“I see here that you have been unemployed for the last couple of years.” Marge, the woman interviewing me, squinted her eyes at the paper in an attempt to not look like she was calling me out for my lack of work experience. At least in recent years.

“Yes, ma’am. I was a stay at home omega.” It still hurt to even divulge that much, but this was only the third interview I lined up so far and the first two were in a field I was not at all interested in, making this position number one on my short list.

“But you are no longer?” This time she at least met my eyes, and I thought I could decipher a bit of sympathy in them. She had run into a lot of omegas here at Omega House who were shattered and abused. I was none of those things. I was simply unable to have children.

I knew going in that my alpha was in the relationship for a family, which was a major draw for me. He never hid his intentions; in fact, he wouldn’t mate me until his first child was born. My mom reassured me he was simply feeling the alpha need to procreate more heavily than most and I should give him a chance. It was easy for her to say. She was a happily married beta living in the retirement community of her dreams. She meant well, but was always a bit more self-centered than my siblings and I would’ve liked. But I’d been young and in love, and willing to let my misgivings slide.

“No, ma’am. I’m no longer with my alpha.” I crossed my fingers she wouldn’t pry more. If her mood changed to such deep sympathy just from hearing I was no longer a house omega, I couldn’t fathom what she would say or do if I told her that I couldn’t conceive. There’d be no way I could hold in the tears if she went that route. Thankfully, she perked up and began to babble on and on about the position I was interviewing for: Omega House Child Care Provider.

It sounded lame, I know. But it was a chance for me to give back to the community by helping the omegas in the shelter as they tried to rebuild their lives while also allowing me to surround myself with children. I have always loved children and even completed the first two years of teacher college before falling for my alpha.

I soared at the possibility of becoming a dad, carrying my child in my womb and watching them grow into adulthood. In hindsight, that was probably why I latched onto Ivan as quickly as I did. Sure he was hot and had a decent job, but it was his focus on and the promise of a family, a large one, that had me moving in while red flags were waving all over the place.

“I noticed that you haven’t listed a mailing address.” Unlike her initial assessment of my work history, this time she didn’t sound as if she were on the attack, looking for something wrong with me. This time she sounded understanding.

“I’m currently between places, ma’am.” And by that I meant I was living in a rat-infested by-the-week motel that had a leak in the ceiling and a huge brown stain on the carpet that I suspected was blood.

“Would you stop with the ma’am already?” She tapped her fingers in amusement. “I’m not even close to old enough for that crap.” It was official, I loved Marge. She was kind, funny, and from the first half of our interview, I gathered she took shit from no one.

“Sorry, Marge.” She tilted her head slightly to indicate I continue, which was the last thing I wanted to do. Everyone knew how awful the place I was staying at was if for no other reason than it was constantly on the news as a crime scene. “I’m currently paying week to week at Sunshine Valley.”

“That’s an expensive and dangerous dump.” She thought higher of it than I did. I held in a chuckle. This was not the time to be laughing at my potential boss.

“It is, but my moving out was less than expected.” That sounded a bit better than “I was told to get the fuck out because you’re a useless excuse for an omega.”

“I see.” She opened a drawer to her desk, rifling through some piles before pulling out two folders and slapping them on the desk.

“I plan to save money for my first and last months and move out once I get settled into my new job.” I hoped I could salvage the interview. One moment I thought I was a shoe-in with my education background, and the next I was sure I blew it. This interviewing stuff stunk.

“Which you would like to be here.”

“Very much so.” I sounded over-hungry, which was against one of the many interviewing rules I discovered while researching how best to get a job. “You do great work here and your child care facility is doing far more than most. You are giving these kids hope and love while allowing their omega parents to grow and thrive so they can leave their past behind.”

Omega House offered so much more than a cot and a hot like so many shelters. They were there for the omegas first and foremost. It would be an honor to work here, even if it meant living on ramen, because the pay was pathetic. My next interview was scheduled for Café Om. It had a reputation for treating omegas well and paying a living wage, but customer service just wasn’t my thing.

“I need to ask you a question, and I know it is personal, but I think it needs putting out there.”

And that could never lead anywhere good.

“Okay.” I squeaked because there was no choice to it.

“Why did you and your alpha part?” My stomach sunk. It was inevitable, but I still wasn’t ready to go there. “I wouldn’t ask, but if there are any safety concerns for the residents I need to know before agreeing to hire you on. Not that it would exclude you, mind you. It just might take some more creativity on our end.”

“Ivan is no danger.” He wasn’t either. And frankly, even if he was the type to abuse his omega, I was of no consequence to him anymore. There was zero chance he would ever call me again, much less look for me. “He and I parted because I was unable to conceive.” I was proud of myself as I held my tears.

“And being around children will not add to your hurt?”

The question was legit, and one I had asked myself over and over again the past couple of days. In many cases, I’m sure it would be hurtful, but for me it was the opposite. It was a shining beacon of hope. I could touch the lives of children who needed love and security so very badly. What omega could ask for more than that?

“No. If anything, I think it will be a balm.”

“Well, if that is the case, I have an offer for you.” She leaned forward, resting her face in her hands and her elbows on her desk, more relaxed than I had seen her in the short time I had known her. “We pay spit. I kid you not.” This I knew. It sucked, but sometimes it wasn’t about the money. “This is your starting salary.”

She slid a paper forward and the number she pointed too had me floored. I mean, I knew it was going to suck being non-profit and childcare, two industries notorious for sucky pay, but this was minimum wage.

“But, we have a dormitory for staff, if they so choose. In exchange, you agree to be on call one week a month in case we have an emergency intake with children involved. Is that something you might be interested in?”

That changed things. “That sounds like a dream come true.” I could live here, work with children, and save money for a future. It was a dream.

“So let’s get to the fun part then, shall we?”

“Which is?”

“You get to fill out all of this.” She shoved a pile of papers my way that had to be a half an inch thick. Was a new life worth four thousand hours of paperwork? Absolutely.