# Elaine's POV
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A faint ray of sunlight pierced through the thin curtains, warming my face and pulling me from the restless haze of sleep. I groaned, turning away in a futile attempt to cling to the scraps of slumber. "D*mn it," I mumbled, realizing I had forgotten to close the curtains again.
Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled toward the window, pulling the curtain shut with a sigh. Just as I was about to crawl back under the blanket, a sharp knock at the door jolted me upright.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Who's there?" I called, irritation sharpening my tone. Sleep had become a luxury, and I guarded every moment of it.
"It's Adalyn, ma'am," a timid voice answered. "What is it?"
"Alpha Dennis requests your presence immediately," she said, her voice trembling.
I rolled my eyes, my stomach knotting at her words. "I'll be down shortly," I replied curtly.
The footsteps retreated, but the unease lingered. What could he possibly want now? His summons were never for anything good.
I dressed quickly in the plain, modest garb assigned to Omegas, smoothing the fabric over my slight frame. My hands trembled as I pulled my raven-black curls into a neat braid. The reflection in the cracked mirror showed a face pale with anxiety, icy blue eyes shadowed with fatigue. I swallowed hard and stepped out of my room.
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Alpha Dennis's chambers loomed ahead like a prison gate. The thick, ornate door creaked ominously as I pushed it open. Inside, the Alpha sat in his high-backed chair, his grey eyes cold and calculating as they locked onto me.
"Good morning, Alpha Dennis," I said softly, my voice steady despite the dread curling in my gut.
But my attention snagged on the other man in the room. He was taller than Dennis, his presence more imposing, with a gaze that seemed to peel back my defenses.
"This is Alpha Josh," Dennis said, his tone clipped. "And, Josh, this is Elaine."
Alpha Josh barely spared me a glance, his lips curving into a faint smirk as if he found the introduction unimportant.
"Sit," Dennis ordered, pointing to a small wooden stool in the corner of the room.
I obeyed silently, perching on the edge of the stool, my hands clenching nervously in my lap.
"So," Josh began, his voice low and gravelly, "you said you'd bring me someone remarkable. Is this her?" His eyes raked over me, making my skin crawl.
Dennis chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "She's more than meets the eye. A quiet one, but a beauty nonetheless. And the best part?" His grin turned sharp, cruel. "She's barren. No pups, no complications. Perfect for your needs."
Josh's smirk widened as he leaned forward. "No pups?" he repeated, as though it was the best news he had heard in years. "Impressive. She might be exactly what I need."
Dennis laughed, the sound grating. "I've had her for over a year, tried everything. Nothing. You'd think she was born sterile."
Their laughter echoed in the room, each note clawing at my pride and breaking something fragile within me. My cheeks burned with humiliation, but I didn't dare speak. As an Omega, my worth was measured only by what I could give.
The realization settled like a stone in my chest. Dennis wasn't done with me—he was trading me away.
"You're selling me?" The words slipped out before I could stop them, my voice barely above a whisper.
Both Alphas turned to me, their amusement fading into cold annoyance.
"Elaine, you should learn to keep your mouth shut," Dennis said, his tone a warning.
I swallowed hard, but desperation surged forward. "Please, Alpha Dennis," I pleaded, falling to my knees. "Don't sell me. I'll do better, I swear. I'll—"
"ENOUGH!" Dennis's voice roared through the room, his Alpha command pinning me to the cold stone floor.
Tears spilled over as I struggled to catch my breath. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, her spirit crushed by the weight of his dominance.
Dennis rose to his feet, his grey eyes blazing with fury. "You've had your chance, Elaine," he spat. "A year with nothing to show for it. Do you think I keep useless wolves in my pack?"
"I-I'll try harder," I stammered, my voice trembling.
"It's too late for that," he sneered. "If you can't give me an heir, you'll serve in other ways."
His words hit like a physical blow, knocking the wind from my lungs. I knelt there, trembling, my tears falling freely onto the cold stone.
Alpha Josh leaned back, watching the exchange with detached amusement. "I'll take her," he said casually.
Dennis smirked, the deal sealed.
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as despair swallowed me whole. This was my fate—a pawn to be traded between Alphas, my worth decided by men who saw me as nothing more than property.
The last shred of hope I had clung to was gone, replaced by a hollow ache that settled deep within my chest.
But even as I knelt there, broken and defeated, a small ember sparked to life inside me.
This wasn't over. Not yet.