#Chapter 3 The chubby girl's loved

Tonight was the Noble Academy’s welcome-back dinner for the new year.

Most of the women in attendance weren’t here for an education or to better themselves. They were dressed like they were walking the red carpet and wore so much makeup that they looked fake. Still, the gleam of their jewelry and their figures caught the attention of most of the men who were starting school with us. Some of it was tasteful, but a lot of it just seemed like they were flaunting their wealth needlessly.

Claire and I sat in the corner of the room, away from most of the other tables, uninterested in speaking to most of the others in the room. Claire and I were so underdressed for the event that we looked like we didn’t belong, and that was fine for us. We weren’t here to make friends. We had each other, and that was enough. Claire was the daughter of the Full Moon Pack’s Secretary of State. She was important enough that it would never matter what she wore. She was also as beautiful as her mother, with a kind and sincere heart that drew people to her. She was popular at school because of that, but she never let that popularity go to her head.

She said once that it was my spirit that made her start opening up to her, but I still believed that she was the one who pulled me out of my shell. When I thought back on everything that had happened since I ran away from the Wolf Fang Pack, I smiled brighter.

I was infamous at the Noble Academy.

Fainting in front of the Alpha King’s car four years ago was the best thing I had done in my life.

The announcements ended, and the music was turned up, almost blotting out the conversations in the room. People mingled and cast curious glances our way, but no one approached.

Suddenly, the music stopped. They weren’t playing anything good, so I didn’t miss it, but it was strange. I looked over to the DJ’s booth as he seemed to be watching someone. Whispers started to drift through the room.

“What’s Francium planning to do?” Someone asked.

“Jeez, he’s not going to ask the girl he loves to be his girlfriend, right?”

“Is it Claire? Or is it the chubby one? What’s her name?”

“Are you okay?” Claire asked, her eyes filled with worry.

I almost rolled my eyes at them. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Claire hesitated but shook her head. “You’d think they realize that we can hear them.”

I shrugged. “I don’t think they care. Glad it’s mutual.”

Claire laughed and shook her head, relaxing.

“That’s Hedy,” a male voice said. “I mean, she doesn’t look bad. She’s just fat.”

“Did you hear that Hedy’s living…”

I tuned the murmuring out as I noticed the man coming toward us. Francium was handsome, probably the most handsome man in the room. He was tall and pale, but there was no denying he was attractive. His eyes were a beautiful shade of blue that always seemed a bit sad. I remembered how vulnerable those eyes had been the first time we met.

More than just how attractive he was, he was the second son of the New Moon Pack’s alpha, the third largest pack. The Full Moon Pack, ruled by Candido, was the largest, followed by the Red Moon Pack and the New Moon Pack. Beyond the top three, there were dozens more, including the Wolf Fang Pack.

The Noble Academy was in the capital of the Full Moon Pack, in the heart of the city. The only people allowed to attend were the heirs of packs, no matter their size, and the children of celebrities. Francium wasn’t special in this crowd in terms of standing, but he had a noble and mysterious aura about him that made women go crazy for him.

While he seemed nice enough, I didn’t have any feelings toward him. I didn’t think Claire did either. Glares of envy turned towards us as Francium reached our table.

“I like you, Hedy,” he said, just as I thought he would. “I’ve been really attracted to you since the first time we met. Will you go out with me?”

His voice was sincere. His eyes were so filled with earnestness. I almost winced. Murmuring kicked up around the room. People gasped and stared. Their jaws dropped open in shock and disbelief.

“Is he serious?” A woman asked, her voice almost shrill. “Her?”

“What does he even see in her?”

“Sorry,” I said, looking up at him. “I’m touched, but I don’t feel the same. I can’t go out with you.”

His smile dropped, and his eyes widened in shock. The gasps rippled through the room at my words.

“B-But why?” Francium asked. “You won’t even give me a chance?”

There were so many answers to that question, but before I could speak, another voice cut through the air.

“Miss Hedy.”

I smiled and turned my head towards the entrance of the banquet hall. A group of men entered all bearing badges of the Full Moon Pack’s security. The silence in the room filled with excited whispers as they entered. It was rare that the Full Moon Pack made any sort of showing like this. Claire and I attended the Noble Academy, but we weren’t flashy about our relations to the Full Moon Pack.

It was Allan, sounding as authoritative as ever, as he walked across the banquet hall towards our table wearing a suit that was much nicer than usual. The whispers turned from insulting to curious and gossipy with every step he took toward me.

I looked behind him, expecting Candido to come striding through, but he didn’t come.

What was going on?

“Allan, why are you here?” I asked, grinning and feeling myself grow happier at the sight of him.

If Allen was here, then Candido couldn’t be far.

“I am only here to pick you up,” he said with a kind smile. “The Alpha King is waiting for you outside.”

“Seems like the rumors are true,” someone whispered, sneering behind Allen’s back as we passed.

Allen wouldn’t know about the rumors that circulated in the school about my relationship with Candido. Admittedly, remembering how desperate I had been when he brought me to his home, the rumors had some founding. I had been prepared to give him whatever he wanted if he granted me sanctuary, but Candido hadn’t wanted my body.

It was a bit disturbing, now, that people thought he would be interested in me when I wasn’t an adult, but I ignored it. People were always gossiping about Candido. His reputation as a murderer made it easier for people to think the worst of him.

“Shut your mouth,” Francium snarled from behind us.

“I love Hedy, and if you speak bad about her, you’re insulting me too.”

My eye widened at the declaration. Murmurs of confusion went through the room as people glanced between us. Francium never lost his temper. He was always polite and well-mannered. Seeing him like this was surprising and confusing for me.

I glanced at Claire, who seemed to be looking at Francium with stars in her eyes, and smiled.

At least Claire was in good hands. I turned back and hurried after Allen towards the exit of the building. He opened the door of the lavish car, and I climbed in, grinning at Candido, who looked at me and offered a small nod.

“This is a nice surprise.”

He nodded as the door closed behind me. “There’s just one thing.”

I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“The alpha of the Wolf Fang Pack has invited us to his birthday party tonight.”

My heart lurched with terror. I felt sick.

I had never imagined that I would ever have to see my family again.

Would they try to hurt me the way they did before?