Page 10

ANGELL

“ Y ou missed this spot over here. And you didn’t dust the hanging lights. One of the bulbs is burned out.” Korman stood before me glaring down at my five foot nothing form.

My hands made my apology, but he wasn’t fluent in my language.

“I don’t care if you say anything, there’s simply no excuse. I’m going to have to write you up.”

A writeup? That meant my poor performance report would be seen by the house dads, the warden, and the new owner.

If an Omega messed up badly too often they could be sent to an institution.

I’d heard of it happening to the unruliest ones, as well as to others with various problems. I wasn’t far from that group.

I had to work harder in class all my life, and now with housekeeping to show them I was of value beyond having no voice.

In fact, I did have a voice. Just not a physical one.

I got all high marks in writing. I had great grammar skills.

I had opinions. My teachers said I had artful ways with my words.

I’d have made a great poet. But there weren’t any poetry jobs at the farm.

And nothing for any type of writing except advertising online. Those jobs were all filled.

Korman had a fierce look with no real softness anywhere on his face. “You’re to come by my office when you’re done to sign the writeup documents.”

I looked at the clock over the door.

“I know it’s past quitting time,” he said. “But I want this finished no matter how long it takes you. Even if you have to miss dinner.”

Cambry would be waiting for me. If I didn’t show, would he think I was avoiding him because of the Alpha bond?

I’d started the day with patience and an upbeat email to Cambry. Everything had gone downhill from there.

I had zero energy after my talk with Cambry at lunch. Every five minutes I felt like I wanted to cry.

Slowly, I climbed the ladder to dust the cobwebs off the ceiling light fixtures. I unscrewed the burned-out bulb and set it in my ladder box. Suddenly, tears rolled down my cheeks and I couldn’t see. I grabbed the fixture for balance as I tried to catch my breath, but the ladder tipped.

The fall happened in slow-motion.

Scenes of me and Cambry flashed before my eyes.

Years of friendship. Months of being lovers.

A bright white light filled my mind. Echoes of voices.

Cambry was right there, just a heartbeat away.

I reached out to him but there was another, a tall shadow standing behind him. Alpha. Possessive. Protective.

Then there was nothing.