Watch My Disappearing Act

My mate, Ethan Rickman, is an Omega without a wolf. No official position is willing to hire him. That means we live in poverty, but I've always believed that our love can overcome anything.

Seven years after our mating, hunger drives me and our son, Theo Rickman, to dig through trash bins late at night, looking for food.

Theo moves quickly and quietly. He's become skilled at it. With a cheerful grin, he whispers to me, "Mom, this bin belongs to an award-winning restaurant! The food's fresh and tastes great. Let's bring some back for Dad!"

The next day, I put on the cleanest clothes I own and head to that same restaurant, hoping to get hired as a janitor.

If I get the job, maybe I can bring home leftovers before they're tossed out.

But when I look up, I see Ethan stepping out of a luxury car worth millions. Behind him stands a woman and child, both dressed in designer clothes.

I recognize her instantly. She's Mira Alstone, his childhood sweetheart.

The restaurant owner gives me an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Ms. Everdeen. Alpha Ethan reserved the whole place for Mira today. I have to focus on serving them, so I don't have time for interviews. Maybe come back another day?"

In that moment, Theo and I both freeze where we stand.

My mate, Ethan Rickman, is an Omega without a wolf. No official position is willing to hire him. That means we live in poverty, but I've always believed that our love can overcome anything.

Seven years after our mating, hunger drives me and our son, Theo Rickman, to dig through trash bins late at night, looking for food.

Theo moves quickly and quietly. He's become skilled at it. With a cheerful grin, he whispers to me, "Mom, this bin belongs to an award-winning restaurant! The food's fresh and tastes great. Let's bring some back for Dad!"

The next day, I put on the cleanest clothes I own and head to that same restaurant, hoping to get hired as a janitor.

If I get the job, maybe I can bring home leftovers before they're tossed out.

But when I look up, I see Ethan stepping out of a luxury car worth millions. Behind him stands a woman and child, both dressed in designer clothes.

I recognize her instantly. She's Mira Alstone, his childhood sweetheart.

The restaurant owner gives me an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Ms. Everdeen. Alpha Ethan reserved the whole place for Mira today. I have to focus on serving them, so I don't have time for interviews. Maybe come back another day?"

In that moment, Theo and I both freeze where we stand.

…

How much would it cost to book the entire award-winning restaurant? Would it be a few hundred dollars, or more like a couple thousand?

My hands trembled as I looked it up. The cost was over a hundred thousand dollars, enough to feed us for seven years.

The number felt like a fine