chapter 3

Bethany felt a little awkward. “Well, it was really nice meeting you.”

“It was nice meeting you too, Bethany,” Caleb replied warmly. “Do you plan on staying in town long?”

“I hope so. I’m looking to settle down here—at least, that’s the plan.”

“What about family?” one of his friends asked.

“No, it’s just me,” she said, then instantly regretted her honesty. Why was she spilling her life story to strangers—especially ones she barely knew? She refocused her attention on Caleb. There was something about him that put her at ease, even if he was almost intimidatingly handsome. Strong, quiet, but not threatening. He made her feel... safe.

“It was really nice to meet you,” she said again, just to prolong their conversation.

She offered her hand, and he took it. The warmth of his touch lingered, and for a moment, neither of them wanted to let go.

“I hope I see you again,” she said softly.

“You will,” Caleb said, his voice steady. “You can count on that.”

His friends got up from the booth, gathering the coffee and muffins she had given them. Caleb finally let her hand go, his gaze lingering like there was more he wanted to say.

But he didn’t.

Bethany watched him leave, feeling a twinge of disappointment. He hadn’t asked for her number or hinted at wanting to see her again. Her heart sank a little. She had the urge to drop everything and follow them, but she forced herself to stay grounded.

Don’t get your hopes up, she reminded herself. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment.

Still, a flicker of hope tried to rise—one she quickly crushed. She knew better than to believe in fairy tales.

Unlike most people in the diner, Bethany didn’t have anyone waiting for her. No family. No one to turn to. Her past had taught her how easily people discarded her.

She was a foundling—abandoned just days after being born, discovered cold and starving, wrapped in a blanket and left in a cardboard box. Raised in the foster system, she had never been adopted. While most babies found homes quickly, she never did. She remained in the system until she turned eighteen.

Bethany could still remember the anticipation every time a new couple came to visit the foster home. She’d try her best to smile, be kind, behave perfectly. The foster families always gave her glowing reports, but none of it made a difference. She was invisible—never chosen.

As she got older, she stopped hoping. She became used to being overlooked. Some homes were kind. Others were difficult. But at least her invisibility had spared her the worst. She’d heard the horror stories from others. Her own story was quieter, lonelier.

Shaking off the memories, she grabbed a coffee pot, forced a practiced smile, and returned to serving customers. She was good at pretending everything was fine. Some of the patrons thanked her, and she made decent tips. But even now, as an adult, she felt unseen. Just another face in the crowd. Not beautiful. Not striking. Just... ordinary.

She wondered if Caleb had already forgotten about her. Did he even care who he had helped? Would he have done the same for anyone else?

Was she plain? Or worse—ugly? She tried not to obsess, but the thoughts were hard to stop.

Eventually, the day wore on, and her feet ached from being on them for so many hours. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was just after seven. Joe, the diner’s owner, always closed at the same time, even when customers wanted him to stay open later.

He rarely interacted with staff once the doors were shut, usually disappearing behind a stack of papers, always looking over his shoulder like someone might sneak up on him.

Bethany couldn’t wait to leave. She headed toward the staff room, untying her apron and pulling on her sneakers. She grabbed her bag, which held her change of clothes. Joe didn’t allow the staff to take their uniforms home. On Saturdays, he insisted on collecting them to wash and return for the next shift.

She hated handing over her clothes to him. Joe wasn’t exactly a creep, but he wasn’t comforting either.

Just as she was about to head out, he cleared his throat behind her.

“Bethany. I want a word.”

The other waitresses gave her a sympathetic glance as they filed past. Joe didn’t acknowledge them.

All Bethany wanted was to work, get paid, and leave without drama. “What is it, Joe?” she asked, turning to face him.

“Come to my office. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Her heart picked up its pace.

Joe’s eyes trailed over her figure. There was no disgust in his expression—if anything, it was too comfortable. Bethany had a curvy figure—full hips, a small waist, large chest, and thick thighs. She didn’t mind her body and had grown to appreciate it over time. But something about Joe’s attention made her uncomfortable.

Grabbing her bag, she followed, hoping this wouldn’t turn into something she’d regret. This job had started to feel like a fresh start. She liked the town. She’d begun to imagine the possibility of a new life, maybe even a future that didn’t involve disappointment.

She didn’t want to believe in fairy tales.

But some small part of her still did.

“Where we going?” asked Reese.

“Home,” said Caleb. He had no intention of heading home just yet, but he wasn’t going to lurk around the diner like a stalker. His pack was too anxious for him to mate—to the point they could blow this for him. For them.

They needed to remember he was dealing with a human female, not a wolf. She had to be treated differently, and he had to bide his time if he wanted to win her over. In his forty years, he’d learned a lot about the human culture and they made a huge ordeal when it came to courting a female—dating, engagements, gifts of jewels, and a slew of other hoops to jump through. The rituals could stretch out needlessly, sometimes over years, until they finally married and consummated the relationship.

Wolves relied solely on the mating call. Shifters went from strangers to life mates within hours. No games, no hoops. This was so different. He wasn’t sure he could even win Bethany over.

Caleb had to believe fate had things right, and it would be only a matter of time until he claimed Bethany as his mate. Otherwise, he’d drive himself crazy. After a lifetime, he’d finally felt the call. And there was no denying it. Just thinking about her name made his cock stir.

“We can’t just leave now. You didn’t even make a move,” said David. “Don’t try to tell me you felt nothing because that’s bullshit.”

He turned and glared at his packmate, reminding him who was in charge. “This is my concern, not yours. I’ll handle things my way.”