Page 86 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys
But the telltale ping sounded, and the doors slid apart to reveal a hospital like hallway.
"We've arrived, Ms. Shaw," said the bespectacled man with forced enthusiasm. "Welcome to the Eros Institute."
Welcome.As if I were a guest rather than a captive. As if this were a beginning rather than an end.
What was happening now was far worse than my injury, because this time, as my reality shifted and rearranged, it wasn’t an unkind twist of fate. This was deliberate. Orchestrated. A system functioning exactly as designed, with me caught in its machinery.
We were moving again, winding through identical hallways which left me lost and confused. Eventually, Grouse slid an ID card, and we pushed into an office. He beelined to a desk, setting down his things and picking up a desk phone. He pressed one button and waited.
“Yes, we’ve arrived with the new intake.”
Pause.
“Confirmed, Nelly Shaw. Extraction from Club Midnight. Unregistered Omega working in prohibited employment. All the contracts are in place.”
Pause.
“Yes, product as expected. Good bone structure. Excellent muscle tone. Minimal modification needed before shipment.”
Pause.
“Already? Fantastic.”
Pause.
“Wonderful. They’ve been waiting a long time.”
Pause.
“Tomorrow? We can make that timeline work.”
Minimal modification…
Before shipment…
Tomorrow…
Those five words replaced ‘product’ and ‘lucky’. They kept repeating in my brain.
“Perfect. I’ll wrap up the paperwork and send her over in about half an hour.” Grouse finished the call and placed the phone in its cradle.
“Okay, Ms. Shaw. Just a few additional things to go over. If you’ll have a seat, then?—”
I cut him off. “What did all that mean?” I bit my lip. I wanted to be mad. I wanted to fight like hell. Unfortunately, I just felt so scared again. “When you said shipment tomorrow,” I clarified.
“It’s amazing news really, Ms. Shaw. You’ve already been matched! Many Omegas brought in under the protection act wait weeks or months for their right matches. So, so lucky. Didn’t I tell you how lucky you were?”
Stop. Saying. That. Word.
“And shipment tomorrow…” I didn’t have to ask him to clarify that.
“Yes! Your new life starts so soon!” He nearly crowed out the words, facing pinking. “Let’s pick up the pace and get you to beautification. Sooner the better!”
No.
I don’t want this.
I don’t want any of this.
