íris


    The following day, I wake to the sensation of warm sunlight sshing across my skin. A familiar scent, one that I''ve long forgotten and can''t quite put a name to, wafts through the cozy room, causing a small smile to spread across my face as I stir.


    Home. I''m home.


    For a moment, I forget that I left this ce for five years. For a moment, I think that no time has passed at all, that it''s the morning all those years ago when I found out I was pregnant. Before everything happened.


    It was all just a bad dream.


    But then reality returns, as it always does, and my smile fades. I''m home, but not really. It''s not my home anymore. And if I don''t find awyer soon, I might be forced to stay here or else wind up in prison.


    Arthur is apparently already at work for the day, which is a relief. I make a quick breakfast for myself and Miles in the kitchen, trying not to focus on how familiar everything is and how I know exactly where the bowls, silverware, milk, and cereal are without even having to think twice.


    After eating quickly, we head out for the day. I bribe Miles with the promise of ice creamter if hees with me, and then I take him to awyer''s office nearby.


    Thewyer, an ancient old man with a birdlike nose and a tired look in his eyes, calls me into his office. "Sit," he says, gesturing to the seat on the other side of his desk. He nces at Miles, looking almost disgusted for a moment at the very presence of a child, before he turns to me. "How can I help you?"


    Taking a deep breath, I exin my situation to thewyer. But I''m hardly halfway through before he stops me, raising a weathered old hand.


    "I''m sorry, Miss, but I won''t help you," he says.


    I blink, taken aback. "Why not?"


    "You''re iming that you intend to fight a legal battle with the President of Ordan himself," he chortles, as if he doesn''t even fully believe me. "His legal team is far bigger and more equipped than my small team can handle. It will be a certain defeat."


    I purse my lips. "There must be something you can do."


    He shakes his head and pushes his wire-rimmed sses up on his slender nose. "I''m afraid not, Miss. Might I suggest you try Brooks & Lee, downtown? They might have someone who could help.”


    The very mention of that prestigiousw firm makes my heart sink. "I can''t... I can''t afford it," I admit.


    Thewyer sighs and leans back in his chair. "Well, then, I can''t help you."


    I push the contract closer toward him and tap on the use. "At the very least, can''t you tell me that this ispletely uwful?" I ask. "Miles is a human, not property. Surely Arthur can''t-"


    "Actually," the old man interrupts, "Alpha Arthur is doing you a service by taking this route instead of the more obvious one."


    "More... obvious one?"


    He nods. "He''s an Alpha. Furthermore, he''s the Alpha President, and has confirmation that the boy is his son. Technically, he could easily im the Alpha''s Heirw and im custody of his son. You wouldn''t be able to stop


    him."


    I suppress the urge to let out a vile string of curse words. Of course; I almost forgot about Ordan''s more... antiquatedws.


    Back in the old days-which really weren''t that long ago, only around forty years ago-Alphas could implete ownership of their wives and kin. Their wives couldn''t work, have bank ounts, own property, or open credit cards without explicit permission from the Alphas. Furthermore, their children were basically property.


    It was a vile oldw that was weaponized to ensure that money and property remained within Alpha families. That way, if a child under the Alpha''s custody tried


    to marry someone of a different ss, such as a Gamma or Omega or Goddess forbid a human, they could be prohibited from doing so.


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