Harper’s [POV]
After breakfast, I make my way into town.
Charlotte offers a driver for me, but I decline.
I could use the fresh air.
Aurora is quaint, with small shops and a tiny local grocery store, which I wander into. While I explore, I catch residents smiling at me, and I smile back.
The town is extremely welcoming.
And it feels incredible to be away from him.
I recall his words in my head and the more I ruminate on them, the angrier I become.
“You can’t go anywhere without me it’s not safe.”
“Many people don’t like you, Harper. It’s better if you don’t make friends around here.”
“It’s better you don’t remember your past.”
“I’m your only family, babe.”
I shudder.
And the worst part is I believed for so long.
Waking up in the hospital, him standing over me with tears in his eyes. Him stroking my hair, pressing a kiss to my head.
Telling the nurse I’m his girlfriend, and how we’ve been together for three years.
Him crying as he fucks me, telling me how much he loves me and begging me to never leave him.
Always insisting he goes everywhere with me.
Reminding me to take my medicine.
Oh.
Which reminds me.
I need to get those pills, which will hopefully stave off the headache that’s forming around my eyes.
The clerk waves goodbye to me as I leave the market, a jar of local honey in tow.
“There must be some mistake.”My lower lip trembles as fear build in my chest.
I’m going to throw up.
“There is no mistake, Miss Chapman. I apologize. That prescription doesn’t exist.”
The pharmacist is empathetic but firm. “I’m not sure what you were taking you said it was for headaches?”
I nod, horror creeping up my spine.
“There’s nothing with that name. Nothing even relatively close.”
“Okay,” I breathe.
This is fine.
The Beta pharmacist frowns. “If you have headaches, I could send a message to your doctor”
“No.”
“You said your boyfriend was filling these for you?” She returns to her computer, typing.
“Yes. Um, ex-boyfriend.”
Don’t cry don’t cry.
“And what’s his name?”
“Michael,” I whisper as acid forms in my gut. “Michael Hawkins.”
Even saying his name makes me want to scream.
“He’s not in the system. Do you know your doctor’s name?”
She continues asking me questions, but I’m too absorbed in my panic to answer.
What the hell was Michael giving me?
Why don’t I know who my doctor was?
Why did he hide my paperwork from me?
“Was it just for headaches?” Her questions snap me out of my stupor.
“That’s what he said they were for,” I whisper.
She stares at me for a long time, a frown forming on her face.
I can practically hear the words in her mind.
Why were you letting someone else give you meds?
Her judgmental face sickens me, and I blurt out a response before I can stop myself.
“He was my caretaker after I had a car accident. He had all my medical records, history, everything.”
“Well, if you have his information, I can contact”
“No!” I snap, and she raises an eyebrow. “I can’t. It’s not he’s not safe.” I exhale slowly, biting my lip.
Her frown grows, but she nods. “Aisle ten has headache medications, but if the symptoms get worse, I encourage you to go to a doctor. If you don’t know what he was giving you…well, it could be bad.”
I swallow nervously. “I know,” I whisper.
“And there’s no chance you could be in Heat?”
Her words stun me. “I’m a Beta. My identity card saysBeta.”
She read it, didn’t she?
She shrugs. “It doesn’t hurt to ask.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, thanks. I appreciate your help.”
She mumbles something as I walk to aisle ten.
As I grab a bottle of headache relief, a cheery “Hi!” sounds next to me.
I turn to see a petite woman around my age with large brown doe eyes and blonde curly ringlets. She’s looking at me with wonder and a kind smile.
Judging by her delicate features and soft floral scent, she’s an Omega.
“Hi?” I’m puzzled by her greeting, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
“How are you?” she breathes, her eyes bright with warmth.
“Um, good. And you?”
She lets out a choked laugh. “It’s so good to see you again.” She stands there, looking like she wants to pull me in for a hug.
Michael said you’ve been here before.
The silence turns awkward, and her smile slowly fades. “How long are you here for?”
“Renee!” the pharmacist calls, and the Omega looks towards her, then back at me.
“Sorry, I don’t,” I say, but the pharmacist interrupts again.
“Renee? Your prescription is ready.”
“Oh-okay,” she says, then looks back at me. “Well, call me while you’re here, okay? We can grab lunch and talk.”
“Sure.”
I don’t know your phone number.
But she walks away before I can say anything.
I buy the pills and then leave, shaken by the strange interactions.
The rest of the town is lovely, but I can’t forget the look Renee gave me.
She looked at me like I was an old friend.
How long ago was my last trip here?