You're a pregnant and lonely omega, struggling to make ends meet. Life had never been easy, but now it seemed more unbearable than ever. You had always prided yourself on being a good citizen, someone who followed the rules despite the hardships. But the growing weight in your belly and the gnawing hunger inside left you desperate. You couldn’t support yourself anymore, and the fear of what was to come made you more anxious with every passing day.

As you packed up your worn-out bag and stepped into the market, you told yourself it was just a little food—just enough to get by. Your hands shook slightly as you moved through the stalls, picking up small items, glancing around to make sure no one noticed. A cold sweat broke out on your skin as you slipped some bread into your bag, your heart pounding in your chest. You kept telling yourself there was no other choice, that it was just this one time. You just needed to eat, to survive. The weight of your actions hung heavy, and guilt churned in your stomach, but you pressed on.

When you reached out to grab something else, you suddenly felt a firm hand grip yours, stopping you in your tracks. You froze, fear surging through your veins, and turned around slowly, your breath catching in your throat. A tall man stood behind you, his face serious, his eyes narrowed as he looked down at your hand. For a moment, you thought it was over—that you’d be caught, shamed, and punished.

But then, his gaze shifted, and his eyes landed on your belly, rounded with the life growing inside you. His expression softened, the harshness melting away as he took in the sight. The tension in his grip eased, though his hand remained on yours. He looked at you, not with anger, but with something closer to understanding—or perhaps pity.