Chapter 24
Charlie
I woke up alone.
The room was silent, empty. After however many days it had been, that felt wrong. I couldn’t remember a single moment without someone hovering nearby.
Now, I didn’t know what to do. Or what to think.
No eyes on me meant freedom. Or danger. Or nothing at all.
If I had the strength to move, maybe I’d find out. But for now, I just lay there, breathing through the weight pressing down on my chest.
Then I noticed it—my vision. Still foggy, but clearer than before. My eyes opened wider. And for the first time, I saw more than just the blur of colors.
This wasn’t the room I had been in before. This room had darker gray walls, nearly blackish blue in a way. Light artwork of sunsets on a beach and sunflowers decorated the wall in front of me, right above a six drawer dresser.
Turning slowly, mindful of the damage on my back, I took in the other walls. The sun shone through an open window, just dull enough to not blind me. Once again, there were no dust motes floating around.
An open door led to a bathroom; I could see the huge tub, and I almost wondered what it’d be like to take a bath in.
I never had a bath. Showers, quick, lukewarm wash downs, sure. But never a full bath where I could just sit there and relax, letting my muscles relax like I’ve seen on TV before.
I didn’t want to assume I’d get it here, either.
Nothing else in the room stood out. Like the rest of the house, it was empty of personal belongings. No loving touches; just decorated for show.
Sooner rather than I liked, my bladder demanded I get up, or I’d likely leave a mess in the bed. It was bad enough already that I probably wasn’t helping with the dirty bedding issue as it was.
On weak legs that threatened to fall, I slowly made my way towards the bathroom. I had to keep my balance by holding onto the edge of the bed, then the walls.
By the time I got to the toilet, I was out of breath, my lungs aching as I panted. My back throbbed, too.
I held my breath as I sat, since there was no way I’d be able to keep standing. As my bladder released into the water below, I glanced around the bathroom. It felt awkward, looking at something that I didn’t belong in.
Other than the tub, there was a full walk in shower, a double sink, and a huge wall filled mirrors. Everything wasn’t as white as the rest of the house, but it was too bright; too bland.
The only sign that someone lived here was the toothbrush that was placed in a cup. Otherwise, there were no signs of life here.
I didn’t bother washing my hands. It took too much effort. There were too many steps between standing and collapsing again.
By the time I stepped out of the bathroom, a shadow filled the doorway to the bedroom.
Tall. Still. Watching.
I froze mid-step, heart kicking hard against my ribs.
I should’ve checked. Should’ve paid attention. But I’d let my guard down. And now I was going to pay for it.
Again.
Because apparently, I hadn’t learned.
I couldn’t move, couldn’t decide whether to drop to my knees and beg for forgiveness for whatever I’d done, or crawl back onto the bed and pretend I wasn’t worth noticing.
Either way, I braced for impact. Because that’s what came next.
Always.
Then the figure stepped forward. Slow. Careful.
Not threatening.
Adrian.
I recognized him in the way he moved, soft, deliberate, like he knew how easily I could break.
He didn’t speak right away. Just knelt down, hands visible, posture low. “I’m not here to hurt you,” he said gently. “You’re safe.”
I didn’t believe him. But I didn’t run either.
“You can finish getting on the bed, Charlie. It’s okay.”
Slowly, my body unfroze and I finished getting on the bed. I sat, back facing the headboard, and the blanket lumped up in my lap, hiding part of my nakedness from view. It gave me a barrier, even though it was the smallest form of one.
Adrian slowly stood, not daring to make any sudden movements. He gave me a tight smile, one that spoke more than words ever could.
He understood.
“I’m glad to see you up and moving on your own.
” Adrian settled on the edge of the bed.
Close enough that I could reach out if I wanted to.
Far enough that I didn’t have to. “Moore’s got soup for you.
Chicken noodle. It’s literally the only thing he knows how to make.
I still don’t understand how he survived without me all those years. ”
I dipped my head, not sure how to respond. I wasn’t hungry. Not even close. But the threat of a feeding tube still hung in the air, unspoken, but real.
Just the thought of it made my stomach twist.
And yet, compared to everything else I’d endured, a tube down my throat didn’t even rank on it. It wouldn’t be the worst. Not by a long shot.
“Why….” I coated my lips, eyes bouncing around the room before landing on my lap. “Why am I here?” Here, in a place I didn’t belong? Here, in a bed that wasn’t mine? Here. Alive?
“Vincent wants you here,” Adrian answered if it made perfect sense. “Where else would you be if not here?”
