The One

Aspen Clan

 The dawn broke with a crisp chill as she set out to her grandparent's house, while the others ventured off to explore. As she arrived at Aspen Gated Community, the home of the Aspen Clan in Conry City, apprehension skittered through her mind.

"Hi, I'm here to see Peter," she announced to the guard stationed at the entrance.

"State your name and purpose," the guard replied, his tone lacking familiarity.

Her heart raced; barely clinging to her composure, she responded firmly, "My name is Karol, and I am here to visit Peter, the Alpha of the Aspen Clan." She noted the guard's slight shudder.

"Give me a sec," he mumbled.

'Is he new? How could he not recognise me?' she thought. Yet, it had been seven years since her last visit, so perhaps it was no surprise.

"Sorry, Miss. You're free to enter. Alpha Peter is expecting you at the mansion."

"No worries, and thank you," she replied, her mind racing as she drove up to the imposing mansion.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, Peter emerged, a warm smile lighting up his face.

"Hi, Alpha! It's been so long! How are you? You haven't aged a day!"

"Karol! It's been ages! I'm doing wonderfully. How about you? My goodness, you look stunning!" He enveloped her in a hearty hug and led her inside, where they were met with Luna Pepper's radiant smile.

"Hi, Luna Pepper!" she greeted, her heart swelling with joy.

"Oh my, look who's graced us with her presence! You look beautiful, darling! And please, just call me Aunty Pepper; 'Miss' makes us sound so formal!" Pepper exclaimed, before wrapping her in a warm embrace.

"Thank you, Aunty Pepper. How are you?"

"I'm wonderful, sweetheart! How about you?" Pepper asked, her eyes sparkling as she served a slice of her famous blueberry pie.

"I'm doing okay, Aunty. OMG, is that blueberry pie?!" she leaned eagerly over the kitchen counter, her excitement palpable.

With a knowing smile, Pepper sliced two generous pieces and placed them on a plate, which she handed to Karol, who beamed like an excited puppy.

"Seriously, why are you so adorable?" Pepper laughed as she playfully pinched her cheeks.

"Thank you, Aunty!" she chirped, scurrying to the table with her plate. She slid into a chair and devoured the first piece, playfully defending her dessert from Peter's fork as he attempted to steal a bite. Pepper watched with a bemused shake of her head.

"Stop it, you two! Here's yours. Now, stop trying to eat off Karol's plate," she scolded gently, bringing two more slices to the table and placing one in front of Peter before taking her seat.

In the midst of munching on her pie, she felt her emotions rise to the surface. "I don't know why, but I feel so close to you both, even though I rarely come here."

"Aww, we feel the same way about our very own cutie pie," Peter grinned.

Throughout the day, Pepper and Peter enveloped her in warmth, guiding her on a tour around the area. When they paused in front of her grandparent's house, nestled protectively beside the mansion, she turned to them with hopeful eyes.

"Can I move in here for a few days?" she asked, her voice tinged with longing.

Peter's smile widened, his eyes filled with affection. "We were hoping you'd say that; you are the closest to your grandparents," he replied lovingly.

"We've made sure to replace some items that were damaged but rest assured, everything is clean and dust-free," he added, his voice full of reassurance.

Her heart swelled as she beamed at them, then pulled them both into a heartfelt embrace, pouring out her gratitude.

"Thank you so, so much," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Most welcome, our cutie pie," Peter responded, a warmth in his voice.

"Wanna come in?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

Both Peter and Pepper nodded enthusiastically, their hearts light.

The trio stepped inside the house, sinking into the familiar embrace of the living room as they settled in. Her gaze roamed the space, awe-struck and nostalgic. "Wow! It looks the same," she exclaimed, her voice a blend of wonder and disbelief.

"Told you," Peter replied, mirroring her actions with a mix of excitement and curiosity, his own eyes wide as this was his first encounter with the house. Karol, however, quickly donned her polite host persona. "Let's have a seat, shall we?" she declared, plopping down on the sofa with a flourish, beckoning both Peter and Pepper to join her.

As she glanced from one friend to the other, a heavy wave of guilt washed over her. "Oh, before I forget—can you two please try to forget about my attitude seven years ago?" she said, her tone laced with remorse. "I know I shouldn't have acted that way just because I was angry. Thank you both for staying calm while I went berserk." Her gaze fell, her head hanging low under the weight of her regret.

"I'm so sorry for being such a brat on that day," she confessed, shame radiating from her. Almost instinctively, both Peter and Pepper responded in unison, their voices warm and comforting, "Cutie pie/Blueberry pie~."

Pepper rose, crossing the room to envelop her in a heartfelt hug. "Don't say that! We understand your feelings and pain from that time. That's why we didn't say a word; we just wanted to help you through it because we know how you felt." As she held her tight, tears threatened to spill.

What began as a casual meeting effortlessly morphed into a profound reunion with laughter and stories flowing freely as they caught up.

"Oh, one more thing!" she interjected, her expression suddenly serious. "Can you please promise not to tell my parents about my knowledge of this whole werewolf world? I'm not ready for them to know how I found out, especially about what happened seven years ago."

Peter grinned, extending his pinky. "We won't say a thing until you feel ready to tell them yourself. We promise." Karol, relieved, sealed the deal with him and turned to Pepper, who mirrored the gesture.

After dinner, the trio parted ways, she drove back to her hotel with a heavy heart, determined to confront her parents about her decision.

Once settled and having informed her parents of her whereabouts, she packed her luggage and lay on her hotel bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind spiralled back to that horrific day seven years ago—the day vengeance ignited within her like an insatiable beast.