Omega's Awakening: Worthless to priceless

Mira's POV

My bleeding fingers stung, evoking in me the tears I have managed to keep at bay. I wiped away the tears mixed with sweat incurred from relentless work.

My stomach grumbled in hunger. The pangs I felt in my lower abdomen made it impossible for me to straighten my back as I continued scrubbing the floor as I've been doing for over three hours now.

"Hey there, Mute Mira!" I heard Martha's voice and flinched. I lifted my eyes, meeting her hard glare.

She dropped a pile of clothes and soap. I clenched my fist in anger as I already understood what I'm supposed to do with it.

She turned to leave, but I held her feet, dragging her back.

"Don't you dare touch me with those filthy hands of yours, you low life servant," Martha shrugged and stepped on my hand, bruising it the more.

Tears streamed down my eyes as I watched her walk away. She had promised to give me food as soon as I was done, but now, she has added more chores.

I chuckled mockingly as I wondered when I would stop living such a pathetic life.

The only wrong I have done in life is being an omega and losing my parents at a young age. With no family to claim me, and no relatives to take care of me.

I became the property of the pack, tossed and used by anyone. They all treat me like a servant, not caring about how I feel.

As if that wasn't enough, the moon goddess has decided to punish me for reasons I'm yet to understand. I'm yet to have a wolf.

More tears streamed down my face as I continued to scrub the floor, with feelings of pain all over my body.

***

I yawned and stretched my body as I dried the last set of clothes. I dragged my feet and found my way to one of the rocks in the garden.

I heard indistinct chatters and murmurs from afar as I leaned against the wall. I struggled to keep my eyes open, as I wouldn't dare to doze off. Martha will make my life a living hell if I don't stay up and watch the cloth dry out completely.

Besides, I'm waiting for the maids and servants assigned to the kitchen to retire to the servants' quarters so I can get some leftover food. It's the best I would be able to get anyway.

I sat there reminiscing on how hard my life has been. And it doesn't seem like it's going to get any better. With the kind of hatred the Alpha has for me? I would probably die as a servant in this pack with no one to save me.

A few hours later, everywhere turned quiet with most of the lights out. Martha must be snoring her nose out at this point.

I stood up but fell back as dizziness overwhelmed me. I struggled to sit back, but my bones were too weak and had a mind of their own. I had to stay there for a while till I was able to gather the remaining strength in me.

I dragged my weak self to the kitchen, taking each step like an attacked and dying wolf. The smell of grilled meat filled my nose, and I quivered as my body shook.

I never get to come here during the day, I can't remember the last time I saw meat. My stomach twisted in pain, and I climbed down the kitchen window as it's the only way to gain access.

My eyes scanned the entire place, looking for any plate I could find. I caught sight of a golden plate and knew for sure it was the Alpha's plate.

I reached out for it and immediately filled my mouth with the bones. There was some meat on it, so I munched it down.

I scurried through the tray and found some milk as well. I gulped it down and belched so loud I had to cover my mouth so as not to wake anyone up.

I found more plates of leftover foods and turned them over into a plate. I sat down on the floor and dug into different kinds of food.

There was bread, milk, vegetables, meat, soup, and even grains. I need as much food as I can lay my hands on.

Finally, I was done, I climbed the kitchen window outside and ran back to the garden where I had spread the clothes.

I didn't have any blanket, so I laid on the cold rock, my body hitting against the hard surface. I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep. I have to be up early tomorrow morning so I can clean before Martha wakes up.

The following morning, I jolted up shivering as my eyes popped open. I glanced around, and I could see some of the servants with buckets in their hands.

I checked my body, and I was dripping water.

"No..." I whispered, tears trickling down my eyes. I only have two clothes, the other one has been seized by Martha. She promised to give it back later this week. This is the only spare I have, and now it's wet.

I wiped the water away from my eyes so I could see clearly. It was none other than Nora and Jessica.

"Mute Mira overslept? That has never happened before. I thought you were the perfect hard worker," Nora mocked, and I looked up at them, my eyes wet with tears.

"Since you love to do all the work in the pack mansion. You should head over to the Alpha's room cause he's looking for you," Jessica said, and my eyes widened with shock.

My chest moved up and down as I panicked at their words. I immediately stood up and headed to the Alpha's room.

I arrived there and Martha was there. The moment she sighted me, her face twisted in disdain.

I went on my knees with my head bowed, and before I knew what was happening, the Alpha slapped me across the cheek.

