"Everyone! Food is ready!" called Laura loudly. I looked over and was pleased to see she was sporting her flower crown proudly.

I gave it a moment as a wave of hungry werewolves piled over to get in line.

"You're a new face, and I have to say, that dress is fantastic," greeted another woman, smiling warmly before offering her hand. "I'm Jessica, Luna of the Highrock Pack."

"Pleasure to meet you!" I replied, happily shaking her hand. "Allison Hill, former Luna of the Starfall Pack."

A small look of knowing crossed her features. I'm infamous, I know, I thought with a mental chuckle.

"You run the consulting company, right? Luna's Compass?" she asked and I nodded.

"That's me. The Alpha and Luna here were thinking of signing with us for a few services to tighten up some of their existing practices."

"I've been telling my mate we should reach out to you," she admitted with a slightly exasperated tone. "We've been needing help with some of our negotiations. They're coming out weaker than we want, and he's just a stubborn ox." I laughed.

"We can certainly help with that. I'd give you a card but I don't have one on me unfortunately. But please, do reach out. Or better yet, what's your number? I'll pass it to our intake team and have them reach out to set something up."

"Oh that's perfect!" she said, rattling off her phone number as I added her to my contacts and then sent it to the team.

"Have you met any of the other Alphas and Lunas here?" she asked with a smile.

"To be honest I haven't had a chance to. It's my first full day here," I admitted.

"In that case, allow me! Usually I'd chide Laura for being a bad host, all in good fun I swear, but I know she's incredibly busy today." She said it all in one breath, and I had to wonder how big her lungs were.

"I take it you're friends with the Luna then," I asked with a polite smile.

"Oh best friends," gushed the woman. "Laura and I grew up together. While I know she was happy I found my mate in Travis, I knew she was saddened that her own mate hadn't arrived. Then -POOF- one day Alpha Roger arrived with a few people and the rest is history."

"I do miss her," she added in a softer tone, "but I am glad that she's found her happiness."

"Right," I said with a smile.

"And to think, some she-wolf had decided to reject him," added Jessica with a scoff. "Shows how some people have no taste. I'm glad he was given a second chance with Laura."

My stomach clenched and my spine went cold for half a heartbeat—not enough to show, just enough to sting. Thankfully I had enough practice controlling my expressions, I didn't let it reach my face. My smile stayed on my face but it was tight and rigid, as if it were simply a pleasant mask. Yet you liked my taste in clothing.

If Jessica noticed my awkward silence, she gave zero indication. "Oh, let's go over here and I'll introduce you to Alpha Jon from the Frostclaw Pack! Oh Alpha Jon..."

I politely chatted with several individuals, and caught up with a few familiar faces from past events I had attended with Warren. Honestly it was nice to catch up with them, even if I was playing a very different role this time.

No matter where I went, I felt watched. Most of the time it felt like curious stares, as if trying to figure out how I fit. A few times I managed to catch fleeting smug looks. Everything else felt as if someone was undressing me with their eyes. I mean, I should be partially flattered but it made me feel like a piece of meat.

I wasn't in the best shape anymore. Having an office job that was away from a pack tended to do that to you. I still had my curves—just a few more of them these days. The hourglass was still there—just with a wider middle. Humans tended to refer to it as a "mom bod", even though I was never a mother. But despite that, many young warriors looked at me as if he wanted to take a walk with me in the forest and not for a nature walk, if you catch my drift.