“Dead?” I preferred that, because I couldn’t trust the Alpha that now had control over everything about me.
“Charlie?” Adrian scooted closer, placing his hand on the bed right beside where my knee was, but didn’t touch. “Vincent wants you. Not to make you serve him, but because he cares about you. He’s been beside himself the last couple of days, seeing you so…so broken.”
I caught the huff of disdain before it passed my lips.
Who cared if I was broken? I was created that way. Created to be beaten and bruised. Created to be a robot, to serve an Alpha.
And it’d stay that way till I died.
“Vincent is kind, Charlie. He’s kind and caring and if you let him, he’ll cherish you like you always should have been.” His voice was soothing, not an ounce of malice there. Just plain and simple, like he knew in time I’d see it his way.
“He’s right,” Alpha Harris spoke, entering the room. I started, jerking back and hitting my back against the headboard. I hissed as the pain spiked anew. “I will cherish you, if you let me do so.”
Sure, if he said so, I thought, pulling my legs up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. Then, I instantly remembered my place, dropping my eyes to the bed, waiting for orders.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alpha Harris place a white and blue bowl on the nightstand.
“Give us a moment, Adrian. Please.”
No! I wanted to shout. Maybe if he stayed, whatever this Alpha wanted wouldn’t be so bad.
Adrian didn’t say anything, just took his presence out of the room on light feet. I felt his eyes look back at me, but I kept my widened, fearful gaze on the bed, not daring to do more than breathe.
“Hello,” Alpha Harris said softly, taking a single step back from the bed.
I looked up, confused by the distance he gave me.
His hands were folded in front of him, casually, like he wasn’t here to demand anything. It was strange, almost disarming. He stood there in dark blue plaid pajama bottoms and a black shirt, his hair slightly tousled, small glasses perched low on his nose.
Not handsome. Not exactly. But something close. Something quiet and steady. Something that pulled at me in a way I didn’t understand. Like he wasn’t trying to be anything. And somehow, that made me want to look at him longer.
“I’m Vincent Harris.”
Okay? I blinked. I knew who he was.
“Now tell me your name.” He eyed me, like I should have known what to do.
“Uh…Charlie-Charles Ellis.”
“Charlie Ellis. It’s a great pleasure to meet you.” He slowly stuck his hand out, expecting something from me. When I didn’t move, he let it drop back to his side. “You can call me Vincent; everyone does."
My mind was…off? I had no clue what was going on, as this Alpha was not the same as the one I met days ago. He was too nice, too open, and honest. And I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Go ahead and eat before it gets cold.” He dipped his chin towards the bowl, and after a moment I reached over to grab it. The plastic was warm against my palms, soaking into my cold skin.
He backed up another step, then another, before he found a chair and took a seat.
“While you eat, I’ll go over some rules I expect in this household.”
Of course, let's just start there, I thought, anger filling me too quickly. Then, I pushed it down. Rules were good. I was good. I could do whatever he wanted.
“You are to be polite, which you already know you are capable of being. You are to tell me, instantly, if you are uncomfortable in any fashion. Even the smallest pain or annoyance. I want to know it all.”
I was annoyed now, but instead I shoved a bite of chicken into my mouth.
“You are free to talk however you want, sharing whatever you want, with Adrian. You two will get time alone, without an Alpha overhearing. And lastly, for now, I don’t want you to serve me until you are one hundred percent able to, and willing to.
I don’t want you kneeling at my feet or catering to my needs until we talk further about what you are comfortable doing, and what you hate the most.”
Wait…what?
I looked up, the noodles on my spoon falling back into the bowl with a small splash.
“You heard me.”
I opened and closed my mouth. Once. Twice.
No words would come out.
“I may own you, according to papers, in every aspect of your life. But that doesn't mean I’m going to treat you like a slave. I want you, Charlie. The real you, to be something more than just an Omega in my house to serve me. Of course, there will be tasks for you to do, like possibly cooking and cleaning, but that’s household things.
Personal stuff is categorized differently here in my home. ”
“Sir?” Had he lost his mind?
“I know, a huge change. And it’ll take time.”
Yeah, it was going to take time. Like, an eternity.
I wasn’t….well whatever he thought I was now. Yeah, broken. But I could, and would, still serve him in whatever way he deemed me to. That’s all I knew, what I was trained for years for.
Alpha Harris gave me a smile that said I know, and I understand and it’s okay now.
And maybe, it would be okay. Not today, or tomorrow. But maybe, in time, things wouldn’t look so dim. Maybe I could have a semblance of happiness.