Sadie’s POV
"I don't want you to deny her," I said.
Taylor went still.
"I don't want you to lie," I continued, my voice low but steady. "I don't want you to spin stories or create counter-narratives or do whatever Alpha thing you're planning where you control the information and manage the fallout and nobody asks me what I want. I've had enough of that. I've had six years of other people deciding what happens in my life."
"What do you want?"
"I want you to back off. Let me handle the rumors my way."
"Your way isn't working."
"My way hasn't had time to work. It's been three days, Taylor. Three days. And you're already in the faculty lounge threatening to burn bridges. That's not handling things. That's a territorial display."
His jaw tightened. "I am territorial."
"I know you are.
