Page 175 of Tangled in Knots

“Who would do that?” I ask, annoyed and upset as I follow her out. Something tugs at my mind, but I can’t quite catch it as we walk back to the shelter. I’m simply too tired.

Slipping into my room, I text Morris that I’m going to spend the night at the shelter and crawl into my sheets to nap.

There’s an odd scent in my bed, and it smells like hibiscus. It’s too floral, bothering my nose.

“Ew,” I whimper, sitting up. Pulling my sheets off, I wonder why or how this is possible.

Peeking out of my room, I step out as I hear Aisling’s voice. The meeting apparently is already starting. I can hear the stern tone of her words. Glad I don’t have to sit through it. Walking quickly, I head to the laundry room with my bundle of bedsheets.

Even my knitted blanket is tainted. Was someone sleeping in my bed? Gross, oh my God. Gagging, I find an open washing machine to dump my sheets in. My blanket goes into another machine, my hands shaking as I pour in detergent. It’s supposed to pull scents from material, and I’m fully hoping it works.

I feel fucking violated. I’m so incredibly angry, because that space was mine, and solely mine. Everything I have is gone that was in my father’s mansion, the issue is it’s all finally hitting me.

It’s been months, my body has been numb, while I’ve been in survival mode.

This is my last straw.

Gasping out a sob, I cover my mouth with my hand. Except, I touched the sheets with it, and it’s now contaminated. A terrifying gag signals that I’m going to lose the small lunch I had, causing me to race to the large communal bathroom.

My knees barely hit the tile floor before I’m puking into the porcelain throne, shuddering in pain.

I’ve been doing so well, keeping my food down, and managing to eat better. This feels like several steps backward.

Tears roll down my cheeks as I flush the toilet, my stomach cramping up hard. My ass hits the ground as I rub my tummy, begging it to settle. I banged my hurt arm coming into the stall, and it’s beginning to throb as well. Today is not my day.

It takes a full twenty minutes and one more panicked puking session when I remember I haven’t washed my hands, so I still smell like my sheets before I emerge from the stall. Paula is leaning against the wall as I move to wash my hands thoroughly before I rinse my mouth out.

The whole awful process will begin again otherwise.

“Do I need to tell Aisling that you’re purging?” Paula asks. “That’s considered risk taking behavior and could get you kicked out.”

I didn’t know that, but I ignore her since I’m not purging. I wish I could keep my food in for fuck’s sakes. She can accuse me of whatever she’d like, but my trauma isn’t for public consumption, and she’s a known gossip.

For good measure, I scrub my hands once more before drying them. As I pass by her, I get a whiff of her scent and stumble. Hibiscus.

So many nights, I’ll forget to wash my face after work, so the gel continues to work in between shifts. I didn’t realize until right now that I’m so sensitive to how powerful it is that it stuffs up my nose. Therefore, I can’t smell anything.

Fuck.

Why was she in my room, and laying in my sheets?

“Can I ask you a question?” I rasp, my voice really rough after spending the past few minutes getting sick.

“Sure,” Paula says, amused. “I think you should be focusing on yourself, since you’re obviously such a shit show, but you go right ahead.”

“Why are you here?” I ask her. I was going to initially ask her why she was in my room, but pivoted at the last moment.

I don’t think I’ll get many answers from her if I go in full force. My fingers twitch for my knife, and I’m thankful I fell into bed with it still strapped to my thigh. I’ve started wearing more dresses and skirts, since they’re comfortable and it’s easier to access my weapon. If it makes sense, I’ll do it.

“Now you’re going to act all curious?” Paula scoffs. “I’ve been trying to be nice to you for ages, and you wouldn’t give me the time of day. I don’t think you deserve nice. You’re a pain in the ass. My boss wants a pretty little omega, and I’m going to give her one.”

“Your what? Ow!” I yell when she grabs my hair and starts to drag me toward the door. I don’t know how she’s planning to get me out of here, but I’ll play along.

I’m going to need witnesses that she’s a spy anyway. I’ll pretend to be a poor little omega for a while longer. I can’t kill every asshole who tried to kidnap me, can I?

“Let me go!” I continue to yell as she yanks me out of the bathroom and toward the back door.

I can still hear Aisling’s voice on the other side of the shelter, which means Paula snuck out.

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