LENA

I shoved him away the instant the door flew open behind me, stumbling back in a rush of shame.

My skin burned hot, like fire under my uniform. My cheeks felt like they were glowing, and I couldn't bring myself to look up. I bowed my head low, as if the floor could swallow me whole and hide me from the mess I'd walked into.

I pressed a hand over my face, wishing I could vanish. Why had this happened? Why had I ended up like that, so close to him? Now they'd all see me as some cheap girl, throwing herself at the first man who looked her way.

They wouldn't care that I was terrified, that I hadn't meant any of it, that he'd pulled me in with his whispers and his presence. No, they'd just judge.

I stayed quiet, head down, my breaths coming short and shaky. The air in the room felt thick, pressing on me.

"I was just about done getting ready," the man I'd thought was the Alpha said, his voice deep and casual, like nothing had happened. "Why didn't you knock anyway?"

"That's not the point," another voice shot back, full of smug mockery. "Don't pretend like you've got something down there I haven't seen a hundred times."

I kept my eyes on the floor. The walls seemed to close in tighter, my heart pounding in my ears. Damn it, I thought to myself. Why did they have to walk in right then? Why did the Moon Goddess keep throwing this kind of hell at me?

The voice turned colder, sharper. "What I really want to know is why you were all over a worthless maid like her?"

My stomach dropped. Worthless. The word hit.

"If you're that desperate," the voice went on, dripping with disgust, "why not call one of those fine she-wolves from the Northern Pack? Or your fuck mate-she at least doesn't reek. Not like this... filthy omega."

I flinched hard, my hands balling into fists at my sides. I wanted to look up, to scream that he didn't know me, that I wasn't what he thought. But I didn't. I stayed bowed, the insults sinking in.

They always said things like this. Lowlife. Disgusting. Stinking omega. Did they have to rub it in my face every time?

Then, something surprised me. "How do you even know she's worthless?" the Alpha asked.

My breath caught. Was he... standing up for me?

"She's in a maid uniform, sure," he added, "but that doesn't make her trash."

For a second, I felt a tiny spark of gratitude. At least one person wasn't ready to kick me while I was down.

But the rude one just laughed, harsh and mean. "Please. I could smell her stink before I even opened the door. That rotten omega scent nearly made me puke."

Tears pricked at my eyes. I squeezed them shut, biting my cheek to hold it all in. No crying. Not here, not in front of them.

Then the Alpha laughed too-a low, cruel sound that shattered that spark in my chest.

"I knew you'd say that," he said. "I smelled her too. You know me, brother... I'd never touch garbage like her for real. I was just testing her. Seeing if she was different from the others."

He chuckled again, like it was all a joke.

"But nope," he went on, "she's the same. Cheap. Dirty. So desperate she moaned when I whispered in her ear. Didn't even push me away properly."

My body went cold. Tears slipped down my cheeks now, hot and silent. How could he say that? Twist it like I wanted it?

"She was begging for me to take her," he said without shame, laughing loud. "Probably planning to fake a pregnancy later. Trap me like some sneaky omega whore."

"And she moaned?" another voice chimed in, full of revulsion. "Goddess, that's nasty."

"How pathetic can you get?"

"Bet she'd spread for any Alpha in here and then play the victim."

"Should toss her in the pit with the other sluts. That's her level."

"Ugh, standing there like we can't see right through her."

"She's quiet now-probably hoping for round two."

I heard them all now. Not one or two, but a group. Their voices blended into a storm of mockery, laughter cutting through me like knives.

Still, I kept my head down. I didn't want to see their faces, to match voices to eyes. If I did, it'd haunt me forever.

"And why's her head still down?" a new voice snapped, laced with hate. "Ashamed of your true colors?"

Someone else laughed. "Or waiting for the next guy to step up. These omegas are all the same."

"Raise your head and look at us now."

I shook my head slow, tears dripping to the floor.

"Raise that ugly head!" one barked. "Or I'll rip it off and make you hold it."

My heart froze. I didn't want to, but fear won. My neck lifted before I could stop it.

There were four of them standing there, tall and powerful. They looked alike-brothers, maybe-but each had his own twist.

