The weight of my decision sits heavy in my chest, pressing down on me like the humid air before a storm. I’ve chosen to stop running and confront the rogues, but now, as I sit by the window, watching the sky bruise into shades of purple and gold, I can’t help but wonder if Dante is right.

Behind me, the tension is palpable, crackling through the room like electricity. Dante’s voice, low and sharp, drifts to me as he speaks to Nikolai. I can’t make out the words, but I don’t need to. They’ve been at odds since we made the decision, their strategies clashing at every turn. And it’s not just about the rogues—it’s something deeper, something simmering just beneath the surface.

I trace my fingers along the cold glass of the window, trying to steady my thoughts. I’m not just an outsider in their world anymore. I’m tied to them in ways I don’t fully understand. The connection is undeniable, but do I truly belong with them? Or have I wandered too far into a place I can’t escape?

The sound of Dante’s footsteps pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see him standing by the table, his eyes dark and brooding as they flick over the map he has drawn, laid out in front of him. His jaw is clenched, tension radiating from every inch of his body. Nikolai lounges in a chair across from him, his arms crossed, watching Dante with a grin that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Lila stands nearby, her calm demeanor fraying at the edges, her gaze flicking between the two men like she’s waiting for one of them to explode.

The tension between them is suffocating. It presses in on me, thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe.

I stand, the cold from the window still clinging to my skin. “So, what’s the plan?” My voice comes out quieter than I intend, barely cutting through the silence.

Dante’s eyes snap to mine, and for a moment, something raw flickers in his gaze—something dangerous. But he doesn’t answer right away. He just stares at me, his expression unreadable, before finally speaking in a clipped, cold voice. “We move carefully. We lure them in, make them think they have the upper hand, and then we strike.”

There’s something detached in his tone, something that makes me shiver. This is the first time I’ve experienced him this distant. The anger simmering beneath the surface is tangible, but I can feel him holding it back, refusing to let it spill over.

Nikolai, never one to shy away from confrontation, leans forward in his chair, his grin widening. “Or we could stop wasting time and just hit them now. Knock them off balance before they have a chance to regroup.”

Dante’s eyes flash with barely contained anger. “That’s reckless,” he bites out, his voice sharp. “We don’t know how many of them there are, or what kind of resources they have. If we rush in, we could be walking into a trap.”

The tension between them is suffocating, pressing in from all sides. It’s not just about the rogues anymore. I can see the strain in their relationship—the unspoken resentment growing between them like cracks in the foundation of something once unshakable.

Lila steps forward, her voice soft but steady as she tries to diffuse the situation. “We need to be smart about this,” she says, her eyes flicking between Dante and Nikolai. “But we also can’t wait too long. The longer we hesitate, the more vulnerable we become.”

Dante’s eyes darken, his fists curling as he stares down at the map, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. I can feel the weight of his anger, his frustration, and I know it’s not just about strategy.

I feel it. It’s about me. He’s angry with me, with the choice I’ve made. Angry that I’ve become more than just a human he has to protect. More than just an outsider.

I take a step closer, my heart pounding in my chest. “I know I’m not as strong as you are,” I say quietly, my voice trembling but steady. “But I’m not fragile either. This affects me just as much as it affects you. I want to face them. I need to.”

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For a moment, Dante just stares at me, his eyes narrowing, his jaw clenched so tightly I can see the muscles in his neck straining. And then, suddenly, something in him snaps.

Before I can react, he crosses the space between us in an instant, his hands grabbing my wrists with a force that makes me gasp. He pushes me back against the wall, pinning me there with his body. His grip is too tight—painfully tight—and the heat of his anger radiates off him like a storm about to break.

“You don’t understand what you’re asking for,” he growls, his voice low and dangerous, his face inches from mine. His breath is hot against my skin, and the fury in his eyes makes my stomach twist with both fear and something else, something I can’t quite name. “You’re not like us, Olivia. You’re human. You don’t belong in this world, and if you keep swimming, you are going to drown.”

