Claimed By The Four Alphas Who Once Broke Me

LENA

Sweat burned my eyes, dripping down my face as I scrubbed another filthy plate.

My arms screamed in pain, my fingers were shriveled like old fruit, but I didn't stop. The pile of dishes in front of me was a mountain that never seemed to shrink.

"This is torture," I muttered, my voice so low it barely existed.

Who was I even talking to? Nobody cared. Nobody ever did. Whining was pointless-it'd only earn me a smack or something worse.

I sucked in a shaky breath and grabbed another plate, its greasy surface slipping in my sore hands.

I didn't even know I'd be slaving away today. My uncle didn't bother telling me last night. He just stormed into my room at dawn, ripped the threadbare blanket off me, and barked, "Get up, Lena. You're working the Beta's sixtieth birthday bash."

Like it was some grand favor.

A party. Yeah, right.

Not as a guest. Not even as a server. I was just the scum in the back, drowning in dishes while everyone else laughed, stuffed their faces, and danced to music I'd never hear.

I didn't argue. Never do. What's the point? Talking back only makes things uglier, and my life's already a rotting pile of garbage.

If I dared open my mouth, my uncle would make sure I regretted it. So I kept quiet, like always.

I was barely halfway through the dishes when a loud crash made me jump.

Another towering stack of plates and cups slammed onto the counter beside me. I flinched, my heart racing.

"Wash these too, Lena," snapped a woman in her fifties, her voice sharp and filled with pure disgust.

This evil woman called Martha. She always acted like she was queen of the world.

She didn't wait for a reply. Just waved over two younger women who dumped more grimy, food-crusted dishes into the sink with smirks on their faces.

"Move faster, you lazy slug!" Marta hissed, her hands planted on her hips. "What's wrong with you? You're slower than a dead snail. The real work's waiting, and you're dragging like you've got all day!"

I nodded, too exhausted to speak. My throat felt tight.

She glared at me like I was less than dirt-just a broken tool she could kick around. Honestly, that's probably all I am to these people.

"Hmph," she grunted, turning to leave.

I stared at the soapy water, counting the endless dishes in my head, wondering how I'd ever get home before my uncle and his wife.

If I was late... God, I didn't want to think about it.

Home wasn't a safe place. It was just another cage.

The dishes weren't even my biggest worry. I could handle the work-I'd done it a million times. What terrified me was time.

If I didn't finish before my uncle got home, if I wasn't there waiting like a good little servant, I'd pay for it. Badly.

Marta was almost at the door when she spun around, her eyes glinting with malice.

"Oh, and hurry up with those dishes," she spat. "You've got fifteen minutes. Then you're serving the guests. Don't mess this up, you little wretch."

I froze. My hands stopped scrubbing. The plate I was holding slipped and clinked against the sink.

"W-what?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.

She whipped around, her face twisted with rage. "Are you deaf, girl? Or just stupid?"

Her words hit like a slap. I swallowed hard, staring at the suds on my hands, trying to keep my voice steady.

"No, ma'am," I said quietly, forcing respect into my tone. "It's just... there's no way I can finish all these dishes in fifteen minutes. There's hundreds of them. It'll take at least an hour. Maybe someone else could serve while I-"

Her laugh cut me off, cold and cruel. "Oh, you think you get to make suggestions? You think I care about your pathetic excuses?"

I shook my head fast. "No, ma'am, I just-"

"Shut it, Lena!" she barked, stepping closer. Her eyes were like knives, slicing through me.

"Your greedy uncle swore you'd handle this job. Said you were 'reliable.' What a joke. You're too slow, too weak, too useless. But you're here now, so do the damn work-or I'll make sure you regret it."

My stomach twisted. I bowed my head, my voice trembling. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll try to finish in fifteen minutes and serve the guests."

"Try?" she sneered, her lip curling. "You don't try, you idiot. You do. Or I'll drag you to your uncle myself and let him deal with you."

She stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

I flinched, my heart pounding like it wanted to escape my chest.