One had golden blond hair that caught the light like fire, one had fiery auburn locks swept back, one had raven black strands that fell sharp over his forehead, and the last had copper red waves that looked almost soft.

Was this real? Or some twisted dream I couldn't escape?

"So," one said with a nasty smirk, "sucking up to Alpha Harlan wasn't enough? Now you want the rest of us to line up?"

My heart broke more. I opened my mouth, but nothing came. What could I say? They'd twist it anyway.

Tears kept falling, soaking my collar, but I couldn't stop them.

The one with the golden blond hair stepped closer. "You deaf? Answer me."

I bowed my head quick. "I'm sorry," I whispered, voice shaking. "I didn't mean any of it. I didn't know this was the Alpha's room. I forgot to knock. Swear it wasn't on purpose."

"So you just tripped into his arms?" Golden Blond sneered. "What next? A magic spell made you moan like that?"

The others laughed low and mean, their words stabbing my chest.

I couldn't speak. Just stood shaking, head down again.

I felt so small, like a bug under their boots.

"I didn't mean to," I whispered, mostly to myself. "I'm new. Don't know the rules. Just trying to work."

"First day and already whoring for the Alpha," one muttered.

"No!" I said louder, desperate. "Please don't say that. I wasn't trying to... to do anything with Alpha Harlan. Swear. Wasn't thinking. Forgot to knock. Punish me different. Anything but this."

Quiet for a beat, then the voice I knew-Alpha Harlan. "By work, you mean barging in while I'm naked?"

Half naked if we are being honest but I wouldn't dare correct them.

My chest squeezed. I looked up slow. His eyes were cold, blank.

"I am apologizing to you again, My Alpha. Please forgive me. It is never going to repeat itself again." I apologized to him over again even though I had done that multiple times.

"Please just let me go, My Alpha. I have been through a lot already." I pleaded with them.

"Tired already?" Golden Blond laughed. "We haven't even started."

I backed up a step, fear rising.

The one with copper red hair leaned on the wall, smirking. "Know what we do to omegas who pull stunts like that?"

Please... stop, I thought, begging inside.

Shame and fear pressed on me. I felt like I'd break any second, their stares boring deep into me.

"Please..." I said again. My voice cracked. "Please just let me go. You can punish me another day. But not today. Not like this. I've been disgraced enough."

The golden blond one's smirk grew, eyes dark with cruelty. "Why should we let you go when we can all fuck you at once so you can get what you have been craving for?"

LENA

I stared at him, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest.

What had he just whispered? "Fuck me"? No, wait... he said something about them fucking me. All of them. The words hit me, my mind spinning in circles.

Why? Why would they say that? My thoughts crashed around, loud and messy, making my head hurt.

But before I could even open my mouth to beg or plead or anything, the one with the fiery auburn hair let out a huge laugh.

I blinked hard, tears blurring everything. My chest went up and down so fast I thought I might pass out. I stood there, feeling like the biggest idiot ever, my face burning hot.

"What's so funny?" I wanted to snap, but the words stuck in my throat like glue.

"You should've seen her face," he gasped between laughs, pointing right at me. "She lit up like a damn firework when Draven said we were gonna fuck her. Like it was Christmas morning in her pathetic little world."

Draven. So that's the name of the golden blonde one.

Happy? Me? No way in hell. I was scared out of my mind, humiliated down to my bones. My fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms, drawing tiny drops of blood. I wanted to scream, "You're a liar!" But I bit my tongue until it hurt. I knew better.

These guys were alphas-quadruplets, born to rule, with power that could crush me like a bug. One wrong word, and I'd be dead or worse. Omegas like me don't fight back. We bow and break.

"That slut," the auburn-haired one kept going, his voice dripping with poison, "is so thirsty for it, she probably dreams about getting railed by strangers every night. Look at her-standing there, practically begging for us to bend her over right now. Cheap as dirt."

My stomach twisted. Thirsty? Begging? I felt sick. The tears came harder, sliding down my cheeks like rain on a window. Why were they doing this? I'd accidentally walked in on Harlan-that was all. Harlan had grabbed me, teased me, made my body react in ways I hated. I'd moaned without meaning to, and now they were using it like a weapon.

