"Hi, yes you aren't dreaming, it's the chubby Kelly," I say inwardly as I see the unhappy face expression of Jason who is disheartened. 

The guests laugh at us. They call our couple all sort of names. "The prince charming and the pancakes' eater Kelly" is one I can sadly remember."

"I, Jason Bentley of the South pack, reject you Kelly Thompson as my mate and the Luna Queen," he declared fiercely.

***
Kelly Thompson, an eighteen-year-old curvaceous and wolfless she-wolf, has been quietly admiring Jason Bentley, the heir apparent to the throne of the dominant South pack, for a number of years.

Unfortunately for Kelly, she doesn't get the same attention in return from Alpha heir Jason, as the handsome daughter of his old father's Gammas, Betty Nord, is already the love of the pack's future Alpha. But, the plump Kelly has an advantage over the skinny Betty because of a strong vow made by Jason's father, the Alpha King Don Bentley, that his son will marry the daughter of his Betas who gave their lives two years ago in a fight against the North pack's fiercest adversaries in order to preserve the life of the Alpha heir.

But clearly, nothing goes as smoothly as Kelly imagines.

The Rejected Curvy Luna Queen

The words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. A rush of emotions floods through me—relief, love, and a flicker of hope for our fractured family. In this moment, despite the chaos and danger that still looms, I feel a sense of belonging. 


"Eden," I say softly, kneeling to look into our son's eyes. "We're back, and we're together. That's what matters most." 


Eden's face lights up, a beaming smile breaking through the worry etched in his features. "We're going to be okay, right, Mommy?" 


I nod, determination flooding through me. "Yes, sweetheart. We're going to be okay." 


Jason, still catching his breath, glances around at our surroundings. The landscape is eerily quiet, the familiar sounds of the forest missing. The air feels charged, as if the very fabric of reality is still settling after our tumultuous journey. 


A new beginning