Chapter 5

Aria's POV

"We're here at Shevron Estates, ma'am" the Uber driver said, his voice muffled under the low sound of the engine.

The car rolled to a stop before the tall wrought-iron gates of a luxury community. I glanced out the window, my heart pounding.

Little Lana stirred in my arms, letting out a soft whimper. Her tiny body wriggled against me, and I immediately knew something was wrong. One touch confirmed it—her diaper was soaked through.

"Oh, sweetheart…" I whispered, cradling her closer. The night air carried the chill of early frost, and the thought of her catching cold sent dread through me like claws scraping bone. I couldn't let her fall ill, not after everything we'd survived.

My little one shifted again, pressing her warm cheek against my chest. I brushed her hair back gently, breathing in her faint, milky scent.

We'd barely had anything left when I walked out of that prison. No diapers. Half a can of formula. The guards hadn't cared. The other inmates had sneered when I begged for supplies.

I swallowed hard at the memory and whispered to my baby, "We'll be okay, Lana. Mommy's got you."

Before heading into the estate, I stopped by the high-end baby boutique near the gate. The lights were still on. As soon as I stepped inside, a clerk hurried forward towards me.

"It's freezing out, ma'am! Bringing your little one shopping in this weather?" she exclaimed, concern flashing in her eyes. "Come in—tell me what you need, and I'll have it all packed for you!"

I adjusted Lana in my arms. "Three packs of size 3 diapers," I said softly. "Two cans each of infant and follow-up formula. And those cotton onesies—one of each design in six to nine months."

As I spoke, the clerk's eyes widened. She recognized me, I realized. Earlier that day, she and her coworker had whispered when I walked through these doors, wondering if I was some man's mistress or a desperate woman chasing acknowledgement for her child.

But when I'd given my name—Aria Grayson, owner of Unit 3B, Shevron Estates, their faces had gone pale with disbelief.

I shifted my mask slightly, hiding more of my face. The air from the vent brushed the side of my cheek, making the scar beneath my mask burn.

For a moment, I remembered the old me—the proud attorney and Luna to one of the most powerful Alpha's in our country.

"Sorry," I murmured, noticing the growing pile of items on the counter. "Is this too much?"

The question slipped out before I could stop it. Prison had taught me humility, how to read the exhaustion in others' faces, how to shrink myself to survive.

Once, I would've handed over a platinum card without a thought. Now, I hesitated, afraid of being a burden.

The clerk blinked, then smiled brightly, "Not at all, ma'am! It's perfect. Anything else you need? I'll pack everything up for you right away."

"That's all for now, thank you," I said softly, adjusting Lana in my arms. She let out a tiny sigh, her warm breath brushing against my collarbone.

"How would you like to pay?" the clerk asked politely.

"Card, please."

I pulled out my gold-trimmed bank card. As long as I had this, my daughter wouldn't go without. My thumb brushed along the embossed letters of my name. It used to symbolize power, success, security… all the things I'd once built with my own two hands. I handed it over to the clerk.

"That'll be 9,645 dollars, ma'am. One moment, please."

The clerk swiped the card. A sharp beep echoed through the quiet store. Declined.

I frowned, my wolf stirring uneasily beneath my skin.

She tried again, and again and again. Each failed attempt sounded like a hammer blow against my chest.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but this card is being declined. Do you perhaps have another one?"

Cold dread seeped into my veins, heavier than the winter air outside. I dug into my bag with trembling fingers, pulling out more cards. "Try these, please," I said quickly.

Each card bore the memory of a victory, bonuses from high-profile cases, rewards for sleepless nights and endless trials. Every stripe swiped was another memory shredded to pieces.

One by one, the machine beeped. Denied. Denied. Denied.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," the clerk said again, her tone faltering. "None of these are going through."

I felt my wolf bristle, rage pulsing through me. He did this. Nathan. He'd cut me off completely. The bastard hadn't just taken my freedom, he'd stripped away my means to survive.

The clerk hesitated, pity flickering in her eyes. "Do you have another card, ma'am?"

I shook my head, my throat closing. "No... these are all I have."

"And these items…" she began gently.

"I can't take them," I said, forcing a weak smile that felt more like a grimace. "Thank you."

The weight of humiliation pressed down as I turned away.

All my accounts... frozen? The thought clawed at me. That money was mine. Mine. I'd earned it through my blood and intellect. And yet, one man had the power to take it all away with a single order.

"Wait, ma'am!"

I stopped, clutching Lana closer.

"Your baby's crying," the clerk said gently. "She might be hungry or need a change. We have some sample packs—why don't you take them for now?"

I glanced down. Lana's tiny face scrunched, her whimpers soft. The sound tore through me worse than any silver blade ever could. I kissed her forehead. "It's okay, my little star," I whispered.

A few minutes later, I stepped out of the store's baby care room. Lana was quiet again, swaddled and fed.

"Here," the clerk said, handing me a bag. "Some sample packs of diapers, a few cans of formula—leftovers from promotions. Take them for your little one."

I hesitated. My pride howled in protest. My wolf hated the idea of charity, hated appearing weak. But the mother in me silenced her. I could go hungry. I could freeze. But Lana couldn't.

"Thank you," I managed, voice trembling. My eyes stung. Nathan had dragged me to this, reduced me to someone begging for scraps. Yet a stranger had shown me more kindness than my supposed mate.

"No need to thank me," the clerk smiled. "I don't have kids yet, but… I can tell you love her. It's freezing—get home soon. Whatever you're going through, stay strong for your daughter."

Her words echoed long after I stepped back into the night. The wind bit at my cheeks, my wolf stirring beneath my skin to shield us from the cold.

I pulled Lana closer, my arms tightening protectively around her tiny form. "I'll keep you safe," I whispered into her soft hair. "No matter what."

But as I looked up at the looming towers of Shevron Estates, despair gnawed at me. With no money, no resources, and nowhere to turn, even my wolf couldn't quiet the question echoing in my mind,

How are we supposed to survive now?