Harper POV:
I woke to the smell of antiseptic. The Pack Hospital.
My left hand was bandaged. The cuts were deep, but the silver had been neutralized.
"You're awake."
Bennet sat in the chair, looking tired. He reached for my face. I flinched.
He pulled back, looking offended. "Harper, I'm sorry. I reacted on instinct. I had to save the server."
"The server," I rasped. "Gianna."
Bennet's jaw tightened. "She is just staff, Harper. I've already reprimanded her."
Lies.
"I saw you on the table," I said.
"Concussion," he said smoothly. "You hit your head hard, love. You were hallucinating. Just like the phantom pains."
Gaslighting.
"I want to go home."
"Of course. But since you're injured... and clearly unstable... I've hired a live-in nurse."
The door opened.
Gianna walked in. She wore a modest gray uniform, head bowed in fake humility.
"This is Gianna," Bennet said, watching me closely. "She begged for a chance to redeem herself. I thought it would be... therapeutic for you to have someone serve you."
It was a Submission Test.
If I fought, he'd know I still had fire. He'd lock me down harder. If I accepted her, he'd think I was broken.
I looked at Gianna. She lifted her eyes for a split second, flashing a victorious smirk.
I looked at Bennet. His Alpha aura flared, daring me to challenge him.
I slumped my shoulders. I made myself small.
"Okay," I whispered. "Thank you, Alpha."
Bennet smiled—a terrifying, satisfied expression. He kissed my cheek.
"That's my good girl. See? I take care of you."
Gianna curtsied. "I will take excellent care of you, Luna."
The way she said "Luna" sounded like a slur.
I closed my eyes. Let them think I'm dead, I thought. Let them walk over the corpse.
Because in five days, the corpse was walking out the front door.
