Page 98 of Knot Like Other Girls

"That sounds nice," she admits.

Roman leans forward, his posture subtly protective without being overbearing. "There's something else we need to discuss," he says, his voice carefully modulated. "The suppressants you took are temporary. They'll wear off in approximately twenty-four hours. We need to establish what happens then."

The temperature in the room seems to drop several degrees as we all process the implications of Roman's words. Heat cycles are intensely private matters for omegas—and intensely instinctual matters for alphas. The fact that we are discussing this openly, clinically, is necessary even if it's uncomfortable for some of us.

Judging from the blank deer-caught-in-headlights look on Troy's face, he's one of them.

Bella's cheeks flush slightly, but she meets Roman's gaze steadily. "I know," she says, her voice remarkably composed despite the subject matter. "I've been on suppressants for a long time. I've never really experienced a full heat without any medication before."

This revelation sends a ripple of surprise through our group. I feel my own eyebrows rise slightly before I can control myexpression. An omega her age who has never experienced a full heat is unusual. Not unheard of, certainly—modern medicine has made it possible for many omegas to completely suppress their cycles—but it adds another layer of complexity to an already complicated situation.

"Never?" Liam asks, his accent thickening with concern.

Bella shakes her head. "My family thought it was best. More... proper." The last word carries a bitter edge. "I've had breakthrough symptoms occasionally, but nothing like this."

It explains everything. No wonder she went into heat so quickly from all this stress. I clear my throat, drawing attention back to the practical matters at hand. "Then we need to be prepared for all contingencies. When the suppressants wear off, you'll have options. We can provide stronger suppressants that will completely block the heat cycle, though they come with side effects. Or..."

I hesitate, choosing my next words carefully.

"Or you can allow the heat to progress naturally," I continue, keeping my voice neutral. "If you choose that option, we would ensure your complete privacy and safety. No alpha would enter your space without explicit invitation."

"And if I... if I wanted you to..." She trails off, unable to complete the thought aloud, though her meaning is clear.

Roman's jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "That would be entirely your choice, Bella. But it's a decision that should be made with a clear head."

"What Roman means," Troy interjects, his tone gentler, "is that we want any choice you make to be something you won't regret later. Heat can make shit complicated."

"I understand," Bella says, her fingers tracing the rim of her teacup again. "I appreciate your concern. Really, I do. But I'm not some fragile flower who can't make her own decisions."

"No one thinks that," I assure her. "But this situation is unprecedented for all of us. We're navigating uncharted waters, and we want to ensure everyone's boundaries are respected."

Cole, who has been unnervingly silent throughout most of this discussion, suddenly speaks. "You don't owe us anything," he says, his voice rough but sincere. "Just because we're your scent matches doesn't mean you have to choose any of us. Ever."

Raw honesty is something I've always appreciated about Cole. For all his gruffness and apparent misanthropy, he has an unwavering moral compass.

"Cole's right," Roman agrees. "Our primary concern is your wellbeing. Everything else is secondary."

Bella looks between us, her green eyes thoughtful. "Thank you," she says finally. "For giving me space to decide. For not pressuring me." She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "For now, I think I'd like to stick with my usual suppressants and see how I feel. At least until we're at the safe house and I've had time to process everything that's happened."

I nod, already mentally composing a list of what we'll need. "I'll make the arrangements. We have contacts who can provide everything discreetly."

"How soon can we leave?" she asks, her voice steadier now that we've moved back to practical matters.

"Tonight, if you wish," Roman replies. "The jet can be ready within two hours. Or tomorrow morning, if you'd prefer to rest first."

Bella considers this, her head tilting slightly as she weighs her options. "Tomorrow morning," she decides. "I should talk to Braxley properly before I go. Make a clean break."

"Of course," I say.

"In the meantime," Liam adds, "we'll maintain our security protocols. Nothing changes on that front. Your safety is still our priority."

Bella nods, taking another sip of her tea. "What about living arrangements for tonight? I don't think I can stay in Braxley's room, but..."

"You can have the guest suite," Roman says immediately. "We'll rearrange our rotation to give you privacy."

Bella looks down at her tea, her fingers tracing the rim of the mug. When she speaks, her voice is soft but steady.

"Actually, I was wondering if..." She pauses. "If Cole could stay with me tonight."

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