Chapter 2: The meeting

Penelope

My grandmother had passed away, and for years, I had been living as a human. She had been everything to me—my anchor, my guide. I worked hard, trying to save money and build a better life, but it was tough.

"We’re swamped today! But I’ve got two pieces of great news," Jack, my boss, called out. I worked at a small diner in town, a place that felt like a little family. It was meant to be a temporary job, just until I found something better… but, well, here I was.

"The first one," Jack continued, "is that we’re getting new uniforms."

"Thank God! I hate these clothes!" my coworkers groaned, especially Marianne—my best friend.

"We look awful in these! I’ll never find a boyfriend looking like a ragdoll," she added, making me laugh. She was beautiful slender, with long curly hair cascading down her back. She looked like a sweet girl.

"And second," Jack said, lowering his voice for dramatic effect, "we have an important event coming up—a summit for some big-time CEOs, businessmen… You know, important people."

"Oh my God!" Marianne squealed excitedly.

"New people in town!" another coworker shouted, and suddenly, the whole diner was buzzing with energy.

"I just hope they’re hot, young, and rich," Marianne said with a grin.

"I just hope the new uniforms come in plus sizes… and not miniskirts, my tights… you know" I muttered.

"Are you kidding me, bestie? For real? I’d kill to have your curves! Especially your generous blossom! I,m sure you will have those CEO crazy crazy" she said, bumping her hip against mine playfully. I was still the overweight girl that everyone in the pack used to despise: the fat, the loser, the weak. Not that I ever went back there. No, never again.I was just… me. Penny. The lonely blonde girl with a broad chest, round hips, and thick thighs. The girl who would never have a mate, even if no one here knew about werewolves. But I was living my life, away from them… as happily as I could.

But as I walked home that night, I realized I wasn’t alone. I still have important people in my life.

"Thing One and Thing Two! What are you doing here?" I called out, laughing as I rushed to hug my twin brothers. They had grown so much—already giants in my eyes.

"Of course, we came to see you!" Luther said, grinning.

"Dad had business here, and we wanted to visit!" Luke added. He didn’t say it, but I knew—our separation had been just as hard for them as it had been for me. I missed them every single day. Looking past them, I saw my father stepping out of the car.

"It’s so good to see you, Dad," I said, hugging him tightly.

My dad. My brothers. My family.

I didn’t have my grandmother anymore. I didn’t have my mother, or a mate, or a pack. But I had them. They had come to visit as soon as things in the pack had settled. They had tried to keep us apart, but they had failed.

"Pumpkin," Dad said, his voice warm. "As you can imagine, the boys wanted to come in their wolf form. They’ve been wanting to see you for days, but they were training."

"I’m so happy you’re here. I missed you."

"My beautiful girl…" he whispered, hugging me again. And in his eyes, I truly felt beautiful. Later, as we washed the dishes together, I asked casually.

"Are you working on a deal with another pack?" Dad’s expression shifted.

"No, Pumpkin. We’ve got a rogue situation."

"Damn…"

"It’s getting out of control. And… there’s going to be an Alpha meeting here in Belle Springs."

"Here? In Belle… ohhhh." Then it clicked. The CEOs, the big-shot businessmen. Now that I thought about it, it made sense. This town was one of the few neutral zones for multiple packs.

"Just be careful, okay?" Dad warned. "Don’t let anyone bother you. Maybe ask Jack for a day off. Your brothers will be close. Take care, Pumpkin. You mom would be proud of the woman you have become. Never forget that: that you are brave, my brave girl" He kissed my cheek, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

"It’s just an Alpha meeting," I murmured to myself as I lay in bed that night. "Most werewolves won’t even remember me."

Morning came with chaos. I saw supplies everywhere, Jack was trying to make the dinner look better than ever. It was obvious these alphas had money. They were arrogant but rich.

I kissed my brothers goodbye and hurried off to the diner, where preparations were already in full swing for the big event—the so-called CEO summit.

"Come on! Bring the tables!" someone shouted.

I took a deep breath. This was just another day. Another event.

And yet, I had a feeling—something big was coming.

"The drinks are here!"

“Food is ready!” The diner was so busy that I felt guilty even thinking about asking Jack for the day off. They needed me, and the moment the wolves arrived… I swear, I felt it deep in my gut.

"Sweet Jesus… they are… I mean… fucking hot," Marianne gasped, her mouth hanging open. They were all tall, broad, and impossibly attractive—like no human man could ever be. They looked like models, and celebrities.

"Hell… where did these CEOs even come from?"

"Come on, girls, we have a lot of work to do," Jack reminded us, his voice pulling us back to reality.

