not mean them as cruelly as they sound.
Why would anyone want to hang out with you?
You are not interesting enough. Not pretty enough. Not enough of anything for anyone to want around.
Shut up, brain. Not helpful right now. We are working on self-esteem, remember? Therapy homework.
I shrug, forcing casualness into my voice despite the tightness in my chest.
"I do not know." I scuff my foot against the hardwood floor like a child caught asking for something they think they do not deserve. "I just think the idea is kind of... nice? Building some sort of rapport? We are living together for six weeks. We might as well try to not actively hate each other."
I look up, meeting their eyes with more vulnerability than I intended to show.
"But whatever. Suck it up. Even if we are all just sitting in silence for an hour, it counts. I am not asking for friendship bracelets and slumber parties. Just... coexistence that does not feel like a war zone."
Nobody argues.
I will take that as reluctant agreement.
"And finally." I take a deep breath, bracing myself for this one because I know it is going to cause chaos. "Rule number five. No sex."
The three of them stare at me.
Completely blank.
Like I have just spoken in a language they do not understand.
The silence stretches out, thick and awkward and absolutely excruciating.
"I mean..." I can feel heat creeping up my neck, probably turning my face the color of a tomato. "Not no sex ever. Just no... no fucking each other. Or fucking people in the dorm. While I am here."
Oh god, why did I phrase it like that? This is a disaster. I am a disaster.
I groan, rubbing my temples in frustration at my own terrible word choices.
"What I am trying to say is, if you want to bang every pretty candy on this campus, fine. That is your business, and I will not judge. But do not do it here. Not when I am around. I do not want to smell other Omegas' pheromones filling up this tiny hut for weeks on end."
I wrinkle my nose at the very thought.
