Chapter 2

Olivia’s POV

I clutched the broom and packer in my hands, my knuckles whitening as I heard the murmurs in the store from the people around me. Customers and workers alike were abuzz with excitement, whispering about the pack's Alpha, Ryan, and the strange job advertisement that had just been announced. My heart hammered as I strained to pick up details, anything I could catch from their hushed tones.

"Can you believe it?" one woman muttered, her voice brimming with excitement. "An opportunity to work directly for Alpha Ryan! The pay is higher than anything around here, and they’re even offering free accommodations in the estate. It’s a chance of a lifetime."

I felt a shiver run down my spine, and something deep within me stirred—a flicker of hope I hadn’t felt in years. I could barely believe the words I was hearing. A high-paying job, free housing… benefits that could change everything for me and my sister. For a moment, I let my mind wander, imagining a life where we weren’t scraping by each day. I could finally pay for my sister’s treatments and finally escape the tiny, damp room we called home.

But then I heard it—a final detail that sent my heart plummeting.

"They’re only taking candidates ranked at Beta level or higher," another person said, disappointment clear in their voice.

The broom and packer in my hands slipped, and I fumbled to catch it, my mind racing. The hope that had just sparked within me flickered and went out like a candle in the wind. Beta rank. I barely scraped the lowest Omega status—what chance did I have? Suddenly, all those dreams, the visions of a new life for my sister and me evaporated as if they'd never existed.

I forced myself to keep moving, trying to hide the hurt that had welled up in my chest. Every step felt heavy, weighed down by the disappointment that now coursed through me. How could I even dare to hope for a better future? Life had been unrelenting, and any small glimmer of happiness seemed to be snatched away just as quickly.

It wasn’t long before my boss noticed my distraction.

"Olivia!" he snapped, his tone sharp. I jolted, my heart racing as I tried to meet his angry gaze.

"Sorry, Mr. Arnold," I stammered, bowing my head. "I… I just got caught up in thought. It won’t happen again, I promise."

He scowled, dismissing me with a wave. "It better not. You’re here to work, not daydream."

I lowered my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. Just one mistake and he could let me go, and that would be leaving me and my sister with nothing. Desperation clawed at me as I offered a hasty apology, hoping he would overlook it this once. But just as I was about to leave, the bell over the door chimed, and I froze.

The man who stumbled in was all too familiar, and my stomach twisted as I watched him approach. My father.

He looked worse than usual, his clothes rumpled and stained, a stench of alcohol hanging around him like a cloud. His eyes fell on me, a bitter gleam in them that I’d long learned to recognize.

“Olivia,” he sneered, his voice slurring slightly. “Still wasting your time working here, I see.”

Heat rushed to my face, a mix of anger and humiliation, but I bit my tongue. I couldn’t risk causing a scene. I lowered my gaze and nodded, hoping he would leave if I didn’t give him any attention. But, as always, he wanted more than that.

“You’ve got your wages, haven’t you?” he asked, his tone sharp.

I held my breath, clutching the small envelope in my pocket. This money was supposed to last us until the next payday, to cover my sister’s medicine and our food. “Dad… please. We need this money for Lucy’s treatment. Just this once, let me keep it. For her sake.”

A bitter laugh escaped him, and he shook his head. “Always acting like you’re so noble, Olivia. Lucy’s sick because of you. I’ve told you that. A curse, that’s what you two are.”

His words hit me like a physical blow, and I fought to keep the tears at bay. “Please… just think about her. She’s innocent in all this.”

But he only glared at me, his hand outstretched. “Give it here.”

My fingers trembled as I pulled the envelope from my pocket and placed it in his waiting hand, my heart breaking a little more with each passing second. He tore it open, greedily counting the bills before shoving them into his pocket without so much as a word of thanks. I could already see the telltale signs that he was itching to head back to his gambling buddies.

“Olivia,” he said, his voice a low growl as he leaned in close, his breath hot and heavy with alcohol. “You’d better remember that you owe me. Both of you do. If it weren’t for me, you’d have nothing.”

I swallowed, my throat tight. I knew there was no point arguing, no point trying to explain how much we needed that money. All that mattered to him was his next drink, his next game.

"Come on, we’re going home,” he ordered, his hand closing around my wrist in a grip that was both rough and unforgiving. I barely managed to grab my bag as he dragged me toward the door, ignoring my pleading gaze.

As we walked through the familiar, worn-down streets, memories flooded me—the times when my mother was still alive, when my father hadn’t yet fallen into this endless spiral of alcohol and gambling. After her passing, he had become a shadow of himself, blaming everyone but himself for the misery that followed. And now, Lucy and I were the ones paying the price.

My mind wandered back to the job advertisement I’d seen that morning, and the faint spark of hope that had stirred within me. For a brief moment, I’d dared to dream that I could give Lucy a better life. But those hopes had been crushed just as quickly, leaving only the dull ache of reality behind.

By the time we reached home, I was numb, my emotions a tangled mess of anger, sorrow, and resignation. My father released me with a gruff shove, muttering under his breath as he made his way to his room, the sound of his footsteps fading as he closed the door.

I sank onto the small, worn sofa, my body heavy with exhaustion. The thought of the Alpha’s job flashed through my mind again, taunting me with the life it could have offered. But I knew better than to hope.

I scanned our house, my chest tightening as I took in the sight. It looked like a hurricane had swept through—clothes, bottles, and crumpled papers littered the floor, remnants of my father’s last drinking binge. The walls, once full of memories, felt like they were closing in, trapping me in this miserable cycle. My eyes welled up, but I quickly blinked away the tears.

Then I heard heavy footsteps, and my father stumbled out of his room, his face dripping as if he’d just splashed water to sober up. I knew that look—he was preparing to head out again, probably to waste whatever money he’d scrounged up on another round of gambling and booze.

“Dad,” I called, forcing a calm into my voice that I didn’t feel. I stepped in front of him, blocking his way to the door. “Please. Stay home. Think about Lucy… about us, for once. Can’t you see what you’re doing to us?”

He sneered, brushing me off. “I don’t need a lecture from you, Olivia,” he slurred, reaching for the door. "Not after everything you’ve cost me.”

I swallowed, forcing the words out. “We’re your family. We need you. Please… just, stay. Can’t you try to see how much it hurts us to see you like this?”

But he didn’t even blink. Instead, he shoved me aside, his expression hardening. "Enough. Go to your room, Olivia," he said sharply, the harshness in his tone slamming into me like a fist. Before I could say another word, he gripped my arm and pushed me into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. The sound of the lock turning echoed in my ears.

I took a shaky breath, trying to calm down. But as the silence settled, an uneasy feeling crept over me. Pressing my ear against the door, I caught snippets of his conversation, his voice low and rough.

“Oh sir, I don't have the money. But like I said, I've got a useful daughter to give you in exchange for that… Yeah, Olivia. Sure, she’ll be ready whenever you want. Come by tonight if possible.”

My heart dropped. I could hardly breathe, every word piercing me with a painful realization. He was going to sell me… as if I were nothing more than a way to pay off his debts.

Swallowing back my fear, I wiped away my tears. I couldn’t wait around. I grabbed the sheets, tying them into a makeshift rope, and then I climbed onto the windowsill, hands trembling. I didn’t care about the risks; I needed to get out, for me… and for the life growing inside me. And then, gripping my lifeline, I slipped out the window into the day.