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“This interview is just to get to know you a little better. I read through your application, and you seem like an excellent candidate. It’s so rare we have an omega sign up to our services. I have no doubt that we are going to find you the perfect match,” Callie informed me as she settled back into the seat opposite me.

“And just to confirm, I don’t have to pay for this service? I know it was mentioned on the phone, but I wanted to be sure…” I said, voicing my biggest concern. Matchmakers were expensive, and I could never in a million years afford the fee, but the ad had said that omegas didn’t need to pay.

Callie waved me off. “Oh no, not at all! The alphas pay the fees. There’s no cost to you whatsoever.” She beamed brightly.

The confirmation made my chest loosen ever so slightly. I wasn’t exactly relaxed, but I was somewhat less tense.

“May I ask a little more about your motivations for using a matchmaker?” Callie asked, cocking her head to the side, taking a delicate sip of her tea.

I bit my lip, taking a deep breath. “Well…”

She seemed to sense my hesitation, setting her cup down and pinning me with a concerned stare. “There’s no need to beat around the bush. Women have a whole variety of reasons for selecting a service like ours. We don’t judge.”

“Security,” I admitted, feeling this rush of adrenaline as I finally got it out. “As you know, I’m a mother…”

Callie nodded. “Yes! A little boy called Milo. Just under a year old. I saw the photo you added to your application. He’s such a little cutie.”

A smile spread across my face. “He is. He’s… well, he’s everything. I want to focus on raising him. I changed my major to accounting, so I can get a good job in finance and give him a better life, but between studying, working part-time, and trying to raise him…”

Callie nodded understandingly. “It’s enough to tire anyone out! You’ve done an admirable job so far. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a little help. Now, you do understand that matching with a pack will probably lead to you needing to relocate?”

“Yes, I realized that if I needed to move, it was best to do it while Milo was young, before he started school, so I wouldn’t be uprooting him.”

“Very smart. Now, what are you looking for in a pack?”

“I’m aware that my…” My heart thumped hard, and I found myself fiddling with my fingers. “…position isn’t the best, being a single mother.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “I won’t lie to you. While it’s not ideal, I think you’ll find we have several packs who would be open to bonding someone in your position, if you’re the right fit for them.”

“I just want alphas who are nice.” I shrugged. “Who will take care of us. I don’t really have any other requirements.”

Sure, I wanted alphas who were handsome, who worshiped me and cared deeply for me, but I was realistic. I wasn’t exactly a catch myself, so I’d determined the only thing that truly mattered was finding a pack who was kind and willing to care for me and Milo.

Callie looked at me, her gaze seemingly seeing right through me. “You’ve had a hard time, haven’t you?”

The instant callout hit me harder than expected. Tears flooded my eyes, and I desperately wiped them away. Callie, unfazed, grabbed a tissue, handing one to me with a sympathetic look.

“I’m sorry!” I blubbered. “I assure you, I can cook and clean, and you know…” I trailed off.

“Don’t apologize! We have several options for you, and we can make it crystal clear as part of your contract that the pack must treat your son as their own.”

“And will they be held to that?” I asked, concern coloring my tone as I tried to pull myself together.

Callie nodded. “Oh, yes! There are strict penalties for contract violations like that. Plus, we vet the packs extensively. We will only place you with a pack we are certain will accept your family. Now, a lot of packs prefer to find omegas with no children or prior relationships, because they want omegas with no other obligations, but we are confident we can find the right fit. How much longer do you have left at college?”

“A year. I assume I wouldn’t be able to continue once I…”

“Probably not, but maybe once you’re settled, you can take online classes. The pack we have in mind for you values education.”

I choked on my sip of coffee. “You already have a pack in mind for me?” I asked, my voice thin. “I only applied a few days ago!”

“We don’t get many omega applications, so we started looking at our available packs immediately, and we have narrowed it down to a few options. You can expect a final decision within a week.”

“A week? That’s so fast!”

Callie nodded. “It is, but when it’s right, it’s right! How much time would you need to move?”

“A few weeks, maybe?” I said, though my mind was already wandering, thinking of all the things I’d need to do to make sure that Milo and I were ready to uproot our lives.