For a moment, I couldn't move. My hands shook in the soapy water. Then I forced myself to scrub again, faster, harder.

The water burned my cracked fingers. My back screamed with every move. My body begged for a break, but I ignored it.

Stopping wasn't an option.

If Marta caught me slacking, or if someone else ratted me out to my uncle... I didn't want to think about it.

His punishments were always worse than this.

I must've washed over three hundred dishes by now. My hands felt like they belonged to someone else-numb, raw, useless.

My vision blurred from exhaustion, my head spinning. All I wanted was a second to lean against the counter, to close my eyes, to breathe.

I glanced around for a clock, desperate to know how much time I had left. Nothing. Just bare walls.

Then the door flew open with a bang, and my heart stopped.

Marta was back, her face red with fury.

"Why the hell aren't you done yet, you worthless brat?" she roared.

I dropped the plate I was rinsing, water splashing everywhere. Panic choked me.

"I-I'm sorry, ma'am! I tried, I swear, but there's so many-"

"Excuses!" she screamed, storming toward me. Her hand shot out, grabbing a greasy ladle from the counter. "You think I want to hear your whining?"

Before I could say another word, she hurled something at me. It flew through the air, aiming straight for my head.

LENA

I ducked almost immediately, but I wasn't fast enough.

A heavy glass-maybe a mug-smashed into my forehead with a sickening crack.

"Agh!" I screamed, stumbling back. My hand flew to my head, but blood was already pouring.

The pain exploded as the blood was now dripping into my eyes. It hurt so bad.

My vision blurred, a mix of tears and blood. My forehead throbbed like someone had hacked it with a blade.

My hands shook as I tried to wipe the mess away, but more kept coming, soaking my fingers.

"Is this it?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "Is this how I die?"

A glass thrown at my head like I was nothing?

"Why do you hate me?" I sobbed, clutching my forehead. The blood wouldn't stop. "What did I do?"

Marta stood there, her eyes cold and vicious.

She didn't care.

I'm an omega. A weak.

Other wolves heal in minutes. A cut like this? Nothing to them. But me? This gash could take days to close, and every second of it would hurt like hell.

"I try so hard," I choked out, tears mixing with the blood. "I work fast. I don't complain. I would've finished those dishes if you'd given me a chance. But you wanted me to fail. You wanted to hurt me."

"Why???"

Her lips curled into a sneer. "Because you're an omega," she spat, stepping closer. "You're a pathetic, useless thing. Your kind shouldn't exist."

"Weaklings like you belong in the dirt," she hissed. "The Alpha's too soft to wipe you out, so I'll do it myself."

She leaned in and spat on my face, the wet glob landing on my cheek, mixing with the blood.

I froze. My heart pounded so hard I thought it'd burst.

Who had hurt her to make her this cruel?

Or was it just me?

"People like you are a waste of air," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "And that blood on the floor? Perfect. I'll tell the Beta you're trying to curse his birthday with your filthy omega blood."

"What?" My voice cracked. "I didn't do anything! You threw the glass! I'm bleeding because of you!"

She laughed. "Who's going to believe you, Lena? A disgusting omega? They'll burn you before you can open your mouth."

My chest tightened. She was right. No one would listen to me.

I was nothing to them.

"Five minutes," she said, heading for the door. "I'll be back with the guards. If you're still here, crying and bleeding, even better. They'll drag you out and be done with you."

She smirked. "Good riddance."

BANG.

The door slammed shut.

I sank to my knees, the world spinning. Blood dripped onto the floor, pooling with soap and broken glass.

"Mom... Dad..." I whispered, staring at nothing. "Why did you leave me in this hell?"

My sobs echoed in the empty kitchen as I broke down.

The blood was blocking my view making it unable for me to see.

"I can't see, somebody help!!!." I cried as I was trying to clean the blood off my face.

I stayed on the floor, eyes squeezed shut against the stinging blood.

........

Finally, I forced myself to move, fumbling for my torn bag in the corner.

