Chapter 6: All for free
Standing before the frost-glazed window, Paisley inhales deeply, letting the cold morning air sharpen her senses. The landscape outside is buried under a thick, white blanket of snow, leaving only hints of life peeking through—the stubborn green tops of carrots, kale, and cabbage. The wind howls as it whips across her garden, but Paisley stands still, absorbing the weight of the morning.
She's used to managing on her own, no matter the circumstances. Whether it meant skipping meals or forcing herself to eat when she didn't feel like it, she always made do. But this morning is different. There's someone else depending on her now—a boy. A boy whose world has already been rough before it landed on her doorstep.
Adrian.
She isn't sure what to call him—family, perhaps? Or maybe he's just someone fate threw into her life, like an extra weight she didn't ask for but can't shrug off. Whatever he is, she knows one thing: she is responsible for him now. No matter what kind of nightmares haunt his seventeen years, it's on her to make sure the ones to come are better.
With that thought pressing on her mind, Paisley grabs her winter coat. It's thin, frayed at the seams, but it'll have to do. She needs vegetables to make a proper meal—something more than the quick breakfasts she usually throws together. The boy needs real food, especially after the rough night he had. Tomatoes, cabbage, squash—she goes through the list in her mind. There are still some sweet potatoes stored away, too. She makes a mental note: she'll roast those later with honey, the way she likes to enjoy them on cold afternoons.
Bracing herself, Paisley steps outside, only to be met by the sharp slap of icy wind. She winces, instinctively squeezing her eyes shut as the cold air bites at her cheeks. Winter has always made everything harder, but this year feels especially unforgiving. With jobs scarce, and her being an Omega—a status that automatically guarantees lower wages—her prospects are grim. Omegas have weaker immune systems, too, which means falling ill is a constant worry.
Still, she trudges through the snow toward her garden beds, brushing snow off the tops of the vegetables. As she pulls up carrots, her gaze drifts to a beautiful radish nestled in the corner. She crouches to pull it up, but just as her hands curl around the leaves, a sharp voice startles her.
"Paisley! Hey!"
She jerks upright, heart racing as Mrs. Baker, the blonde woman from next door, leans over her balcony railing.
"Paisley! Have you seen your uncle? He came back late last night, and now he's gone again!"
Paisley's stomach twists at the mention of her uncle. Keeping her voice steady, she glances at Adrian's bedroom window before responding quietly, "No, Mrs. Baker. I haven't seen him."
Mrs. Baker snorts bitterly. "God knows where he's off to this time. Probably with that bitch again. If he shows up, I swear, I'll kill him." She pauses, squinting down at Paisley. "He deserves whatever's coming to him, the useless bastard."
Paisley feels the familiar guilt creep in, but she shakes it off. Mrs. Baker isn't wrong—her uncle is a violent, cheating drunk. His wife would probably celebrate the day he never came home again.
"Oh! I almost forgot—" Mrs. Baker calls again as Paisley continues gathering vegetables. "That guy at the convenience store said he needed to see you. Something about giving you something. You should head over while the wind's not too bad. And you might wanna grab some dry food—electricity's out, and it's not coming back anytime soon."
Paisley nods her thanks, barely lifting her gaze, and Mrs. Baker heads inside, muttering to herself.
Back inside her cottage, Paisley hurries to the kitchen. She stirs some chopped vegetables with garlic, plating them next to two sunny-side-up eggs and a glass of water. She adds a toothbrush and toothpaste to the tray—last night, she had to show Adrian how to brush his teeth.
She checks the small box left behind for Adrian's belongings. It remains untouched. There isn't much money to spare, but she can't skimp on essentials for him. His education comes first, and every dollar counts. Still, he has almost no clothes, and winter isn't going to wait.
Resolving to figure it out later, she tugs her coat back on and heads toward the convenience store. The wind cuts against her like knives, and the cold stings her cheeks, but she keeps moving. The store is a small, warm oasis tucked between snow-covered buildings, and the moment she steps inside, she's greeted by the familiar scent of old wood and canned goods.
"Paisley! You should've come sooner, girl!" The manager, a stocky Alpha with a gruff but kind demeanor, frowns as he wipes his hands on his apron. "The wind's brutal today."
"You said you had something for me?" Paisley asks, brushing snow from her shoulders as she scans the shelves for essentials—eggs, rice, and maybe a few cans.
The manager beams and pulls out a plastic bag from behind the counter. "Coupons. My friend gave 'em to me, but I figured you could use 'em more."
Paisley shakes her head, her expression hardening. "I don't need charity."
The manager's grin doesn't falter. "It's not charity, Paisley. I heard about your boy staying with you now. If we don't look out for each other, who will?" He pushes the bag into her hands. "These'll get you a lot for twenty bucks. Just take 'em."
Paisley clenches her jaw, weighing her pride against the reality of their situation. She knows pride won't fill Adrian's stomach. With a curt nod, she accepts the bag.
"Good. Now follow me." The manager leads her toward the refrigerated section. "Take whatever you want—it's all free today."
Paisley's brow furrows in disbelief. "Free? That's impossible."
The manager gestures toward a handwritten sign on the wall: "Frozen items—Free until sold out."
"Electricity's out, and the freezers are done for. If we don't clear it out, it'll spoil. Mrs. Baker already grabbed ten pounds of meat."
Paisley hesitates. The idea of taking so much feels strange—wrong, even. But she knows that food is food, and they'll need it. She picks up two pounds of beef, a salmon, and some lamb.
Paisley stands in front of the freezer, leaning toward the eggs to grab a packet, when her eyes drift to the ground beef. Adrian had mentioned sandwiches, and the thought struck her— She can make him some burgers.
Without overthinking it, she picks up a pound of ground meat and adds it to her basket.
While calculating what she'll need to get through the next six days, the manager grabs another basket and begins piling in meat—as much as he can fit. He follows up with seafood, fruit, and cheese, moving efficiently, as if it were second nature.
Paisley adds toiletries for Adrian and shampoo for herself. As she picks them out, her gaze flicked to the board hanging on the wall:
"All for Free."
Her brow furrows, – Why isn't anyone here? Normally, people would be swarming the store if everything was free. Yet, the aisles are eerily empty.
Satisfied with most of what she needs, she drifts over to the snacks and juice section.
So far, everything she has picked is healthy, just what Adrian needed. But as she stares at the colorful bags and cartons, a thought creeps in—has Adrian ever even tried these? The idea tugs at her, and since everything is free for today, she tosses a few into her basket.
The manager follows close behind, filling his own basket with snacks and drinks. He doesn't seem concerned with limits.
"I'll pay for the jacket and—" Paisley begins, only for him to cut her off.
"It's 90% off!" he said, holding up his phone to show her the sale ad with a grin.
Paisley shifts uncomfortably, feeling out of place. It just doesn't sit right. As she looks around, she notices more things that shouldn't have been free—high-end products mixed among the everyday essentials.
"Alright, then I'll pay for the toiletries—"
"It's all free, Paisley. Don't bother," the manager said, waving off her offer. "Go home. Spend time with your family." He smiles easily, as though handing out supplies was just part of the job.
She gives a small, reluctant nod, letting him pack the bags.
"Come back if you need anything. Everything's free!" he calls out cheerfully.
Paisley doesn't respond. She just nods, turns toward the door, and slips into the cold. The wind hits her face like a slap, but she doesn't have time to think about it. Adrian is waiting, and after everything that has happened the night before, She needs to be home.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone