He wants to say no. He knows he hasn't. He's never loved anyone like that. But he thinks of her and it's like his chest tightens up and his mouth goes dry and he wants to scream and he wants to cry and it hurts so much.

"I might... have an idea how that feels actually," he says, his voice sounding strained even to him. It's what The Director had felt for her, and what Alpha had felt for her that had created Beta. It's what had got everyone he cared about killed.

His next breath comes in a shuddering gasp and he fights to get himself back under control.