The one with the copper red hair smirked, leaning back against the wall. "Yeah, Theo's right. She's got that hungry look. Bet she's never had a real man before. Just some sad, lonely omega fantasies."

Theo. So auburn hair was Theo.

And the golden brown-haired just chuckled low, his eyes raking over me like I was meat on a hook. "Draven, pass me that drink. This show's getting good. Watch her squirm."

My brain was trying to keep up with the names.

But Harlan, the black-haired leader of this nightmare, stepped closer again. His voice was quiet.

"Pathetic. You walked in here, interrupted us, and now you're crying like a baby because we called you out? We could ruin you, slave. Snap our fingers and have you thrown to the rogues."

I hated them all. Hated their smug faces, their cruel laughs, the way they talked about me like I wasn't even in the room. Hated how they made me feel small and dirty. But most of all, I hated myself for not fighting back.

How could I? They were alphas, rich and strong. One click of their fingers, and I'd be gone. If they lived my life for just one hour-felt the hunger, the beatings, the loneliness-they'd crumble. But they never would. They were born on top, stepping on people like me.

Harlan's eyes locked on mine, and he sneered. "Now get the fuck out before we decide to make good on that promise. We'll fuck you up so bad, you'll wish you were never born, you worthless orphan bitch."

His words stabbed deep.. I bowed my head low, hiding my face, and bolted from the room. My legs shook as I ran down the dark hallway, tears blinding me. Everything blurred-walls, doors, my own feet.

"Moon Goddess," I sobbed under my breath, "why do you hate me? What did I ever do to deserve this hell?"

I don't even remember how I got back to my so-called room. It was more like a closet with a door-a tiny space with a thin mat on the floor that they called a bed.

Hard as rock, covered in a rag that smelled like mold. I slammed the door shut and collapsed onto it, burying my face in the flat pillow. My whole body shook with sobs, loud and ugly.

If my parents were alive... gods, everything would be different. Even as an omega, they'd have shielded me. Loved me. I wouldn't be sold off, dragged here like livestock, treated like garbage every damn day. I'd have a family, a home, not this empty pit inside me.

I cried until my throat burned, gripping the rough sheets until my knuckles turned white. I was so tired. Tired of hurting, tired of surviving, tired of being nothing.

Then, a knock came at the door.

I didn't move. "Go away," I whispered into the pillow, my voice cracked and raw. "Please, just leave me be..."

Another knock. Louder.

I ignored it. What more could they take from me? My dignity was already gone.

The door creaked open anyway. Footsteps echoed on the creaky floor, slow and heavy. Someone stopped right by my bed, their shadow falling over me like a dark cloud.

"Were you deaf when I knocked?" The voice was sharp and filled with disgust.

I stayed still, eyes squeezed shut. Why couldn't they give me peace? Even slaves need to breathe, to cry without eyes on them. I'd been sold, beaten down, handed over like a sack of potatoes-but did that mean I couldn't have one moment alone?

"Do you want to get punished on your first day here, slave?" the voice snapped. "Didn't the guard who dragged you in tell you not to disrespect the head of slaves?"

My tears stopped cold. Head of slaves? Oh no. I jerked my head up, wiping my face fast. It was a woman, maybe in her forties, with hard lines on her face and eyes like steel. She looked like she'd seen too much and cared too little.

"I'm so sorry! So, so sorry!" I bowed over and over, my head bobbing like a broken toy. If I didn't stop, I might knock myself out, but better that than her wrath.

She just stared, arms crossed. I kept bowing, silent, hoping it was enough.

"Were you crying?" she asked, her tone flat.

I shook my head quick. "No, ma'am. Not crying. Just... something in my eye. Dust or whatever. I was rubbing it out, that's all." I forced a smile, but it felt fake as hell. Better to lie than admit weakness-they'd call me soft and beat it out of me.

She raised an eyebrow. "Suit yourself, girl. But your attention's needed. Now."

My heart sank. "What have I done again?" I whispered, dread filling me.