Page 12 of Unhinged Alphas

My heat.

The memories flood my mind all over again. The all-consuming need, the feel of their hands on my body, their lips on my skin. Thane's commanding presence, Whiskey's playful touches, Valek's dark intensity, Plague's gentle care.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block it all out.

It's over. It's done.

And it can never happen again.

It's been a week since we returned from that disastrous mission, a week since I let my guard down and let them in. A week since I realized the terrifying truth—that these men, these alphas, are a threat to me in ways I never could have imagined.

Not because they'll hurt me.

But because I might start to care for them.

And that... that is a weakness I can't afford.

I push myself up, wincing at the dull throb in my arm. The gunshot wound is healing well, thanks to Plague's diligent care, but it still aches a little when I move too quickly. A reminder of how close I came to losing everything. A reminder that I owe my life to the men I once hated.

And I don't hate them anymore.

That's one thing I can admit.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet sinking into the plush rug. My room—because that's what it is now,myroom—is simple but comfortable. A far cry from the sterile cell of the Refinement Center or the cramped tents of my childhood. Maybe it's not as fancy or luxurious as the brief stay at the mansion in the mountains, but it feels almost like home. As close as it gets for me, really.

But it's not the room itself that makes it feel like home. It's the nest.

My gaze drifts to the pile of blankets and pillows in the corner, the one indulgence I've allowed myself. During my heat at the mansion, it was a lavish affair, all soft silks and plush furs. A decadent cocoon to shelter me as I rode out the storm.

Now, it's plain again. Practical. Just a few worn blankets and flat pillows, enough to keep me warm and relatively comfortable. No frills, no indulgences. A nest fit for a survivor, not a pampered pet.

It's better this way. Safer. The less I let myself get used to the soft things, the easier it will be when I have to leave them behind.

Because Iwillhave to leave. Once I've healed, once I've gathered my strength and my wits and formed some kind of plan. I'll slip away into the night, disappear into the wilderness like I always do.

Maybe not now, but eventually.

It's the only way. The only way to protect myself, to keep my heart safe from the dangerous temptation these alphas represent.

They've been distant in their own way since we returned. They're still attentive, still watchful. I feel their gazes on me whenever I emerge from my room,heavy with a mix of concern and something else. Something I refuse to name.

But they don't push. They don't demand. They give me space, let me retreat into my solitude without complaint. As if they can sense how fragile I am right now.

And something is different about them, too.

I don't know what changed after that last confrontation with Nikolai. I saw the looks on their faces when they came back inside. The grim set to Thane's jaw, the barely leashed fury in Valek's eyes. Something happened out there, something that shook them to their core.

Especially Thane.

But I don't ask. I don't pry. Their business is their own, and the less I know, the better.

The easier it will be to cut ties.

I'm just pulling on a clean shirt when a knock sounds at the door. I freeze, my heart lurching into my throat. It's irrational, this sudden spike of fear. I'm safe here. As safe as I can be anywhere.

But old habits die hard. And some part of me will always be that little girl crouching in the shadows, praying the monsters don't find me.

"Ivy?" A deep, accented voice, muffled by the heavy wood.Valek.