My hands shook as I pulled out an old rag. I pressed it to my forehead, wiping away the blood. It stung, but the bleeding had slowed.

I could open my eyes, just barely.

The floor was a disaster-blood, glass shards, soap foam. It looked like a slaughterhouse.

I limped to the tap, wincing as pain shot through my foot. I'd stepped on a glass shard, and it burned like hell.

Gritting my teeth, I washed my face and hands, the water stinging my cuts.

I had to clean up. If Marta saw a single drop of blood, she'd make good on her threat.

"My life's a nightmare," I muttered, watching the red swirl down the drain.

I cleaned the floor fast, scrubbing every speck of blood and glass.

Then I tore a strip from my rag and wrapped it around my cut foot, biting back a groan.

......

I then went back to the dishes.

The soap burned my raw hands, but I didn't stop. I couldn't dare stop.

After what seems like the longest time, I finally finished, my legs gave out. I collapsed into a chair, dizzy and weak. Every inch of me hurt.

The door swung open again.

I shot to my feet, ignoring the pain.

Marta stood there, giving me a cold look. .

I bowed, forcing a shaky smile. "I'm done, ma'am," I said softly.

She didn't blink. "Good. Now get out."

I hesitated. "But... my uncle's payment. For the work."

Her lips twisted into a mocking grin. "Payment? After you broke that glass? You're lucky I don't make you pay for it."

My heart sank. "But I didn't-" I whispered, my voice shaking.

Marta suddenly cut me off as she burst into laughter. "Who's going to believe you, you filthy omega?"

Her eyes gleamed with hate. "I could say you tried to poison the Beta, and they'd burn you without a second thought."

My knees wobbled, but I forced myself to stand.

"I didn't break that glass," I said, my voice barely audible. "You threw it at me."

She stepped closer, her lip curling. "Keep talking. No one cares. You're nothing."

"Now get out before I drag you to the guards myself."

My heart sank.

No money. If I went home empty-handed, my uncle would kill me.

"Please," I begged, dropping to my knees. Tears mixed with the blood on my face. "Just a little. He'll beat me to death if I don't bring something. Please."

Marta's eyes were cold. Empty.

"Good," she sneered. "Let him. Saves me the trouble of dealing with your worthless kind."

I couldn't breathe, my chest tight with panic.

"Please..." I whispered, choking on sobs. "I'll do anything."

"Disgusting," she spat. "Get out of my sight. Other maids are waiting to replace you."

She turned and slammed the door so hard I flinched.

I grabbed my ragged bag, my hands shaking, and limped out the back door.

My foot burned with every step, my head pounding.

People stared as I dragged myself down the street. Their whispers were as mean as always.

"Filthy omega."

"Look at her, covered in blood. A curse."

"She shouldn't be here with normal wolves."

I kept my head down, used to it.

The words still hurt, but I had no fight left.

The sun scorched my skin as I limped home.

Home wasn't safe but I didn't have a choice because I have absolutely no where to go apart from home.

My heart raced as I reached the door, hands trembling.

I whispered a prayer to the Moon Goddess, knowing she'd never answered before.

"Just this once, please. No more pain tonight."

My uncle sat in his creaky chair, a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table.

He reeked of sweat and booze, his shirt unbuttoned, eyes glassy.

I tried to tiptoe past, holding my breath, but his voice stopped me cold.

"Where do you think you're going, Lena?"

I froze. My stomach twisted. "I-I was just going to clean up," I stammered, forcing a weak smile.

He stood, swaying, a nasty grin spreading across his face.

"No hello for your uncle? Rude little brat."

He stepped closer, and I backed into the wall, heart pounding.

"Please," I whispered, eyes down. "I didn't mean to-"

"Where's my money?" His voice turned sharp, hungry.

He grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Give it to me."

My breath caught. "I... I wasn't paid," I said, barely audible.

His eyes darkened. "What?" he growled.

Before I could explain, his fist slammed into my face..

My nose broke, blood gushing down my chin. I gasped, collapsing to the floor, pain exploding in my skull.

