Chapter 5. An Offer

*Selena*

**Four years later**

I stared helplessly at the stack of cash in my hand. We had half a month to get by with this meager amount, and it would be incredibly difficult.

"Ugh!" I groaned, running my hand through my hair before placing the cash back in the box where I kept it in my room.

My bank account was already empty, and without a proper job, I had no idea how I would provide for my family next month. Austin's birthday was just three months away, and the thought of failing him made me feel like a complete failure as a mother. My baby boy had asked for a game as a birthday gift, and I couldn’t even afford to give him that.

Damn it. I felt so miserable, and my fate seemed even crueler than my circumstances.

I worked multiple part-time jobs, barely earning enough to cover our basic necessities, let alone any luxuries. The weight of my failures bore down on me even more because Austin wasn’t just any child—he was a prince, an heir, and carried alpha blood. It broke my heart to see him endure a life of poverty because of my inadequacies.

Austin possessed a wisdom far beyond his tender age, and his physical stature surpassed that of his peers. As a born Alpha, he exuded an air of authority, appearing much older than his mere three years. Many mistook him for a five-year-old, captivated by his maturity and commanding presence.

With his father’s features reflected in his appearance, Austin was the spitting image of him. His dark hair, pointed nose, sharp jawline, rosy lips, and sun-kissed skin were unmistakable reminders of his heritage. Yet, it was his piercing blue eyes that stood out the most—a striking feature that seemed to hold a world of depth.

“Mommy, is the breakfast ready?!” Austin’s voice broke through my sad thoughts, pulling me back to the present. A warm smile spread across my lips as I turned to see the light of my life.

I tousled my son's hair affectionately while flipping the omelet sizzling in the pan. Once it was done, I carefully plated the fluffy omelet and set it on the table.

“Finish your breakfast like a good boy,” I gently urged him, my tender smile lingering as I turned to tackle the rest of the household chores.

When I left the Moonglow pack, circumstances forced me to abandon my education and let go of my dreams of pursuing higher studies. My uncle and the baby growing inside me depended on my support. To make ends meet, I took up employment, working shifts at restaurants and general stores. However, the income was barely enough to get by, let alone provide a comfortable life, especially with the additional expenses of my pregnancy.

But, my talent for computers had always been exceptional, particularly hacking. In search of financial stability, I began working as a hacker on the secretive dark web. It allowed me to earn some quick and modest income.

But for days, I couldn’t find a single hacking assignment. Darn it, it felt like all the odds were stacking against me at once, threatening to make my already miserable condition even worse.

In hope to find a new hacking job, I opened the dark web. As I navigated through the depths of the web, a message caught my attention, arriving from an unidentified sender. It contained an enticing proposition—an opportunity for a significant hacking project, accompanied by a lucrative sum of money.

*Hi, we can discuss the assignment.* I sent a reply promptly.

The temptation of the immense sum was so enticing, and I was in desperate need of money. I waited impatiently when a message box suddenly appeared on the screen.

*Security system of the Moonglow pack.*

The reply from the other end made my breath hitch.

That was an insane assignment, and who the hell was so desperate to die that they wanted to hack the system of the Moonglow pack? That Alpha Zander had himself made that system, and he was an expert. I had training under him when… when we were married. I knew it was impossible to invade the security of the Moonglow pack, and that includes all the details of the North. Hacking the Moonglow pack’s security means gaining access to all the details of the security for the entire North and risking the safety of the whole region. No. I was in desperate need of money but not a fool to accept an offer of my own demise.

*Sorry, I can’t do this.* I quickly typed the reply and was about to sign off.

*I can increase the offer and pay you even more if you're interested. But I really need your skills for this job.*

The reply came swiftly, accompanied by an additional zero at the end of the amount.

He was offering me ten million for this project. It was an absurdly high figure, but the task at hand carried grave risks. What he wanted me to do was very dangerous and if I were to be caught, my life would be forfeit.

*Apologies, but I can't take on this job.* I texted back without a moment's hesitation.

*Don't rush into a decision. I can add one more zero to the amount and pay you the entire sum upfront. Take your time to consider. I'll be waiting for your reply.* His message came through before he quickly signed off.

Holy shit!

A hundred million!

But was this amount worth risking my life and everything I had kept safe for so long?