Chapter two - My first friends?

Daphne's POV...

If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be walking into the Alpha Triplets’ pre-coronation party wearing my rouge mother’s black satin dress and borrowed confidence, I would’ve laughed in their face.

But there I was… standing at the edge of a ballroom glowing in gold and candlelight, my fingers clenched around a little tray of moonroot essence like it was the only thing keeping me from running. And honestly, it really was.

I wasn’t supposed to be here.

I didn’t want to be here.

Yet here I was.

My aunt, sick as she was, practically ordered me to deliver the moonroot essence to the Alpha household personally. “You can’t send potions with strangers, Daphne. Something could go wrong,” she had whispered. “And you will show respect. Wear something nice.”

Nice, she said.

The black shimmering dress I found in one of her old trunks was more than nice — it hugged my body in places I wasn’t even aware existed. My hair flowed over my shoulders in soft curls, and I had just enough makeup on to hide how absolutely nervous I was.

I don’t know what shocked me more — the silence when I walked in, or the fact that no one threw an insult my way.

Not yet, anyway.

“Daphne?”

I blinked and turned to see two girls approaching — Naomi and Tessa. Daughters of two Beta wolves. Rich. Gorgeous. Untouchable.

They used to ignore me like it was sport.

But tonight?

Is a makeup and a pretty dress this powerful?

“I’m glad you came,” Naomi said, flashing a warm smile. “And thank you… for helping our mother. That tonic you gave her really worked.”

Tessa nodded. “You honestly saved her voice before her council presentation. We owe you.”

My lips parted slightly. “I… I just helped. It's.. kind of my job.”

“No. You made a difference. A huge one,” Naomi said, glancing around. “And you look incredible, by the way.”

“Absolutely gorgeous,” Tessa added, grinning like she was a child taking candy.

“Let's hang out sometime, yeah?” she added.

My heart fluttered. My *first* genuine conversation in years. My *first* friends.

But before I could even respond, the air shifted.

I felt it before I saw them.

Three figures broke away from the crowd — tall, powerful, untouchable.

The triplets.

Jaxon, Maddox, and Kyren.

My stomach twisted.

They didn’t even hesitate. They came straight for me like they were ready to devour... or mock like they usually do.

Naomi and Tessa quickly excused themselves, sensing something… heavy. Well, Tessa did. Naomi was sending them flirtatious glances while Tessa dragged her out of there.

Maddox reached me first, his smirk crooked, lips dangerously close to my ear as he whispered, “That dress should be illegal, Hathaway.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, don’t pretend you didn’t know exactly what you were doing.” His eyes raked over me slowly, and it sent a shiver up my spine — *not* entirely from discomfort. I hated that.

Kyren’s voice came from the other side, softer but just as confident. “Who knew the quiet girl in the back of the class was hiding this?”

He was close. Too close. His lips mere inches from my ear. His fingers brushed my wrist as he reached to grab a drink from the table beside me, like it was casual. But it wasn’t.

They suddenly froze and Maddox growled lowly, “Did you dress like this for your mate? Found him yet?” I didn't want to grace him with an answer but I found myself shaking my head.

Then Jaxon stepped in, calm, collected, and infuriatingly unreadable.

“You’re not who I expected tonight,” he said simply, eyes locked on mine.

“Too bad,” I shot back, raising a brow. “I wasn’t planning to impress you.”

Something flickered in his gaze. Amusement?

“Didn’t say I wasn’t impressed,” he murmured.

My heart was thundering in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. Their presence was overwhelming — and they were all staring at me like I’d suddenly become something worth chasing.

But this wasn’t real.

It couldn’t be.

I'm Daphne Hathaway for god's sake! The broke girl who has no idea where her parents are, the secret behind why everyone in the packhouse despised her, the weird rash that broke out on her face during middle school, the girl who was bullied by them...

Jaxon smirked and stepped away, letting me pass and I ran off to give the moonroot essence to their parents.