Let me make one thing crystal clear: I wasn't about to trust anyone. Least of all two alphas who thought they had some claim over me just because of some stupid soul bond. A bond I didn't feel, didn't want, and definitely didn't ask for.

So, when Bakugo and Todoroki started this whole let's-check-on-the-angry-leopard routine, I wasn't having any of it.

The first time the door cracked open, I was on it like lightning. My claws raked across the metal, teeth bared, a guttural snarl vibrating in my chest as the light from the hallway spilled into the room.

"Stay the hell out!" I growled, lunging at the door hard enough to make it slam shut again.

I heard Bakugo curse from the other side. "Damn feral little—"

"Don't provoke him," Todoroki cut in, voice annoyingly calm.

Provoke me? Oh, they thought I needed provoking? Try me.

The second time, they tried to be gentle. Bakugo shoved some food through the gap, probably thinking I was starving after being locked up for hours. Yeah, no thanks. I wasn't about to eat anything they gave me. For all I knew, it was drugged.

The scent of the food hit my nose—barely, because thanks to my nonexistent sense of smell, all I got was a vague whiff of probably edible. But I didn't care. I swatted the tray to the side, sending it clattering to the floor.

"Eat or don't, dumbass, but you're gonna starve if you keep acting like this," Bakugo snapped from outside.

"Good," I snarled back. "One less omega for you alphas to mess with!"

There was silence for a beat, and I could imagine them standing there, probably exchanging looks like they were trying to figure out how to handle me.

Handle this.

I let out a low growl, claws scraping against the floor as I prowled back and forth. "You think I don't know what happens to omegas in captivity? Or in your precious mafia gangs?" I spat, my voice sharp as a blade. "I know exactly what you want. And I'll die before I let it happen."

Todoroki's voice broke the silence, soft and steady. "Izuku, we're not going to hurt you."

The way he said my name made my skin crawl. Like he thought he knew me. Like he thought he could fix me with a few kind words.

I lunged at the door again, snarling. "Don't you dare say my name like that!"

Another long silence. This time, I could hear them moving, shuffling, maybe trying to decide if it was even worth attempting to talk to me.

Good. Let them stay on the other side of that door.

I didn't care what they said or how many times they swore they weren't going to hurt me. I wasn't an idiot. I knew how this worked. Omegas didn't survive long in places like this unless they submitted, played the role, became someone's property.

And that wasn't going to be me.

The third time they tried, Todoroki cracked the door just enough to poke his head in. Brave move, considering I'd already made it clear that anyone who came through that door was going to leave with scratches—or worse.

"Go away," I growled, baring my teeth.

He didn't move. Just stood there, looking at me with those mismatched eyes, calm and unreadable. It was infuriating.

"We're not your enemy," he said quietly.

I laughed, sharp and bitter. "Yeah? Then what do you call locking me in a cage? A friendly sleepover?"

"Izuku, you're hurt," Todoroki said, ignoring my sarcasm. "We just want to help."

"You want to help?" I snapped, lashing my tail against the wall. "Then let me out!"

He didn't budge, but I could see his shoulders tense slightly. "Not until you calm down."

Wrong answer.

I leaped at the door, claws slashing through the air as I roared, "I'll calm down when you're six feet under!"

The door slammed shut again, and I heard Bakugo curse loudly from the other side. "Damn it, I told you not to open it!"

"I thought he'd listen," Todoroki said, his voice frustratingly calm.

"Listen?! He's out for blood, not tea and cookies!"

"Gee, wonder why," I muttered to myself, pacing the cell again. My tail whipped behind me, my whole body coiled with tension.

I hated this.

Hated the cage, hated their voices, hated the way they kept trying to act like they cared. Because I knew they didn't. Not really. They wanted something from me—control, obedience, whatever it was alphas wanted from their omega.

And I wasn't going to give it to them.

I'd rather rip my own claws out than let them think they owned me.