Mira's POV

I fell to the floor, my cheek burning in pain. I couldn't dare to bring my face up.

"How dare you eat from my plate? Have you totally lost your mind?" The Alpha yelled at me, and I just sat there on the floor choking on my tears.

"I think I'm being lenient with you. That is why you have the audacity to go into my kitchen and eat from my plate," he continued, and I couldn't bring myself to deny the fact.

Someone must have seen me yesterday and went ahead to report me to the Alpha. It's the only explanation for what had just happened.

But it's not my fault. If I had not gone to eat those leftovers, I would probably be dead by now from starvation.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" The Alpha asked, and I lifted my face up. Our eyes met, and I quickly looked away, unable to stand his wicked gaze.

"I..." I was starting to say.

"Just shut it. You have no defence. You should be grateful that I adopted and allowed you to live here at the Pack Palace." He began to remind me of how, according to him, fortunate I am.

"Do you think every Alpha is this nice to their subordinates? I took you in when your miserable parents died." He added, and I felt my blood boiling in my veins. He does this all the time, always involving my parents.

He knows how much it gets to me, and that's why he keeps doing it. But I didn't dare to show my anger. The last time I lashed out, I was locked in the prison for three days with nothing to eat or drink.

My death flashed me in the face, and ever since then, I stopped defending myself no matter what. I just stare in silence, allowing them to do whatever they please.

I can only hope that one day, they stop treating me like this. I sobbed as those thoughts came running through my head.

"I feed and clothe you. You must think of me as a weak and stupid leader. That is why you will not listen to whatever I tell you and know your freaking place," he said, brushing his fingers through his hair in anger.

I flinched as I watched him walk towards me.

"Were you trying to challenge my authority as the Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack?" He bent down and asked me, and I shook my head profusely, sniffing back the tears threatening to fall down my eyes.

"Then what did you do that for?" He yelled at me and grabbed my hair, pulling it so hard.

"Aaahhh!!" I yelled in pain, hot tears falling down my eyes. I caught a glance of Martha grinning wickedly, and I knew in that instant that this was all planned by her.

She refused to give me food and made me work so late. She also made me wash those clothes so I would be in the garden, which is close to the kitchen and servant quarters.

She must have planted those leftovers there and had someone watch so the Alpha would find out, and I would be in trouble.

'What did I ever do to you?' I screamed at her in my mind, and with a final breath, I lost consciousness.

***

I opened my eyes to the chilly breeze, making me shiver. My clothes were still a little wet, which made it worse. I looked to my left and noticed some guards.

That was when I came to the realisation that I've been locked up in prison once again. Wouldn't be the first time, and most definitely won't be the last.

I drew a sharp breath, trying to collect my thoughts. My throat felt dry and husky, so I crawled to the gate of the cell I was put in and hit a little, drawing the attention of the guards.

"What does mute Mira want now?" one of the guards asked, his voice filled with sarcasm.

"Water..." I muttered under my breath, with my voice shaking as I spoke.

"Would you like to drink my wee? Trust me, when I say it's better than water," the other one replied to me, and they all burst into laughter, mocking me.

"Please!" I begged my eyes wet with tears. I could feel my throat closing up, and my chest tightened.

"Fine! But on one condition, you will do our laundry for a month," the guard replied to me, and my eyes widened with shock.

I'm still struggling to keep up with all the chores that I have to do. Martha, with the support of the Alpha, hates to see me breathe.

She delights in my suffering. If I'm to add more chores to the one I already have. I'm afraid I might not make it to the next moon

"Looks like you don't need the water anymore," the guard said and started walking away from my cell, but I quickly banged the cell gate with my last strength.

"Fine!" I agreed. I'm too desperate and won't even make it to doing any chores if I don't get water right away.

"You have some sense sometimes," the guard said, and in a few minutes, I was brought a gallon of water. Good thing he brought enough water.

He opened the gate to the cell and threw the gallon at the wall. With a loud burst, the water emptied on the floor.

"No! No!! No!!!" I cried, tears trickling down my eyes. I looked at the guards who were laughing, horrified and trembling.

"You need to see the look on your face. Did you really think I was going to give you water, you fool?" One of them asked and they laughed more.

"And remember you are still doing our laundry. You can't take your words back," the other guard said, and they both burst into another round of laughter.

I crawled weakly to where the gallon fell and scooped the little water left, just so I could breathe for a few more minutes.

