CHAPTER 8

Karla’s pov

As soon as he was gone, the tears I’d been holding back spilled over. I buried my face in my hands, sobbing quietly. How had my life come to this? Just days ago, I was living a simple, peaceful life as an omega.

Now, I was trapped in a bond with four brothers who represented everything I hated—arrogance, control, and power used to intimidate others.

I didn’t know how long I cried, but the ache in my chest didn’t go away. The bond felt like chains wrapped around my heart, tightening with every passing second. I hated it. I hated them. But most of all, I hated how powerless I felt.

There had to be a way out. I didn’t know what it was yet, but I refused to believe Axel’s words. The bond might be strong, but I was stronger.

At least, that’s what I told myself as I cried alone in my room.

I suddenly thought about axel and how he had acted so smug before me.

I hated him. I hated them all. How dare they decide my fate for me? How dare they claim that I belonged to them, like I was some object handed down by the Moon Goddess?

I got up from my bed and walked around before sitting back down, clutching the edge of the mattress so angrily that my fists became tightly clenched and wouldn’t detach from it.

Indeed, I had never been so helpless in my entire life like this.

The rejection at the ceremony should have brought everything to an ending. It should have cut the tie, release me from them. But rather than that, I was imprisoned and locked in with them, as if I was their property.

At one point there were tears in my eyes, but I did not allow them to roll down. I knew crying wouldn’t help anything. I had to think.

Time was ticking and I spent my time lying in bed, looking at the roof.

A knock on the door had me groaning as I got up to open the door and I found the maids holding a plate of food but I banged the door shut.

“Ma’am,” they called but I didn’t care about anyone as I locked the door and went to bed to rest.

I was not going to be anyone’s slave and still be expected to smile.

They knocked again, and this time it was with much more force. “Karla, please. You need to eat something.”

Still, I said nothing. I didn’t move an inch, hoping she would get the message and go away. After a minute of silence, I finally heard her footsteps retreating back down the hall.

I closed my eyes tightly, blocking everything out… but that didn’t last very long either.

A louder knock sounded an hour later, and then a voice I knew well. “Karla, open the door.”

It was Alaric, the second prince.

“I’m not hungry.” I called out. My voice was cold and sharp.

“You haven’t eaten anything all day,” he replied back, more exasperated than concerned. “Don’t be so damn stubborn.”

“I said I’m not hungry!” I snapped. “Go away!”

There was a pause. Then, I heard him sigh. “Fine. Starve if you want to.”

His footfalls eventually died away, leaving me alone.

I flopped back on the bed, sinking into the mattress. Some small part of me was glad he didn’t press further. Another part of me seethed with anger. They didn’t care. Not really. They sure as hell didn’t make an effort to understand if what they did was any good.

I was hurting and I didn’t want to be here. Not with them or any of their stupid excuses as their mate. I wanted to be alone. I was done with love. I was done with being close to anyone. I was going to be cooped up in here until I was ready to leave.

I didn’t need their food or their kindness. It meant nothing to me.

The hours ticked by, and I remained where I was, flat on my back, observing. Another rumble from my belly told me I was hungry but I didn’t tend to it.

As night arrived the environment dimmed and chilled further.

I thought about school, about the life I had before all of this. I had always been an omega, but I had never felt this small, this powerless. And now, I couldn’t even go back to my normal routine.

How could  I face everyone after what happened at the ceremony? How could I pretend that everything was fine when I was chained to four princes who viewed me as nothing more than their possession?

By morning, it was clear that  I wouldn’t be going to school. There wasn’t any point; I didn’t have enough strength to get out of bed, let alone face the world.

The maid knocked again, and I ignored her. I heard her talking to someone out in the hallway, but I didn’t care.

Time crawled by. The hunger pangs had long since become dull pains, but I welcomed them.

If the only way to break the bond was through death, then maybe that was my only option.

The thought terrified me, but it was also the only escape. I couldn’t live like this—imprisoned, helpless, smothered by a bond I never asked for.

I glanced at the clock on my phone, the numbers burning my eyes in the darkness of the room. I didn’t know if it was today or tomorrow or some other time altogether, but I knew what needed to be done.

So, I stayed where I was and let my stomach gnaw away at itself until there was nothing left.

I could feel the darkness coming up on me as I slowly faded away.

It didn’t matter any longer what was going on. I just wanted to die and go. That was my only way to escape these people and have freedom.

“Karla!” I heard people banging on the door as I closed my eyes and slept.