Mia’s POV
My stomach growled painfully as I made my way downstairs. I hadn’t eaten all day, too upset by everything that happened with Rolex and Xavier. But now hunger overrode my desire to hide.
The dining room was empty, plates cleared away. Had I missed dinner? Surely they would have called me…
The kitchen lights were still on, and I could hear the clinking of dishes being washed. Maybe there were leftovers.
“Excuse me,” I said softly to Maria, one of the maids. “Is there anything left from dinner?”
She wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I’m sorry, Miss Mia. We… we weren’t allowed to save anything for you.”
The words took a moment to register. “Not allowed?”
“Direct orders,” another maid added, looking uncomfortable. “We’re not to give you any food.”
My chest tightened. “But… who ordered that?”
Neither woman would answer, but the pity in their eyes told me enough. My mates – my stepbrothers – had ordered this.
“It’s fine,” I whispered, even as my stomach clenched painfully. “I can make something myself-”
Maria’s hand caught my wrist as I reached for the pantry. “We can’t let you do that either. I’m sorry.”
Tears burned behind my eyes. First the mate rejection, now this? Where was Diego? He wouldn’t let this happen. But of course, he was away on pack business.
A low chuckle from the doorway made me freeze. Nathan and Sean stood there, watching the scene unfold with obvious amusement.
“Hungry, little sister?” Nathan’s voice dripped with mock concern.
“Please,” I found myself begging. “I haven’t eaten all day.”
Sean adjusted his glasses, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Omegas should earn their keep. Have you done anything to deserve food today?”
“Other than getting yourself bullied again?” Nathan added. “Making us look weak by association?”
I stared at them, realization dawning. I’d thought they might help stop the bullying at school. Instead, they were worse than my classmates.
“I am your mates,” I whispered. “How can you-”
“Mates?” Sean laughed, the sound nothing like his usual gentle demeanor. “You think that means anything? You’re nothing but a burden. A weak, pathetic omega who can’t even defend herself.”
“And Lillian’s daughter,” Nathan growled. “Don’t forget that. Your mother destroyed our family. Now you expect us to feed you?”
My legs trembled, threatening to give out. I’d thought being bullied at school was bad, but this… this was worse. These were my mates, the ones chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. And they were starving me.
“I’ll just… go to bed then.” My voice sounded small, broken.
Their laughter followed me up the stairs. I collapsed onto my bed, curling around my empty stomach as tears fell freely.
Four mates. Four alphas who should have protected me, cherished me. Instead, they were competing to see who could break me first.
The worst part? It was working.
Sleep came fitfully, my empty stomach making it impossible to truly rest. The moonlight cast shadows across my room when something made me stir – a weight on my bed, hands touching my arms.
My eyes flew open to find Nathan and Sean looming over me. Before I could scream, a large hand covered my mouth.
“Shh,” Nathan whispered, his eyes glinting in the darkness. “Wouldn’t want to wake the whole house, would we?”
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I tried to shrink away. Sean stood slightly behind him, his face unreadable in the shadows. Even without his glasses, I could see the conflict in his eyes.
“Please,” I whimpered against Nathan’s palm. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because we can.” Nathan’s grip tightened. “Because you need to learn your place in this house.” His other hand traced down my arm, making me shudder. “If you want to survive here, you’ll do exactly what we say. Understand?”
I nodded frantically, my heart threatening to burst from my chest. Nathan slowly removed his hand from my mouth.
“Good girl,” he purred, but the praise held no warmth. “Sean, watch the door.”
Sean hesitated for a moment before moving to the doorway. He wouldn’t look at me, but I saw him clench his fists.
“Your mother destroyed everything,” Nathan continued, his voice low and dangerous. “Now it’s your turn to suffer. Every day, we’ll make your life a little bit harder. Every night, you’ll wonder if we’ll visit again.”
Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks. These were my mates – the ones meant to protect me, cherish me. Instead, they were using that sacred bond to torment me.
“I won’t tell anyone,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Please just let me-”
“Tell anyone?” Nathan laughed softly. “Who would believe you? The weak little omega crying wolf?” His fingers wrapped around my throat, not squeezing but threatening. “Besides, we’re your mates. We can do whatever we want with you.”
Sean shifted uncomfortably at the door. “Nathan, maybe we should-”
“Shut up,” Nathan snapped. “You agreed to this. No backing out now.”
I barely had time to process what was happening before Sean’s hands gripped my shoulders and shoved me down onto the bed. My breath hitched, panic clawing at my chest as his weight pressed me into the mattress. His hot breath fanned over my face, the stench of whiskey mingling with his cologne, and bile rose in my throat.
“Sean, please,” I whispered, my voice trembling, but he didn’t stop. He never stopped.
His fingers curled under the hem of my top, yanking it up to my neck as he loomed over me, his dark eyes glinting with something cruel, something vile. My hands shot up instinctively to push him away, but he caught my wrists in one hand, pinning them above my head.
“You’re just like her,” he hissed, his lips curling into a wicked smirk that sent ice down my spine. “Your mother… she seduced my father, didn’t she? Made him cheat on my mom.”
I shook my head, tears streaming down my cheeks as I tried to twist free, but he only pressed harder, his knee digging into my thigh to keep me still.
“Now, stepsister,” he growled, his voice low and dripping with venom. “Be a good girl. Or be a good little whore, just like your mom.”
“No! I’m not like her!” I sobbed, my voice breaking as fear wrapped itself around my throat like a noose. “Please, Sean. Stop. Don’t do this.”
His weight suffocated me, his hand gripping my chin and forcing me to look into his twisted, rage-filled eyes.
“You’re all the same,” he murmured darkly, his lips brushing against my ear. “You’ll beg, you’ll plead, but in the end, you’ll give in. Just like she did.”
“No,” I choked out, my voice barely audible. “Please. I’m begging you. Don’t do this to me.”
But my words fell on deaf ears.
The room seemed to close in around me, the shadows swallowing every ounce of hope I had left. My heart pounded painfully in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears as my world teetered on the edge of something I couldn’t escape from.
“Sean,” I whispered again, my tears soaking into the sheets beneath me. “Please…”