The Alpha’s Secret Child

Chapter 5 - Frozen Accounts, Warm Hands

(Elara's Point of View)

“We've arrived at New Eden Estates, ma'am,” said the Uber driver, his voice muffled by the soft hum of the engine.

The car stopped in front of the tall wrought-iron gates of a luxurious gated community. I looked out the window, my heart pounding.

Little Emma stirred in my arms and let out a soft whimper. Her tiny body squirmed against me, and I knew immediately that something was wrong. A single touch confirmed it: her diaper was soaked.

“Oh, sweetheart...” I whispered, cradling her closer to me. The night air brought the chill of the first frost, and the thought of her catching a cold filled me with panic, as if claws were scratching at my bones. I couldn't let her get sick.

My little girl moved again, pressing her warm cheek against my chest. I gently brushed her hair away, breathing in her faint scent of milk. We had almost nothing left when I left there.

I swallowed hard as I remembered and whispered to my baby:

“We'll be fine, Emma. Mommy has you.”

Before entering the estate, I stopped at the elegant baby store near the gate. The lights were still on. As soon as I walked in, a saleswoman quickly approached me.

“It's very cold outside, ma'am! Did you bring your little one shopping in this weather?” she exclaimed, concern in her eyes. “Come in, tell me what you need, and

I'll get it all ready for you.”

I adjusted Emma in my arms.

“Three packs of size 3 diapers,” I said quietly. "Two cans of formula and two cans of follow-up milk. And those cotton bodysuits, one of each design, six to nine months.

As I spoke, the saleswoman's eyes widened. I realized she had recognized me.

I adjusted my mask slightly, hiding my face even more.

For a moment, I remembered my former self: the proud lawyer and Luna of one of the most powerful Alphas in our country.

“I'm sorry,” I murmured, seeing 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 to be humble, to read exhaustion on other people's faces, to make myself small in order to survive.

Before, I would have handed over a platinum card without a second thought. Now I hesitated, afraid of being a burden.

The clerk blinked and then smiled broadly.

“Not at all, ma'am! That's perfect. Do you need anything else? I'll wrap it all up for

you right away.”

“That's all for now, thank you,” I said quietly, settling Emma in my arms. She let out a

little sigh, and her warm breath brushed my collarbone.

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

“By card, please.”

I took out my gold-trimmed bank card. As long as I had this, my daughter would

never want for anything. It used to symbolize power, success, security... all the things

I had once built with my own hands. I handed it to the clerk.

“That's $9,645, ma'am. One moment, please.”

The clerk swiped the card. A high-pitched beep echoed through the quiet store.

Declined.

I frowned, feeling my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin.

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

“I'm sorry, ma'am, but this card has been declined. Do you have another one, by any

chance?

”A cold fear gripped my veins, heavier than the winter air outside. I rummaged

through my purse with trembling fingers and pulled out more cards.

“Try these, please,” I said quickly.

Each card held the memory of a victory, bonuses for high-profile cases, rewards for

sleepless nights and endless trials.

Each strip that slid through was another shattered memory. One after another, the

machine beeped. Declined. Declined. Declined.

“I'm sorry, ma'am,” the clerk repeated, her voice trembling. “None of these are valid.”

“Damn you, Cole,” I cursed him, knowing he had done this. He had left me

completely destitute. The bastard had not only taken away my freedom but also

stripped me of my means of survival.

The clerk hesitated, a look of pity in her eyes.

“Do you have another card, ma'am?”

I shook my head, a lump in my throat.

“No... these are all I have.”

“And these items...” she began delicately.

“I can't accept them,” I said, forcing a weak smile that looked more like a grimace.

“Thank you.” The weight of humiliation pressed down on me as I turned away.

“All my accounts... frozen?” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. That

money was mine. I had earned it with my blood and my intellect. And yet, one man had the power to take it all away with a single order.

“Wait, ma'am!” I stopped, clutching Emma close to me. “Your baby is crying,” the

clerk said kindly.

“Maybe she's hungry or needs her diaper changed. We have some sample packs, why

don't you take those for now?”

I looked down. Emma's little face was wrinkled and she was whimpering softly. That

sound tore at me more than any silver knife. I kissed her forehead.

“It's okay, my little star,” I whispered. A few minutes later, I left the store's nursing

room. Emma was calm again, wrapped in blankets and fed.

“Here,” said the clerk, handing me a bag. “Some diaper samples, a few cans of

formula left over from promotions. Take them for your little one.”

I hesitated. My pride screamed in protest. My wolf hated the idea of charity, hated

looking weak. But the mother in me silenced it. I could go hungry. I could go cold.

But Emma couldn't.

“Thank you,” I managed to say in a trembling voice.

My eyes stung. Cole had dragged me into this situation, reduced me to someone begging for crumbs.

Yet a stranger had shown me more kindness than my supposed partner.

“No need to thank me,” the clerk smiled. "I don't have children yet, but... I can tell you love her. It's very cold, go home soon. Whatever happens, stay strong for your

daughter.

Her words echoed in my mind long after I stepped back out into the night. The wind whipped my cheeks and my wolf stirred beneath my skin to protect us from the cold.

I pulled Lana close and hugged her tightly to protect her small body.

“I'll keep you safe,” I whispered in her ear, stroking her soft hair. “No matter what.”

But as I looked up at the imposing towers of New Eden Estates, despair gnawed at me.

With no money, no resources, and nowhere to go, even my wolf couldn't silence the question echoing in my mind:

“How are we going to survive now?”