Page 109 of Daisy

"I know what this means," I say quietly. "My heat is starting. What it could lead to." A cramp hits and I wince, pressing closer to Dante. Then I feel it—the unmistakable wetness between my thighs. Slick. My scent explodes around us, rich and sweet and needy.

I can see how it affects them immediately. Their pupils dilate. Cassian's fists clench tighter. Hawk takes a sharp breath.

"I choose all of you," I continue, not looking away from any of them, even as the urge to curl up somewhere soft surrounded by them grows stronger. "I want to spend my heat with all of you." I take a shaky breath, my cheeks burning. "I want you to be mine in every way. Claiming bites. Everything."

The silence stretches for a moment. Then August steps forward.

"Daisy," he says gently, concern clear in his voice, "you don't have to decide all this right now. I don't want you to feel pressured." He steps closer. "You know you have options during your heat. You don't have to accept knots. There are toys, other ways?—"

"We can help you through it without claiming," Hawk adds quickly. "If it feels too early for permanent bites."

Dante's voice is rough when he speaks. "I want this with you more than anything. But I don't want you choosing it because you feel like you don't have another choice."

"August could help you," Gunner says quietly. "He can pull out. No risk of pregnancy that way, and you'd still have comfort during your heat."

"I have a contraceptive implant," I interrupt. Their faces show surprise. "Uncle had it put in. Gives whoever claims me control over when I get pregnant."

The silence that follows is heavy. I can smell the shift in their scents—anger, but not at me. For me.

"When you're ready, we can get someone to remove it," August says gently.

My chest twists. "I don't know if I'll ever be ready." The words tumble out before I can stop them. "I don't know if I ever want children."

They wait. No pressure. Just space for me to talk. Dante's hand moves to my back, rubbing gentle circles between my shoulder blades.

"I know I'm supposed to want that. I'm an omega. But..." I take a shaky breath. "My own mother didn't want me. Didn't want any of us. I was raised by nannies and Uncle. If I had daughters, they'd be omegas too. I could never put a daughter through what I went through. Being treated like property. Having your body not belong to you."

"Your feelings are completely valid," August says softly. "We love you exactly as you are, and we'll support whatever you decide."

"You deserve to choose your own path," Cassian adds quietly. "Always."

"If the way omegas are treated ever changes," I continue, my voice getting stronger, "if they got to meet alphas and a beta like you all, who see them as people... maybe then I'd think about it. But not in this world. Not the way things are."

"We understand completely," Gunner says softly. "The world isn't safe for omega’s right now."

"Besides," Hawk says with a grin, "we've got our hands full just keeping you from burning down kitchens. Adding tiny humans who might inherit your cooking skills? That's just asking for trouble."

Despite everything, I let out a watery laugh. "That's not fair. I only set one kitchen on fire."

"So far," he adds with a wink.

I feel tears prick my eyes. Happy tears this time. "You mean that? You're not disappointed that I might never want children?" My voice gets smaller, more uncertain. "If you don't want to bond with me because of that..."

"Never," August says firmly. "You're enough. Just you."

"Thank you," I whisper. "For not making me feel broken."

For a moment, we just sit in that warmth. Their acceptance surrounding me like the softest blanket. I feel safer than I ever have, more seen and understood.

Then I notice the way they're all looking at each other. Like they're having some silent conversation I'm not part of.

"But there's something else," Dante says, his voice careful. "Something we kept from you."

My stomach drops.

"Scent matching," Dante says quickly. "We're all your scent matches."

I blink. "What?"