"Where's my money, you useless thing?" he roared, kicking my side. Once. Twice. Again.

Each hit stole my breath. I curled up, choking on blood, unable to scream.

"Please," I whimpered, barely able to speak. "I tried... she wouldn't pay me... I swear..."

He didn't care. His fists kept coming, pounding my ribs, my back.

I was nothing but a punching bag, my body screaming for it to stop.

Then he paused, panting, and crouched beside me.

His grin was pure evil.

"You're done working for me," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "I sold you. Pack your pathetic rags. Your new master's coming tonight."

My heart stopped.

"W-what?" I croaked, blood dripping from my lips.

"You heard me," he snarled, standing. "You're someone else's problem now.."

LENA.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice shaking, my throat closing up tight with fear. My lips trembled as I stared at my uncle.

This couldn't be happening. He wasn't for real. He must be drunk-he had to be playing some sick joke.

"Please tell me you're joking," I whispered. "You're just trying to scare me, aren't you?"

I looked around the room, telling myself this was all a bad dream. Maybe I fainted from the hurt earlier and none of this was true.

I lifted my hand slow and slapped my cheek-light at first, then harder.

"Wake up, Lena," I mumbled to myself. "Wake up from this. It's just a nightmare. The Moon Goddess must have made you sleep. This can't be real."

But nothing changed. My uncle still stood there. That same nasty smirk on his face.

I looked into his eyes, begging for a sign-anything-that he was lying.

"Uncle... look at me and say it's not true," I said, stepping closer with tears blurring everything. "Say it's a joke. A mean prank. Please, I'm on my knees here."

I reached for his hand. I just wanted him to hold it for a second. Pat my head and say, "Lena, you dumb girl, of course it's a joke." I prayed for that.

But instead...

He grabbed my head and smashed it against the wall, hard.

"Aaaah!!" I screamed, dropping to the floor as pain exploded in my skull. It burned sharp, like my brain was splitting open.

Blood started pouring out again. I felt it trickling down my forehead, past my nose, soaking into my ripped dress.

"No... no, please no!" I sobbed, pressing my hand to the wound, but it kept coming. It wouldn't stop.

I looked up at him through my watery eyes, shaking all over.

He snorted and folded his arms, rolling his eyes like I was being silly.

"Why are you whining like a baby?" he said, his voice ice cold. "Why cry over nothing?"

I blinked at him, shocked.

"You're not supposed to bleed so easy," he went on. "If you were a real wolf, strong like us, a little bang like that would toughen you up. But no, you're weak. Bleeding like trash. Crying like a worthless pup. That's why you're nothing."

"That's why I sold you," he said, like it was no big deal, like selling old junk. "Sold you to the alpha of our pack. Now you're gone, and I get money. Good deal for me."

My heart broke more. I wanted to yell. To run. But I couldn't move.

Another tear fell.

He smirked again.

"You wanted to know if this was a dream?" he mocked, throwing my words back. "Well, slamming your head proves it, right? Feel that pain? That's real."

I pressed my shaky hand to my forehead, trying to stop the blood. My eyes were still blurry, and blood tasted salty in my mouth.

"Get ready," he said flat. "They come for you today."

He sat back in his chair, grabbed his old newspaper, and started reading like I wasn't there.

"Please..." I whispered, throat dry, lips cracked. "I'm begging. Not for me, but for my dead parents."

My voice broke as tears came again. "Think of them. Just once. How they'd feel... you selling their girl for cash."

He didn't look up. He just smiled.

"How they'd feel?" he mocked. "Grateful, that's how. Grateful someone took their useless omega kid who can't do a thing right. They'd thank me for dumping the load."

My heart twisted hard.

I fell to the floor. I wanted to scream. To disappear. But I just cried.

I looked up, still crying. "You hurt me because the ones who'd save me are dead."

He dropped the paper, stared right at me, and spoke again.

"Right, Lena. They're dead. And guess what? You killed them."

"You heard me. Your cursed birth killed them. So no, they can't help now." His voice dripped hate.