The words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the breath from my lungs. His fingers dig into my wrists, sending sharp pulses of pain through my arms, but it’s not the pain that stings the most. It’s the anger in his voice—the anger that’s so much more than just fear for my safety.

“Dante—” I gasp, my voice barely a whisper. I want to tell him to stop, to let me go, but the look in his eyes makes the words stick in my throat.

“Stop pretending you can handle this,” he snarls, his grip tightening as his eyes bore into mine.

Lila moves quickly, her hand reaching for Dante’s arm. “Dante, let her go,” she demands, her voice firm but edged with concern. “You’re hurting her.”

Nikolai is at my other side in an instant, his hand gripping Dante’s shoulder as he pulls at him. “You’re out of line, man. Back off.”

But Dante doesn’t move. He doesn’t even flinch. His focus is entirely on me, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and something darker.

“You don’t get it,” he growls, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “You don’t belong with us.”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Even as the bruises begin to form under his fingers, I don’t look away. I won’t break.

“I trust you,” I whisper, my voice trembling but firm. “I trust that you won’t hurt me.”

For a moment, his expression flickers. Something like guilt flashes in his eyes, but the anger doesn’t dissipate. His grip tightens once more before, finally, he lets go, his hands falling away from my wrists as if he can’t bear to touch me anymore. I gasp, the relief immediate but short-lived as the pain lingers. My wrists ache, bruises already forming where his fingers have dug into my skin.

Dante steps back, his hands shaking slightly as he turns away, his shoulders tense. I can see the regret in his posture, the guilt weighing him down, but he can’t bring himself to face me.

Nikolai moves between us, his face a mask of frustration. “Jesus, Dante,” he mutters, shaking his head. “You’re such a dick.”

Lila is by my side in an instant, her touch gentle as she brushes her fingers over my bruised wrists. “Are you okay?” she asks, her voice soft, but her eyes are hard as she glares over at Dante.

“I’m fine,” I whisper, though my voice wavers. The bruises throb under her touch, but it’s not the physical pain that stings the most. It’s the emotional wound Dante has left behind.

You don’t belong with us.

Nikolai wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “Don’t listen to him, sweetheart. He’s just scared. He doesn’t mean it.”

“We’ve doomed you,” Dante mutters from across the room, his voice sharp and filled with self-loathing.

Nikolai shoots him an irritated glance. “Stop trying to scare her,” he says, his tone dripping with annoyance. He turns to me, his gaze softening as he rests his hands on my shoulders. “You’re not fragile, Olivia. Don’t let him make you think that.”

Lila squeezes my hand gently. “Nikolai’s right,” she murmurs, her voice quiet but reassuring. “Dante’s just… struggling. But we won’t let anything happen to you. You belong with us.”

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. Dante’s words still echo in my mind, clawing at the edges of my resolve. But Lila and Nikolai’s presence grounds me, holding me steady. I let them guide me to the couch, settling me between them.

“You’re not alone,” Lila whispers, her arms wrapping around me in a comforting embrace. “We’re here.”

I lean into her, the warmth of her body soothing the tension in my muscles as I feel the weight of the day begin to lift. Nikolai moves beside me, his arms resting on the back of the couch as he presses a soft kiss to the top of my head. “He’ll come around,” Nikolai murmurs. “But for now, you’ve got us.”

I feel Lila’s soft breath against my neck, her body warm and steady beside me. Nikolai’s presence is a comforting weight on my other side, his hand resting lightly on my hip. And though Dante stays at a distance, his presence is still there—a constant reminder that no matter how angry or afraid he is, he will always fight for me.

Slowly, the tension in my chest begins to ease, and exhaustion pulls me under. Lila’s fingers trace soothing patterns on my arm, and Nikolai’s quiet, steady breathing fills the room with a sense of calm.

As I lie there, nestled between the two of them, I let my eyes drift closed, the storm of emotions finally fading into a quiet calm.

Dante may be pushing me away, but I’m not alone. Not anymore.

I belong with them.

And no matter what happens next, I know they will fight for me.

Even Dante.