Mira's POV

It's been a week since I have been here, and I have no idea when I would be getting out. To be honest, I love it here. I don't get to work from early in the morning into late hours at night.

Right here, I can get enough sleep, but out there, I couldn't even get four hours of sleep. Apart from the fact that I can't get leftovers to eat here, I can't take my bath, and the guards are always teasing and mocking me.

I will very much prefer to be imprisoned if I have my way around. I don't even have a wolf that would have loved to roam around.

"Time up!" I heard one of the guards' voices, and I looked up at him. He's probably here to tell me how pathetic my life is. I hear that all the time, and I'm even used to it now.

But to my surprise, two other guards came into the cell and grabbed me. I didn't bother to ask any questions or struggle with them. I will only be putting myself in so much trouble if I confront them.

They dragged me along and brought me to the Alpha's office. I inhaled sharply. There's absolutely nothing that they want to be done to me that has not already been done.

"Here she is, Alpha," one of the guards said, and before being told, I went on my knees with my head bowed.

"I hope you have learned your lesson and won't dare to cross me like that again. Take her away, Martha. I'm sure you know what to do with the wench," the Alpha said, and Martha pulled me up by my hair.

I followed after obediently wincing silently in pain as she pulled me along. We arrived at the kitchen, and my stomach churned at the offensive smell slammed at me in the face.

I may have been in prison for a week, but my sense of smell, I'm sure, is still as sharp as ever.

"I asked the maids not to touch a thing for the past week that you have been away. I'm sure you will be excited to do all the dishes and clean the kitchen. The maids will be back to prepare dinner. So make sure everything is done by then. I want the entire kitchen and hallway sparkling clean," Martha said, and I felt my heart beat stop for a second.

"You wouldn't mind, right? Well, unless you want me to go report you to the Alpha and let him know you have no interest in following his orders," Martha threatened, and I shook my head.

"Good! So get rid of that smell," she said and pushed me away. I almost fell to the ground but quickly caught myself.

Martha walked out, laughing her way out of the kitchen.

I wiped the tears off my eyes and the sweats that I gathered on my forehead. I packed my long black hair into a ponytail and grabbed one of the aprons. I tied it around my waist and got to work.

The sooner I start, the faster I'm able to finish up. I dried the last plate and placed it on the countertop. It's almost five in the evening, which means I've been here for six hours.

I cleaned the hallway already and eliminated the offensive stench. I could hardly breathe in here a while ago.

I picked the garbage neatly tied in a big nylon and headed for the woods where the dirt is being disposed of to be taken care of later, by the community guards.

I must count myself lucky that I'm not charged with the duty of doing it myself. I got into the wood and disposed of the dirt. I found a bird chipping on the tree, and the sound coming from its mouth provided me with some comfort.

I decided to stay a while. I needed all the breaks I could get. Besides, everyone will be too busy preparing the Alpha's meal of wish I am not worthy to be behold. They won't even realise that I'm not there.

The bird continued chipping, and I listened, humming some songs to go along with. If only my life could be as easy as this bird's, I would trade anything to be in its place.

But a girl can only dream. I exhaled sharply and decided to go back to the pack mansion. I should be available in case I'm needed to run errands.

My knee snapped and went numb the minute I tried to walk. I stumbled on the floor, hitting my leg on one of the tree branches.

"Ouch!" I cried out in pain, scaring the bird away.

"No birdie, please don't go away. Don't leave me too." I pouted my mouth heartbroken that I might have scared the poor bird. Now I'm all alone again, like always.

I pushed myself up and managed to stand. I began walking but froze on the spot to concentrate and be sure I had just heard right.

"Help..." I heard that distressed voice again, and I froze in shock.

"Help?" I repeated wanting to be sure I'm not in some nightmare.

"No!!!" I heard another scream and began walking towards where the voice came from.

All of a sudden, I heard tree branches tumbling over each other, and I felt fear gripped me. I gulped down some air as I took each step nervously.

"Who's that?" I called out, but no one answered me.

At first, I thought my mind must be playing a trick on me.

"Am I going crazy?" I muttered under my breath, but I quickly snapped out of my thoughts as I heard more tree branches break, thereby making a loud noise.

I walked faster, but my knee would not let me run. I followed the sound and tripped again, stumbling on some rock.

"Ahhh!" I screamed in pain. I lifted my eyes and almost collapsed again with the sight in front of me.

"Run!!" I yelled.