Chapter 4
451 Words
Karl's fingers were already brushing the edge of my mask.
"Karl?" Selena's voice came from the stairwell. She grabbed his arm. "Max is crying for you to help him build his robot. Don't keep him waiting."
Karl's hand paused. "Coming. I'm coming now."
He left.
Once they were gone, I left too.
Back at my apartment that night, another text came from the unknown number.
Unknown: Did you get a good look at the villa today? Karl and your parents only care about me. Know your place and get lost.
Oh, I was getting lost all right.
There was nothing left for me here.
*****
The next morning, the bedroom door swung open.
Karl walked in first. Behind him came my biological parents, Roland and Marguerite. Marguerite was carrying a glass of steaming milk.
Karl sat down on the edge of the bed and reached for my hand.
"You were exhausted after yesterday's hospital visit, weren't you?" His voice was soft. "The doctor prescribed some calming medicine. I put it in your milk. Drink it and get some good sleep. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here with you."
I looked at Karl, then at my parents standing at the foot of the bed.
"Thank you. You're so good to me."
I reached for the glass, lifted it to my lips, and drank every last drop in front of all three of them.
The glass clinked against the tray.
Marguerite's tense shoulders dropped. Roland quickly turned his head away, staring out the window.
Karl stood up and carefully tucked the blanket around me.
A few minutes later, I heard the front door lock downstairs, followed by the sound of a car engine starting. They were rushing off to Max's birthday party.
The moment they were gone, I threw off the covers and ran barefoot into the bathroom.
I jammed two fingers down my throat.
The gag reflex hit immediately. I leaned over the toilet and vomited everything—milk mixed with stomach acid—onto a thick wad of tissue.
When I was done, I stuffed the drug-laced tissues into a clear evidence bag, sealed it tight, and pressed out the air.
Back in the bedroom, I placed the evidence bag into the courier box I'd prepared earlier.
At the bottom of the box sat two documents. A Mate Dissolution Agreement. And a Share Waiver Declaration. Both already signed with my name.
Night fell.
I stood in front of the bathroom mirror and pulled open my nightgown collar. There it was—the bite mark Karl had left on my neck, the mark of an Alpha's absolute ownership.
I was going to cut that piece of flesh out.
- Writer
