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 needle, pricking at my eyes until they ached.

"Mom, that was Dad, right? Is he really not a wolfless Omega, but an Alpha?"

Theo Rickman finally worked up the courage to ask me after a long silence. His face was filled with confusion and unease, but he waited patiently for my answer.

It was indeed Ethan Rickman, my husband. However, the way he'd booked out a restaurant as an Alpha was a side of him neither of us had ever seen.

Theo had grown up being looked down on because Ethan didn't have his wolf.

His teachers overlooked him, as if mediocrity had been written into his bones. His classmates mocked him behind his back, saying weakness ran in his blood.

Even neighbors would sneer at his face. "His dad's a wolfless Omega. He's never going to amount to anything."

Theo had always been strong. He never bowed his head or complained. He never once thought having an Omega father was something to be ashamed of.

Yet, all the hardship he'd endured felt like a cruel joke.

As I looked at his dry, brittle hair from long-term malnutrition, my chest tightened until I could barely breathe. My lips parted, but I couldn't get a word out.

Theo sensed my pain and forced a smile.

"It's okay. Maybe Dad's just busy. Let's go home, Mom. Don't be sad." His voice trailed off until it nearly vanished.

My heart skipped a beat. I reached out and cupped his face. His cheeks were already streaked with tears.

Without thinking, I scooped him up and practically fled the scene.

Theo kept glancing back until the figures of the three people inside the restaurant vanished from sight.

After we got home that night, I thought for a long time. In the end, I looked up the process of breaking a mate bond.

Just then, the old door creaked loudly. It was Ethan, coming home.

I sat quietly in the living room as Theo ran up to greet him like always.

Ethan scooped him up with a grin. "Have you grown taller again? At this rate, you'll catch up to me soon."

It was surreal.

My mind was a mess. He looked like a loving father, just like always. Until today, I had never once questioned his love for us.

Theo's voice lit up with joy. He eagerly held up a flyer with a picture on it. "Dad, can I have this toy? It's not that expensive, and it lasts a long time—"

However, Ethan cut him off, voice apologetic. "Sorry. Let's wait a little longer, okay?"

Normally, Theo would've just let it go. But today, he was unusually stubborn. It felt like he was trying to prove something.

His childish voice was filled with a hint of persistence. "Why do we have to wait?"

I knew what he really wanted to say was, "Why? You clearly have the money to book a whole award-winning restaurant for another pup. So why won't you buy me a toy? Am I not your pup?"

However, Theo had been raised to be too well-behaved. Even with his voice trembling, he didn't say it.

In the end, Ethan gave in and said yes.

By the time I came to my senses, Theo was already hugging me.

Theo was beaming as he said in my ear, "Dad said yes, Mom! He really did! Did you hear him?"

I nodded hard, happy for him. I was so excited I couldn't sleep that night.

He waited a day, two days, even a whole week, but the toy never appeared.

That night, when Ethan came home empty-handed once again, Theo finally broke down. He ran to his room and cried quietly under the covers.

Ethan didn't notice a thing. He handed me a pouch of herbs and spoke with a smile.

"Cheryl, could you help me mix this into a tonic? I need it by tomorrow."

I took one look and instantly recognized that it was a supplement for a pregnant she-wolf.

The tight knot in my mind suddenly snapped.

By the time I realized what I was doing, I'd already hurled the herbs at him.

Ethan froze in place, staring at me in disbelief.

"Cheryl, are you okay? Why are you acting like this? This isn't like you…" He paused when he saw the tears in my eyes.

He was the one who got hit, yet I was the one about to break down.

I asked, "Where's Theo's gift?"

Embarrassment flickered across his face. He gently pulled me into his arms, his voice soft like he was coaxing a frightened animal.

"Don't cry, Cheryl. It breaks my heart when you cry. I've been saving up. I swear I'll get it for him soon. Just give me a little more time, okay?"

I rested in his strong, warm embrace. That once-heart-melting voice above my head made my heart turn colder and colder.

He'd said the same thing countless times over the years. "Just wait. Be patient. I'm working hard out there."

But it was all lies, and I was done waiting.

While he showered, I slipped into Theo's room and gently pulled back the blanket.

I looked him straight into his teary eyes and asked, "If I break the mate bond with your dad, who would you choose to stay with?"

Theo froze. The worst he'd imagined was not having his wolf—he had never thought his family might fall apart.

But he quickly came to his senses. His voice trembled with fear as he asked, "Mom, you're not going to leave me, are you?"

"My silly pup, I would never leave you," I thought.

I pulled his small body into my arms, my voice strained. "If you want to live with your dad, maybe life will be easier."

Theo looked at the picture of the toy. He whispered, "Mom, let's just wait a bit longer. Half a month… No, just one more week. Please?"

I understood. He was still hoping Ethan would keep his promise, even if just once.

I nodded. I couldn't bring myself to say no.

…

The next day, after dropping him off at school, I went to work as usual.

That award-winning restaurant never got back to me. When I followed up, the position had already been filled.

With no other choice, I started working at a small diner. Since I was a part-timer, the pay was low.

I wasn't without ability—my first job out of school paid me well.

But after getting pregnant, I stepped away for several years. When I returned, the world had changed faster than I ever expected.

I was an orphan. Without a family to lean on, my life had ended up scraping by in poverty.

"Cheryl, there are customers at table six. Go take a look."

Snapping out of it, I gave a quick reply and walked over. The moment I reached the table, I met Ethan's eyes.

