Sacrificed To The Triplet Alpha Kings novel Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Don’t Let Them See That You’re Different

Dora’s office was small and cluttered....filing cabinets, a desk covered in papers, a single chair besides the one behind the desk. Dora sat. Lilith remained standing.

"You work clean," Dora said, not looking up from whatever she was reading. "Same as before you left. No complaints from the crew, no drama, just moving through the assignments."

"That’s the job," Lilith said.

"It is." Dora finally looked at her. "You want to know what’s different about you?"

Lilith didn’t answer.

"You’re not afraid anymore," Dora continued. Her eyes were sharp, assessing. "A month ago, you had the look of someone who’d been crushed by the weight of everything. Desperate. Afraid you wouldn’t survive the next day." She paused. "Now you look like you’ve already died and came back."

It was close enough to the truth that Lilith’s chest tightened.

"Whatever happened at the Blackwood estate," Dora said, "you don’t need to tell me. That’s your business. But I’m telling you now, keep that look to yourself. Don’t let the pack see it. Don’t let them see that you’re different. Because different makes people uncomfortable, and uncomfortable makes them mean."

"I understand," Lilith said.

Dora studied her for another moment. Then: "Your mother. She’s still in the hospital?"

"Yes."

"Still unconscious?"

"Yes."

Dora nodded slowly, like she was putting pieces together. "And now you’re back working garbage duty. Which means the medical bills are your problem again."

It wasn’t a question.

Lilith didn’t answer.

"They’re bleeding you dry," Dora said quietly. "Making sure you never have enough to stand on your own two feet. Making sure you stay exactly where they want you....desperate, dependent, trapped." She leaned back in her chair. "I’ve seen it a hundred times. Pack keeps you just alive enough to work, but never comfortable enough to breathe."

"What choice do I have?" Lilith asked.

Dora smiled, but there was no humor in it. "That’s the question, isn’t it? What choice do any of us have?"

She gestured toward the door. "Get back to work. You’ve got four more hours."

Lilith turned to leave.

"Lilith," Dora called out.

She paused at the threshold.

"Keep your head down," Dora said. "Do your work clean. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And if you need something, just need someone to talk to....I’m around."

It was more kindness than Lilith expected from the system. More than she deserved. But she nodded anyway.

"Thank you," she said.

"Don’t thank me. Just survive."

Lilith went back to station three.

The afternoon stretched on. Sort. Separate. Move forward. The work was endless, the pile of refuse never diminishing no matter how much they processed. For every piece of garbage they sorted, more arrived in trucks from all across Shadowmere.

It was like trying to hold back the ocean with your bare hands.

At 7 PM, Dora called end of shift.

The omegas moved toward the equipment station to clock out. Emma caught up with Lilith as she was removing her gloves.

"I meant what I said earlier," Emma said quietly. "If you need anything. Someone to talk to, help with something, anything at all, I’m in omega housing, unit 204. You know where that is?"

Lilith nodded.

"Come by if you need to," Emma said. "Or don’t. But know that the option is there."

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