Chapter 5: Apple

“You men think you own us. Like you have all the power and we’re just toys for your entertainment,” I say loudly, aiming every word at Aiden. “But you’ll never truly own us. Not our minds. Not our hearts. You only control what we allow. Us women—we give the power we choose to give. And sooner rather than later, Aiden, you’ll learn what real power looks like. It’s not this performance you think you're in.”

 

My chest rises and falls with every breath. I know I’m digging my own grave, handing them the shovel, but I can’t stop. I should be quiet. I should just survive.

 

But I have a voice. And I'll use it.

 

“The day these women decide to fight back? It’s over for you men,” I bite out.

 

Aiden doesn’t flinch, doesn’t move—except for the subtle clench in his jaw. Still, he refuses to acknowledge me. He walks out of the classroom like my words never touched him.

 

David's eyes are wide with shock and disbelief, and he follows Aiden out, the door slamming shut behind them.

 

The silence that follows is louder than anything I just said.

 

“I can’t believe you talked back to Aiden Abbott,” Rose breathes out first.

 

“I—” I start, but the words dry up.

 

“You just signed your death wish,” Ellie says from beside her.

 

“And that, girls,” Mr. Richardson calls loudly, stepping in front of the board, “is how you never speak to a dominant.” His hands are folded neatly behind his back, disappointment etched deep into his face. “I’m going to let you get away with it this time, Danika. Because after today, your dominant will be responsible for your behavior and will take things over. A visit to the headmaster would be kind compared to what some of these men will do after.. That.”

 

I quickly lower my eyes, swallowing hard to keep my expression blank.

 

“Eyes here, girls,” Mr. Richardson instructs, tapping the board behind him.

 

The rest of the lesson blurs into static. My body’s in the classroom, but my mind is running—screaming. I hate how defiant I am. How impossible it is to sit down, shut up, and play the game.

 

I was born in the wrong era.

 

When class ends, several dominants are already waiting outside. Daniel waits for Isla like always, and I walk beside them toward the cafeteria.

 

The moment we enter, the whispers begin. My eyes find Henry’s table instantly—David, Aiden, and Henry all sit there, staring at me like I’m their next meal.

 

“Sir?” Isla asks Daniel gently. He only grunts an approval.

 

“How bad is it? This situation with Dani?”

 

My eyes lock with Henry’s.

 

Emma sits next to him, obviously. She spots me instantly when Henry looks at me, but I hold her dominant's stare for longer than I should. Henry's brown eyes burn a hole right through my soul. He looks somewhat delirious, with wide pupils and a menacing glare. There's something dark.

 

“There’s talk they’re going to share Danika,” Daniel says.

 

My head snaps toward him. “What?!” I hiss, too loud. Isla nudges me quickly, and I look away, seething. I don’t care about respecting Daniel as a dominant—but I respect Isla, and I listen to her. It drives the others crazy that I give him more regard than most, that I give him some shred of power over me.

 

Daniel knows it's fake—but he enjoys the illusion of control when it earns him points with the others. Every time I listen to him, the respect for him rises.

 

“Share?!” I repeat, voice low but furious, grabbing an apple so violently I nearly crush it with my nails.

 

“Take turns with you,” Daniel says simply as he starts building Isla’s plate, selecting exactly what she can eat.

 

Another thing submissives can't control. Their doms decide what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat.

 

I stick to the apple. My stomach is too twisted to handle anything else.

 

“I’ll kill them before they get the chance to touch me,” I mutter darkly. “I don’t care what happens to me after. The world would be better without them.” Murder would be kind for them.

 

“You could just get over your own pride, Danika, and accept a dom,” Daniel says without missing a beat.

 

He lives to throw that one at me.

 

Isla stays quiet like always, head bowed as Daniel pours her a glass of lemon water. We make our way to the table with Henry and Aiden, and for once—I shock them all.

 

I join.

 

Normally, I’d eat in my room, away from their entitled stares. But not today.

 

“Can’t you just accept me?” I ask Daniel with a dramatic pout. “You don’t even have to do anything. Just say you’re my Dom and we call it even.”

 

Daniel snorts as we approach the domineering table. Isla glances at me, and I shoot her a pleading look behind Daniel’s back.

 

“Tempting offer, Dani,” he mutters as he sits, “but I like being alive.”

 

Isla stands behind him, waiting for permission to sit. I, of course, have no such restrictions. Yet.

 

I drop onto the bench beside Daniel, my skirt riding so high it barely covers anything. The cold wood bites into my thighs, but I don’t care—not when I feel the instant tension ripple through the table at my presence.

 

Aiden’s eyes scorch into my profile, but I turn my body fully away from him, straddling the bench and facing Daniel.

 

“Come on, Daniel. What’s life without a little challenge?” I taunt.

 

“You may sit, Isla,” he says with a sigh.

 

He hates when I give him too much attention. Henry always takes it out on him, as do the rest of the boys. Isla chose a good Dom. Daniel isn't a monster like the rest of them.

 

I shift slightly to give Isla space, but in doing so, my back nearly presses against Aiden. My ass brushes his hip, and I feel the heat of his jeans against my skirt.

 

I freeze—every nerve firing. Shit.

 

I lean forward quickly, invading Isla’s space instead, heart racing.

 

“Isla and I could share a bed,” I say innocently.

 

Every dominant at the table perks up like dogs hearing a whistle. They’re so fucking predictable. Deprived and always on edge for anything remotely sexual. They're extremely sex-deprived. No girls around who they can screw. So one comment is enough to make them wild. 

 

“You could spank us together,” I purr, resting my chin on Isla’s shoulder. She smiles for a split second, then forces herself back to neutral and stares at her food. I arch my back, feeling every pair of eyes on my slender body, and subtly push out my ass.

 

I feel Aiden's red hot eyes on it.

 

“Please?” I say to Daniel, voice syrupy sweet.

 

And it’s like I just dropped a bomb.

 

A please from me is a miracle.

 

Everyone stares. Forks freeze mid-air. Daniel drops his own, the clatter breaking the silence. His head whips toward me, eyes flashing with dominance.

 

I smirk.

 

So easy to rattle them.

 

Daniel knows exactly what I'm doing, but he's still affected by my behaviour. These men are fighting between their lust for a female gaze and body, and their need to punish me for somewhat flirting with another Dom.

 

It's hilarious.

 

“I see your cheek is healing nicely.”

 

My eyes breathe fire as I turn to Henry.

 

Emma is next to him, eyes cast downwards, but her body is tense as hell. My cheek is dark purple, thanks to him and his father.

 

“If only you hit me harder, Henry,” I say sweetly, fire in my voice. “If only you were strong enough.”