His expression stiffened immediately. Sitting beside him was Mira Alstone, his childhood sweetheart. She was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, looking poised and elegant.

Although we were the same age, I looked utterly worn out compared to her. My clothes were old, my face pale, and there were dark circles under my eyes.

However, I wasn't sad at all. On the contrary, I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. Sitting next to Ethan was the toy Theo had been dreaming of for weeks.

Was he finally keeping his promise?

Mira glanced at the menu and ordered several dishes.

I noted them down. Just as I was about to leave, Ethan suddenly called out to me.

He looked at me with a hint of concern, though his tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"The full moon's coming soon. Mira's been having trouble sleeping lately, so she can't have coffee. You can have the coffee from the set menu. No need to serve it."

Mira pouted playfully. "Alright, let's do what he says. He's always fussing over little things. He's been like that since we were kids."

She made it sound like a complaint, but the sweetness and reliance beneath were unmistakable.

My grip on the menu tightened. It felt like a slap across the face.

Mira noticed the way I forced back my emotions. She raised a brow and asked if something was wrong.

I didn't answer. Flustered, I turned away as I saw her provocative gaze.

She clearly knew who I was, and she was doing this on purpose to humiliate me.

My steps faltered. Lost in thought, I walked right into a coworker carrying a tray. The food spilled all over me.

The very next second, the boss's furious voice rang out. "Cheryl, are you blind? If it weren't for your pup, I would've fired you long ago!"

Ethan stood up at once, frowning as he walked toward me.

But just then, Mira suddenly clutched her head and cried out.

Ethan froze in his tracks. He quickly turned back and scooped her into his arms. Panic was written all over his face as he rushed out.

I stood there, watching them. The two of them had grown up together. Every little interaction between them was natural and full of quiet understanding. It was like a bond weathered by time.

Mira clung to Ethan's arm. Over his shoulder, she gave me a smug, triumphant smile.

In this silent battle, I had lost completely.

Ever since I politely shut my boss down after he made inappropriate comments toward me, he had always treated me horribly.

Even when I was drenched in soup, he refused to let me take a break and insisted I keep working.

My coworkers looked at me with sympathy, but I no longer cared.

After a long, hazy afternoon of nonstop work, I went home covered in stains.

As soon as I stepped through the door, Theo ran toward me. He was still little, but he'd already learned how to read people. The second he saw the state I was in, worry flooded his golden eyes.

I didn't comfort him. Instead, I scooped him up in excitement.

"Theo, your dad actually got you a present this time! I saw it!" I exclaimed.

But instead of lighting up with joy, Theo gently touched my cheek with his small hand. His voice was full of concern as he asked, "Mom, did someone bully you? What happened to your clothes? Are you hurt?"

My heart clenched. I held back the sting in my chest and forced a sheepish smile.

"No, sweetie. I was just clumsy and bumped into someone."

That seemed to ease his worry a little.

He wanted to say something else. But before he could, we heard the front door open.

Ethan was home.

I straightened instinctively. Theo quietly gripped my hand. His palm was damp with sweat.

We both turned toward the door and froze.

Ethan had actually come home empty-handed. Yes, there was nothing in his hand.

Just like that, my heart plummeted from soaring hope into a freezing abyss. I instinctively looked at Theo.

A flicker of disappointment flashed across his face, but he didn't burst into tears like he did last time.

And somehow, that quiet acceptance hurt even more. It meant he'd already stopped expecting anything from his father.

I swallowed my bitterness and was about to speak when Ethan suddenly pulled me into the bedroom.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned. "I think you might have hit your shoulder earlier."

Before I could respond, he went to the closet, took out the first aid kit, and reached for my shirt to check for injuries.

I gently brushed his hand away. The movement was small, but the rejection in it was unmistakable.

"Where's the toy?" I asked.

He froze. "What do you mean?"

I bit my lip. My eyes stung with tears.

My voice trembled as I continued, "The toy car you promised Theo. When you were having lunch with Mira, I saw it right there by your left hand."

His eyes flickered. He rubbed his nose and lowered his voice.

"Mira was the one who invited me out today. I didn't buy that toy, and I had no right to give it away. I'll buy one for Theo tomorrow."

It was another promise of tomorrow again.

I forced down the wave of emotion and turned away from him, heading straight into the bathroom.

To save on bills, I only ever took quick cold showers. The water was icy, but it still didn't compare to the chill inside my heart.

A few minutes later, I turned off the tap in a daze and wrapped a towel loosely around myself.

Just then, my phone lit up. It was a friend request from an unfamiliar number.

I stared at it for a couple of seconds, and an odd sense of unease crept over me. Before I knew it, I had accepted the request.

Soon, a profile picture popped up—it was Mira.

She didn't send a message. But somehow, I already knew what this was. My fingers trembled as I opened her profile.

She had just posted an update.

"Thank you to the richest, strongest werewolf in the world. Liam and I both love the gifts from Ethan."

The photo showed the limited-edition remote-control car Theo had been dreaming of for months. Alongside it were high-end skincare products I didn't even dare to think about owning.

I stood there frozen, like I'd been nailed to the floor. I even forgot to breathe.

I slowly looked up at this cramped, run-down bathroom.

A discount shampoo sat by the mirror. A bar of soap worn down to scraps lay on the rack. And beside it was Theo's old toy pup—its paint was chipped, but he refused to throw it away.

Grief came crashing over me like a tide. I could no longer hold myself up. My body gave out, and I slid down the wall.

Tears fell silently on the floor, drop by drop.