Aria’s POV
"Aria, you’re not getting paid this month."
Anita Clark, from the Community Board slapped a slip of paper in front of as if she couldn’t stand to touch it or . Her mouth twisted into that familiar look of disgust I’d co to know too well from people who thought they were above .
For a mont, I couldn’t move. The broom slipped in my raw, cracked hands, the cold chill biting straight through my gloves.
I blinked at her. "What did you just say? That can’t be right. It’s only the second of the month." My voice ca out thinner than I wanted. "I’ve still got twenty-eight days left to work. How can I already have lost a whole month’s pay?"
Three thousand dollars — gone.
That was food, heat, diapers. Everything Lana and I needed. My chest tightened, a low whine catching in my throat before I swallowed it down.
My wolf pressed against the inside of my ribs, angry and protective.
Anita stood there in her thick fur coat, smug and warm while the wind cut open. Her hot dog stead in the air, the sll making my empty stomach cramp. "And you have the nerve to ask why?" she sneered.
"Soone reported a missing gold necklace in the section you cleaned yesterday. Said you took it. You really thought you could pocket it and no one would notice?"
My nails dug into the broom handle . My wolf’s claws prickled beneath the surface, itching to show themselves.
"We need cleaners, not thieves," she continued. "Docking just one month’s pay is being rciful."
rciful.
Is she really being serious right now?. Lana shifted in her sling against my chest, letting out a soft whimper. I stroked her back gently, forcing my voice to stay calm. "There’s been a mistake. I never saw any necklace, let alone take it."
"Oh, please." Anita took a slow bite of her hot dog, her eyes gleaming with condescension. "You think I’ll fall for your lies? If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in my warm office instead of freezing my ass off out here. I should’ve known better than to hire you. I’ve said my piece. Now get to work and make sure this area’s spotless."
She gestured toward the pavent where her own trash scattered at her boots, and turned as if I didn’t exist.
The growl rose before I could stop it. It was low and dangerous. My hand shot out, grabbing her arm. "So you expect to clean this whole street all month and not get paid a cent?" My voice ca out rougher, my eyes flashing gold for a heartbeat.
"I want to see the security footage. The caras will prove I didn’t steal anything."
For a second, she froze. I bet she hadn’t expected my reaction. After a few seconds she scoffed and shoved away. "The footage is corrupted. Nothing was recorded."
Liar. I could sll it on her. I clenched my jaw. "Then you can’t accuse ," I said, stepping closer. "If there’s no video, how do you know the necklace was even dropped in my section? Or that I took it?"
Anita clicked her tongue, feigning pity. "Well, aren’t you clever, Aria. So now I’m framing you? Go ahead, take to court if you think you can. You’re nothing but bad luck."
Her words hit like cold water.
She turned on her heel, strutting away, her heels tapping their arrogant rhythm on the pavent.
I stood frozen, my pulse pounding in my ears. Fury and frustration tangled in my chest until I could barely breathe. The air was sharp with frost, but all I felt was heat — burning, rising, threatening to slip past my control.
My wolf prowled restlessly beneath my skin, sensing my rage, urging to fight back, to bare my teeth and tear sothing apart.
But I couldn’t. Not here.
Because I knew the truth. Even if I took this to court, they’d drag up my past. The prison record. The mugshot. The whispers about the "unstable mother." No one would believe . Not a wolf. Not an ex-con. Not soone like .
So what now? Was I supposed to just roll over and let them trample ?
Three thousand dollars. Once, that would’ve been nothing — pocket change for a night out. But that was before Lana. Before tiny hands and sleepless nights. Before I learned what real hunger and love felt like all at once.
I’d already spent part of this month’s pay in advance on formula and diapers. If Anita really ant what she said, we could survive this month — barely. But next month? Or the one after that? We wouldn’t.
Would I have to take Lana out on the street and beg? The thought clawed at , cold and cruel. I’d seen won like that before, kneeling on the sidewalk, their babies swaddled in thin blankets, their eyes hollow. Back then, I never understood how soone could fall so far.
Now I did.
The paper in my hand crumpled as I clenched my fist. My claws threatened to push through my skin, but I forced them back. My breath ca out in shaky clouds, and for a second, the edges of my vision shimred gold.
Lana stirred against , sensing my unease. I looked down at her soft cheeks, so peaceful, so innocent. My heart cracked open. I brushed a kiss against her forehead and whispered, "Don’t be scared, sweetie. Mommy’s here. I will keep you safe."
But even as I said it, doubt gnawed at . How long could I keep her safe like this? How long before I failed us both?
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