Page 23 of Rescued By Four Alphas
Axl steps closer to me. "What do you want, Dahlia?"
"I want to be treated like an adult!" I snap. "I want to be included in decisions about my life and not protected from them!"
"We're trying to include you," Evan says, his patience wearing thin. "But you're not being reasonable."
"Oh, I'm sorry," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Is it unreasonable to want basic autonomy over my own life?"
"When your life is in danger? Yes!" Evan's control finally slips. "Yes, it is unreasonable to ignore clear threats!"
"What threats?" I demand. "Some reporter with a camera? A government official making vague statements? Why can't we fight this?"
"We can't fight everyone," Leo says quietly. "Sometimes a strategic retreat is the best option."
"This isn't a war," I argue. "This is our life!"
"It became a war the moment they targeted you," Onyx growls. "The moment they called our family an 'anomaly' that needs to be 'curbed.'"
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Look, I understand you're all worried. I am, too. But I can't live like a prisoner or a fugitive. I won't."
"No one's asking you to be a prisoner," Axl says.
"Aren't you?" I look at each of them. "Don't leave the house. Don't go anywhere alone. Move to another country. How is that not imprisonment?"
I feel tears threatening again, and the room falls silent for a moment. I can see the struggle on each of their faces, needing to keep me safe, while warring with the desire to respect my wishes.
"What if," Leo begins carefully, "we take this one day at a time? Increase security here, monitor the situation, and make decisions together as things develop?"
I nod slowly. "That sounds reasonable."
"With the condition that you don't leave the house alone," Onyx adds. "Not even to the garden."
"And we revisit the Switzerland option if things get worse," Evan stipulates.
"No, not Switzerland."
"What do you want, exactly?" Evan asks. "To pretend there's no danger? To ignore reality?"
"I want to live my life!" I explode. "I want to work in my lab, go to my doctor's appointments, prepare for our babies, and not feel like I'm under house arrest!"
Evan's expression hardens.
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but your safety is more important than your comfort right now."
"My safety?" I laugh bitterly. "Or your peace of mind?"
"Both," he snaps. "Because, unlike you, I understand the real dangers we're facing."
"Don't patronize me," I warn. "I understand perfectly. I refuse to let fear rule my life."
Onyx steps forward. "You're carrying our children. That gives us the right to ensure their safety."
"Their safety, yes. My freedom, no." I stand my ground. "I get a say in this. My body, my life."
"You're our responsibility, Dahlia," Evan points out.
"I'm not your responsibility! I'm your partner!" I feel like I'm going in circles. "Equal partners, remember? That was the deal when we decided to do this!"
"That was before all this," Evan gestures to the TV, where the news continues to run stories about us.
