Page 118 of Knot My Wonderland
I tried to push down the horror going through my bond, but I couldn’t help it. I was scared and I knew I had to fight this. I had too because Wonderland was counting on it.
“You can be molded to be an obedient heir…something my son sadly isn’t.” The Queen laughed as she motioned for the guards to keep holding me but not go anywhere yet.
"But first," the Red Queen continued, her crimson dress flowing as she approached me again, "we need to discuss proper behavior during your stay." Her ruby eyes gleamed with malicious anticipation. "The cleansing ritual will prepare your body to receive the pattern transfer, but your mind... that requires more delicate conditioning."
The guards' grip tightened on my arms as she circled us, her Alpha presence pressing against my consciousness like a suffocating blanket. Through the golden bond, I felt Heart's flickering awareness surge with protective fury, but the connection was growing weaker with each passing moment.
"You see, Alice," she purred, stopping directly in front of me, "breaking an Omega's will is an art form. Too much force and the mind shatters completely—useless for my purposes. Too little, and defiance festers like an infection." Her painted lips curved in a cruel smile. "The balance lies in making you believe surrender is your only option." Her fingers traced my cheek with mock tenderness. "First, we isolate you from your anchors.Then, we introduce just enough pain to keep you disoriented but conscious. Finally—" her ruby eyes gleamed with anticipation, "—we offer comfort, but only when you obey."
I forced myself to meet her gaze despite the overwhelming urge to submit. The silver patterns beneath my skin flickered like dying stars, struggling against her oppressive presence.
"Others have tried to break me before," I said, my voice surprisingly steady as I remembered the people who tried in my world who tried to get me to conform, "They failed."
The Red Queen's laughter echoed through the chamber, crystalline and terrible.
"I don't want a broken puppet," she continued, her fingertips brushing my cheek in a mockery of tenderness. "I want a daughter who understands her place in the hierarchy. Obedient, but still... intelligent."
I jerked my face away from her touch, earning a tightened grip from the guards that made me wince. The silver patterns beneath my skin flickered like dying embers, struggling against whatever magical suppression permeated this place.
“Once you are trained you will be perfect.” She gave me a full grin before leaning down to me again, “Things will be so much better when you are a regular Omega with no extra power to fight. “
I wanted to yell and cry out, but I bit my lip holding down what I wanted to say. I knew it wouldn’t help me at this moment. The Queen clearly seeing it gave me a small smirk as she gave me cheek one final pet.
“Now sleepand let my guards take you to your room.” The Alpha command hit me like a sledgehammer, overwhelming my already weakened defenses. My consciousness wavered as my body went limp, the silver and gold patterns beneath my skin dimming to barely visible threads. The guards' mechanical gripwas the only thing keeping me upright as darkness crept in at the edges of my vision.
Through the fading golden bond, I felt Heart's anguish spike as he sensed my forced unconsciousness. Even wounded and bleeding, his fury burned bright enough to pierce through the Red Queen's magical barriers for just an instant—long enough for me to feel his desperate promise that he would find me.
Then the darkness claimed me completely.