"I'm serious, Penny… have you seen them? Those men are massive, and their muscles—absolute works of art. And those tattoos… my God…" Marianne fanned herself dramatically.

"Penny, we've got the tables set up, but could you stand at the entrance and greet them?" Jack asked.

"Me? I just…"

"Please…" he added. Jack had been there for my grandmother, for me, all this time. I owed him. Against my better judgment, I found myself standing at the entrance of the diner, feeling a dozen pairs of piercing eyes on me, like a freaking circus. They looked me up and down as if I were some insignificant insect. My hair was a mess, and my uniform was old and unflattering. Fantastic. Just fantastic.

"Hi, welcome! Please, follow me," I said, motioning toward their assigned seats, my clipboard in hand. But then, my heart stopped.

No. No, it can't be. My fingers trembled as I read the name on the list.

"Nathaniel… Connor," I whispered, barely able to say it aloud.

The other Alphas stepped aside, allowing him to pass, and then… I saw him.

My ex-Alpha’s son.

I should have known. If all the packs in the area were attending, Moonstone had to be here. But I’d assumed his father would come, not him. He must have taken over the alpha position by now.

Nate had grown even more, and unlike me, he had only become more striking. His dark hair was perfectly styled, his light eyes gleaming with confidence. His tanned skin and sculpted muscles were impossible to ignore, and inked designs peeked from his collar, hinting at tattoos beneath his crisp shirt. He was taller than the others, moving with the self-assurance of a man who knew exactly how powerful and attractive he was.

I could hear women sighing just from looking at him.

Then, his gaze landed on me. Confusion flickered across his face. He hadn’t expected to see me here… and the look in his eyes made my stomach churn. Annoyance. Disgust.

I instinctively stepped back, my breath hitching. Flashes of the past hit me like a punch to the gut—his hands dragging me out of the territory, abandoning me in the woods in the dead of night. My brothers crying. My father begged.

"No… you…?" His voice was laced with disbelief like he was staring at his worst nightmare.

His eyes darkened, scanning me from head to toe before he turned his face slightly, almost as if… avoiding my scent.

He hated me.

As much as I hated him.

But why? What had I ever done to him?

"Impossible…" he muttered. I wondered where my brothers would be, if something happened... Nate was their alpha. They couldn't do anything, I thought, and the thought made me feel a knot in my stomach.

But someone said something to him, snapping him out of his daze. Nate clenched his jaw, his body tense as they moved to their seats.

Then I saw someone else: Crimson Fangs were here too. Karl’s son, alpha Marco, stepped forward with a smirk that made my skin crawl.

"Well, well… what do we have here? The chubby human? The traitor?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

I didn’t answer. My throat was dry, my body trembling.

"Aren’t you tired of sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? Or do you actually live in this pathetic town?"

"I… just…"

"Fat whore." The words were barely whispered, but I felt them like a slap. The other wolves chuckled cruelly.

Goddess… why me?

I was shaking when Jack suddenly appeared, his sharp eyes scanning Marco, who quickly backed off.

"Are you okay, Penny?" Jack asked, his voice laced with concern. I nodded. "The new uniforms finally arrived. A little late, but here they are. Hope you like it" He handed me the outfit.

Damn it.

The moment I held the uniform up, I knew it was a disaster.

The skirt was too short. The blouse—too tight.

I changed and looked at myself in the mirror.

Oh no.

The white fabric clung to me, outlining every curve. My breasts were practically spilling out, and the material was so sheer I could see my underwear.

Mortified, I groaned. "How am I supposed to go out there like this?"

In front of them.

In front of him.

I clenched my fists.

But… he was nothing to me. And I was nothing to him.

He had hurt me, deeply. He probably didn’t even remember me. Yeah… that’s what I had to believe.

"You can go to hell, stupid wolf!" I muttered under my breath.

Just then, as I bent down, I heard the unmistakable sound of fabric tearing.

I froze.

Slowly, I turned toward the mirror.

"Oh no…" I whispered in horror. My blouse had split down the front, I was sure that if I moved any more my skirt would go the same way. How could I go out half naked in my work? I was so screwed.

I heard a low, menacing growl. My breath hitched as I spun around. Standing in the open doorway…

Nathaniel, the alpha. He looked furious and incredibly beautiful.

His piercing gaze locked onto me, his jaw clenched, nostrils flaring. His eyes darkened, roaming over my exposed skin, my underwear, my breasts spilling.

And then, that sound again.

A deep, guttural growl that sent chills down my spine.

I was dead, so fucking dead.