Page 3 of Alpha’s Possession

What did she jab me with, and where did she get it? I can't move as I watch her scoop up my bag and ID in horror.

This explains why she used make-up. She needs to cover the scar on her face. It is the only thing that sets us apart. Just before she walks out, she comes over to me.

"When you wake, pretend to be me; I won't let the Obsidian Pack kill you. I know you hate this Omega stuff, and I can't let you go through it. Escape and keep using the de-scenter until you do." her words become softer as my vision blurs. My surroundings slowly vanish as my sight is stolen by whatever she used to drug me.

"I love you, Low. Now be a good Omega," are the last words I hear before the door shuts behind her.

She’s taking my place. Zara’s taking my place and sacrificing herself for me. I’m killing her, killing my own sister, my twin. A lone tear slips down my cheek at that thought as my paralyzed body gets sucked into the oblivion of darkness.

Chapter Two

~Harlow~

FOUR DAYS LATER

So far, there has been no news, not a single word from my sister. I'm out of the de-scenter she left, having used the last of it last night.

Mrs. Yates is nervous when she picks me up from my room. Today is the day Zara is supposed to be tested, but I’m getting retested in her place. Mrs. Yates hardly speaks to me and is tense as we walk to the auction house. I did my make-up the same way my sister occasionally did hers, keeping up the appearance that I am Zara.

"You never know; your test scores could be as high as your sister's," she chimes happily as we reach the doors leading in.

Oh, they will be high, alright, because the tests have already been run, I think dryly.

"Have you heard anything from Harlow?" I ask, curiosity lacing my voice.

Mrs. Yates becomes even more nervous, but she remains silent and gives a swift shake of her head.

After they run their tests and take my blood, I wait in the same lobby at the auction house, sitting in the same hard, blue chair as before, only this time, Zara isn't with me holding my hand. This time I am completely alone.

Yet when Mrs. Yates comes back, overly excited and bubbly, confusion crosses my features. Surely, I didn't test higher than before. I try to be upbeat, to act how I know Zara would.

"What's the verdict?" I ask, pretending to be excited.

"Perfect, eighty-seven percent, just like Harlow," she announces, though I don't miss the way her lip quivers at the mention of my name.

A tear slides down my cheek, and my heart starts pounding against my ribcage.

"Mrs. Yates?" I whisper when Mr. Black strolls into the lobby.

He snatches the paper from her hands; his greedy eyes take in the numbers printed on the page before a sly smirk spreads across his lips.

"Splendid! Marvelous! Unbelievable! The luck, Mrs. Yates, two in a row! Oh, those Obsidians will jump on this one too. I'll launch the auction," he cheers and rushes away before either of us can utter a word or objection.

I just sit and stare after him. Mr. Black's shiny, black shoes click on the sterile floor as he rushes off in his flashy suit. It looks new, and I bet he got it with all the money they got from my previous auction. The money that might have cost my sister her life.

"Mrs. Y-Yates?" I stammer as I stare after him.

"Harlow didn't make it, Zara. I'm so sorry. She couldn't take his knot, and he tried to force it. Harlow bled out," Mrs. Yates admits, staring down at her feet. I hope she feels ashamed of herself, of how they keep selling off girls, knowing they'll end up dead.

I blink back tears. My eyes sting, and I suddenly can't breathe. Something deep inside me shatters into a million sharp pieces, slicing through me like a razor's edge.

A deep, guttural scream leaves my lips as I collapse to the floor. For days, I wondered, yet had heard nothing. I figured no news is good news.

A wave of pain tears through me and steals the air from my lungs. I killed her; I killed my twin. She died because of me.

I remember little besides the wailing howls I make before a pinch in my neck causes everything to shut off. Everything goes black, and I welcome the darkness. Anything to stop the pain, I am sure will tear me apart and leave nothing behind but fractured pieces.

I am in an omega facility hospital room when I come to. Mrs. Yates hovers over me. I try to sit up, but the handcuffs on my wrist prevent me from moving.