“That was progress.”
And I’d take it. Any little step was worth celebrating.
Chapter 22
Charlie
I was afraid to do more than simply breathe. My head throbbed, but the pain had settled, low and dull at the base of my skull instead of splitting me in half.
The rest of my body ached, too. Not sharp enough to make me vomit from it anymore, but still there.
Persistent.
My shoulder pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat, a quiet warning not to move. So I didn’t.
I was alive. Unfortunately. And I had no idea where I was.
Sleep hadn’t brought rest—just dreams. Relentless reminders of everything I’d lost, everything I’d endured.
Training.
Correction.
Punishment disguised as discipline.
I remembered the blows when my posture wasn’t perfect. The sting of impact meant to shape me into something obedient.
I remembered trembling, late by seconds, forced to stare at a clock with my eyes taped open.
Time dragging itself across my vision like it was mocking me.
And now, even in stillness, those memories clung to me like bruises beneath the skin.
I was able to open my eyes a little, which was a huge improvement. My vision had been taken from me, and as I wracked my brain on why, nothing came to me.
Through the slit of vision, everything was blurry. I couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of me, and I didn’t dare move to figure out where I was.
I was pretty sure I wasn’t in the health center, nor my room at Lockswells. Neither place cared about my comfort.
Did that Alpha, the one who demanded my services, take me away?
Most likely,I thought, dread filling me.
If that was the case, then I had to find a way to end this life. I refused to accept my fate of beingusefuljust to cling to life because it was willed by some powerful Alpha.
Sighing, I closed my eyes once again. I didn’t want to see the blurry colors in front of me.
I would like nothing more than to return to the dreams of Alpha Harris. He had been there, holding me and giving me comfort I didn’t deserve. He’d been there, talking away the panic.
But I knew it was all a dream. Simply wishing, because no one had ever shown me such kindness like he had.
There were questions that didn’t need to be thought of, because I knew the answers. I was an Omega. Destined to be used by whatever Alpha in any fashion they wanted.
Just take a look at how pathetic I was. Laying naked on a bed, ready and waiting to be used once again until death could finally claim me.
The lack of pain for the small amount of time wouldn’t last. It wasn’t enough time for me to find my footing, let alone try to get out of the bed. Just the thought tired every muscle.
Before I could talk myself into trying, at least, punishment be damned, there were voices from somewhere. They were low, mumbled.
