Chapter 04
1235 Words
Alpha Rican turned toward me, his intense gaze locking onto mine. “Shall we?” he asked, extending his hand. I hesitated, unsure of what he truly meant, but something in his voice made it impossible to resist. Slowly, I placed my hand in his. He offered a small smile—almost tender—and then leaned forward to press a soft kiss to my forehead.
Before I could ask what was happening or make sense of his gesture, everything went dark.
---
I found myself sitting at the edge of a still, glistening lake. The air was calm, and the water reflected my face perfectly. I smiled faintly, admiring myself. I looked... different. Clean, vibrant, as though the harsh years of pain had been scrubbed away. It was strange and unfamiliar, but I liked it. I reached out to touch the reflection—but suddenly, the water rippled violently. Bubbles began to rise from the surface, breaking the serene illusion. My heart jumped. I scrambled back, instinctively putting space between me and the lake.
Then something emerged.
A figure rose slowly from the water—and when I saw who it was, I froze.
It was me.
But not the version I had just admired. No, this version was ragged, filthy, and hollow-eyed. My hair was tangled, my clothes torn, my skin pale and sickly. She looked like she had been dragged through every nightmare I had lived.
She stared at me. I stared back. And then she spoke.
“Where were you when I needed you?”
I blinked. Her voice sounded just like mine—but cracked, weary. “I’ve always been here,” I replied, confused. “But who are you?”
She offered a broken smile. “I am you. We are the same. Have you forgotten already? We are a reject.”
I shook my head, rejecting the words as they left her lips. “No... I’m not a reject. I’m Karina.” My voice grew firmer. “I don’t know what you are, but I know what I am. I am strong. I am the greatest there is.” I stood taller, defiance burning inside me. “There is no such thing as a ‘reject.’ We either shift, or we don’t. That’s just the way the world works. But no one—no one—should look like you.”
The reflection of me smiled again. It was haunting. “Good,” she whispered. “Then wake up. We are where we belong.”
Wake up? What did she mean by that?
---
I gasped, jolting awake. My heart pounded in my chest as I sat upright. What... what was that? A dream? A warning? I rubbed my temples, trying to process it. The version of me in the dream—ragged, angry—wasn’t far from the truth, was she?
I glanced around and quickly realized I was no longer in the reject quarters.
Softness cradled my body, and I looked down to see a mattress far more luxurious than anything I’d slept on in years. I ran my hands over it in disbelief. It felt like heaven. My fingers brushed across clean sheets. I looked around the room—small, but neatly furnished. A table, a chair, a small wardrobe. A warmth lingered in the air, and everything smelled of lavender and wood polish.
How... did I get here?
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, my feet sinking into a soft rug. A mirror caught my eye, and I approached it slowly.
The girl staring back at me didn’t feel like me.
Frail. Pale. My collarbone jutted out sharply, and dark circles ringed my eyes. My hair hung limply over my shoulders. I used to be stronger—my cheeks used to flush with life, my hair once thick and wavy. I used to pity the rejects. I never imagined I would become one of them.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I hesitated, then said quietly, “Come in.”
The door opened.
Alpha Rican stepped inside—but he wasn’t alone. A woman followed behind him. She was stunning—tall, slender, with big expressive eyes and a graceful posture. Her presence was as striking as his, and she stared at me with quiet curiosity.
“I see you’re awake,” he said, voice smooth and unreadable. I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. The way he looked... the blood had been washed away, but the power remained. He looked like a man who could have anything—and everything. And I... I was nothing like him.
He turned to the woman. “As you can see, Rosemary, she’s not exactly thrilled with me.”
The woman—Rosemary—raised a brow. “Well, maybe if you hadn’t taken her the way you did, she wouldn’t have a reason to hate you.”
“Hi,” she said softly, offering me her hand. I accepted it with a small smile. “Hi,” I whispered.
Just then, a low growl echoed from behind her. I looked at him—Rican—his eyes sharp, possessive. He had looked like a monster drenched in blood just hours ago, yet now... he looked like a king.
Rosemary rolled her eyes. “You’re already possessing her, Rican. Take it easy.”
Possessing? The word lingered in my mind. My confusion must’ve shown because Rosemary sighed dramatically.
“Leave us,” she said to him. “Let me talk to the woman you’ve claimed. Your scent is all over her, and it’s making me gag.”
He grunted, clearly annoyed. “Fine. But make it quick.”
He turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him. Rosemary sighed and looked back at me with an apologetic expression. “He’s such a drag queen,” she muttered under her breath, and I nearly laughed. He was anything but.
She extended her hand again. “Let me properly introduce myself. I’m Rosemary Barry—older sister to Alpha Rican. Sorry for how he acted. We lost our parents young and... well, I may have spoiled him.”
“That’s... okay,” I said softly. “Just call me Karina.”
She took a step closer and lowered her head slightly. “No. It is I who should bow to you.”
I froze. “What do you mean?”
She looked at me, brows raised. “My... irritating brother has laid claim to you.”
My eyes widened in horror. “What? No. No, he didn’t. That’s not possible. I’m a reject—we can’t be mated.”
She exhaled sharply. “Well, technically, no. But Rican’s an Alpha. And when an Alpha marks someone—regardless or not you are a reject—it’s done. His strength overrides the bond laws. He marked you, Karina. You belong to him now.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. “No. You must be mistaken. He didn’t mark me.”
She rubbed her temple and muttered, “Dear Moon Goddess...” Then she looked at me. “Check your neck.”
My fingers trembled as I reached up and pulled the cloth away from my neck.
And there it was.
A mark.
A symbol of claim burned into my skin.
I stared at it in disbelief.
And then I screamed.
- Writer