"Be thankful," he said. "I thought you were worth zero. But you fetched a bit. So hey, not total trash."

I dropped to my knees in front of him.

"Uncle... please..." I cried. "Tell me the price. I'll work hard. Ten times harder. Pay you back double, I swear. Just say how much they paid for me."

He didn't flinch.

"You couldn't earn that in your sorry life," he said cold.

The front door creaked open.

I turned fast, wiping tears with my hand. It was my aunt.

For a second, hope flickered.

She's here. She'll stop this. She won't let her niece get sold like meat.

I stumbled toward her, falling at her feet. "Auntie, please," I sobbed. "Please, don't let them take me. Don't let him sell me. I'll do anything. Please."

She didn't answer.

Instead, she shoved me out of her way-hard enough to make me hit the floor-and walked straight toward the table.

Uncle pulled out a fat envelope, slammed it down, opened it, and spread cash like a prize.

"Too late," she said, smiling like she loved my pain. "Paid already. Debt gone, and this"-she pointed at the extra money-"is bonus."

"This... is my worth?" I whispered, voice gone.

She scoffed, arms crossed. "Be lucky. Thought you were worthless like your dead mom. But offer came, we grabbed it fast."

Pain got worse.

"Cry all you want, Lena. Scream, roll around. Won't change a thing. Guards are here now. You'll go."

I knew I was nothing. Felt it daily. But why rub it in? Why laugh?

Why do people love reminding the broken they're broken?

I should've stopped hoping.

No words could fix it. Their minds were alreadymade up.

I turned slow.

Through the window, I saw them waiting for me outside.

I started crying hard again.

"Please... one more chance," I begged her, clutching her dress. "Don't do this today."

She shoved me off.

"Get out," she said cold. "Or they'll drag you."

I had no choice.

I walked to the door, tears streaming.

The guards grabbed my arms rough and they pulled me to the car.

I climbed in as I was still crying.

One of the guards finally spoke.

"You should save your strength," he said without looking at me. "You'll need it once you reach the pack. A lot is waiting for you there."

His words didn't help. If anything, they made the fear worse. But what could be worse than this?

The ride felt like it lasted forever. Trees blurred past.

By the time we stopped, I was numb again.

The guards led me inside, saying nothing. I followed them.

We walked through long halls for what seems like eternity.

Finally, they stopped at a small door and opened it.

"This is your room," one of them said, tossing a bundle of clothes onto the bed. "Get dressed. You have five minutes. The Alpha is expecting you."

He turned to leave but paused at the door. His eyes flicked to my face.

"And clean that mess off," he added flatly. "The Alpha won't want to see you looking like roadkill."

Then they left.

The room was tiny-barely enough space to breathe. Just a single bed, a small sink, and a cracked mirror on the wall.

I picked up the clothes.

The fabric was rough and smelled faintly of soap and harsh chemicals. My fingers shook as I unfolded it, staring for a long time before forcing myself to change. The dress scratched my skin, clinging to every bruise.

When I finally looked into the mirror, a stranger stared back. Pale skin, eyes red and swollen, a faint line of blood still dark along my temple. I turned on the sink, washed my face, scrubbing until the last trace of red was gone.

Just as I was about to open the door to leave, something hit me.

I don't even know where the Alpha is.

Oh no. I don't know where to go.

Panic crawled up my throat.

I took a deep breath and stepped out of the room anyway.

I'd have to guess. Maybe I could find the Alpha's chamber just by instinct.

I walked slowly through the halls, hoping no one would yell at me or punish me for being lost. My hands kept shaking as I touched the cold stone walls to guide me.

Then I saw a grand door-tall, carved, with gold handles and a dark wolf insignia in the center. It looked like something out of a fairy tale.

This had to be it.

I swallowed hard and reached for the handle. My heart was beating so fast I thought I'd pass out. I didn't even knock. I just... opened it.

And that's when I saw something that made my whole body freeze.

"So... you're the one who's been sneaking in to watch me get naked?"