Maya was the least concerned about the tension hanging in the room. The only things that occupied her mind were the cruelty of her father and the crushing reality that she had just lost her mate.

  Even though her aunt had assured her that it was only temporary—since she had taken the potion just once—Maya still felt it as a loss. A deep, aching one.

  Because if things had unfolded as they normally should have, if Leo had recognized her, she knew they would be talking animatedly by now, learning each other, laughing softly.

  There would have been shy touches, lingering fingers, stolen kisses placed carelessly here and there.

  He would never have gone to her pack. She would have insisted her cousin appoint another leader for the pack warriors.

  But now—he was gone.

  She sighed heavily at the thought, her chest tightening.

  “He would meet Zoe at the pack,” her wolf, Sia, opined sadly.

  Maya balked, the thought hitting her so sharply that she nearly cried out.

  Zoe had mentioned a Leo, who would be in this pack…

  Somehow she knew they were the same person. It was useless to pretend that her mate was a different Leo, from Zoe’s boyfriend.

  Her mate had gone to be with her ex–best friend.

  She felt Sia howl in fury and grief within her, the sound raw and broken. Maya felt just as shattered.

  A terrifying thought crossed her mind—would Leo mark Zoe as his mate?

  She had heard of wolves who rejected their true mate to be with another. But she also knew how rarely such unions ended well.

  Elder Brandon—her father’s right-hand man in wicked deeds—was living proof of that truth.

  Often, she had wondered who between the two men was more vile.

  The memory of Brandon stirred bitterness within her; she remembered he had once been her uncle’s godfather.

  The mention of her uncle reignited her irritation.

  How could he agree with her father on everything—especially the pack merger? Couldn’t he see that his brother meant no good? Or did he, too, have an ulterior motive?

  She hoped it was the latter.

  Yet it did nothing to ease her annoyance as she glanced at him from the far end of the room, her gaze sharp and accusing.

  If he hadn’t agreed to her father’s demands, her mate would never have gone to her pack. She would have met Leo later—after the potion’s effects had faded.

  She would have preferred waiting.

  Waiting hurt less than being unseen.

  “And why do you say so?” Her uncle’s voice dragged her out of her thoughts.

  “Nothing,” she replied with a shrug, confirming his suspicions.

  “Very well, then,” he said calmly. “Unfortunately for you, the truce has already been made—with or without the picture you tore. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

  “Yeah… right. I see,” she replied dryly. “I’ll be off now, Uncle.”

  She strode out of the room without looking back.

  Meanwhile, Peter watched as Derek exchanged a look with his mate before muttering a brief goodnight and following after Maya. But he chose to remain silent still.

  “I’ll be retiring to the kitchen,” his mate said moments later.

  Peter sighed inwardly, knowing she was only finding an excuse to join the two outside.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Alright. Be quick, then,” he replied honestly, rubbing his stomach. “I’m hungry.”

  She smiled at him, nodding, before strolling out gracefully.

  —

  Melvina sighed tiredly as she closed the door to the Pack’s conference room, the sound soft but heavy, like the end of a long night. She looked ahead and saw her son and Maya standing by the wall.

  She knew they were waiting for her. So she increased her pace, her steps quickening as she walked up to them.

  “Let’s talk in the kitchen,” she said when she got to them. “We can talk as I prepare dinner. It’s already late,” she added, already walking ahead of them in the direction of the kitchen.

  “Aunt, won’t someone listen in to our conversation?” Maya asked, walking into the kitchen, with Derek by her side.

  “No. Did you see anyone around?”

  “Not really,” Maya muttered, recalling that she hadn’t seen a single soul on this side of the pack house.

  “It’s a private quarters,” Derek said. “So nobody comes around unless for a visit. And they stay in the sitting room when they do come.”

  “Oh…”

  Maya was about to ask Derek why he had signalled her earlier during her conversation with his father—to keep calm about the issue and not let him know—when she heard a joyful scream.

  “Derek!!”

  She turned speedily, her thoughts scrambling as she wondered who could be screaming at this time of the night.

  She was surprised when she saw a little girl running toward her cousin, her face lit up with bright, unrestrained smiles.

  Maya had to admit that the little babe was cute—but who was she? She thought, recalling that Derek had said this was a private quarters.

  She watched as her cousin lifted the little beauty into his hands and twirled her around effortlessly.

  Maya smiled without realizing it, her mate-thoughts forgotten momentarily, as she listened to the beautiful laughter filling the room. She hadn’t heard her cousin laugh since they had separated seven years ago.

  “Mom!!” she heard the little girl scream as Derek set her back on the floor, and Maya balked slightly as the knowledge dawned on her.

  The little beauty was Derek’s sister. She had another cousin.

  The realization made her teary. She couldn’t believe that she hadn’t known her aunt had given birth to another child—a beautiful daughter at that. She wondered if her parents knew.

  Her father must have known, she thought.

  As she stared at her aunt, who was all smiles, pinching the little beauty’s cheek playfully, her thoughts became rammed with memories of ten years ago, when she still prepared dinner with her aunt. The kitchen, the warmth, the laughter—it all came rushing back.

  Her eyes grew so teary that she didn’t even know when a tear rushed down speedily from her right eye, eager to touch the ground. When she felt the motion, she muttered a quick, “I’ll be back,” before rushing out of the room.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Melvina asked Derek, even as she stirred the paste in the pan and continued playing with her daughter.

  “I don’t know,” Derek replied sincerely.

  He had seen the lone tear that had escaped his cousin’s eyes seconds ago, but he didn’t know why.

  Was she missing her family already? he thought, then shook his head slowly. It couldn’t be that. It was something else—and he wanted to find out.

  “Go after her then,” Melvina stated, turning her attention back fully to the pot of tomato paste. She was preparing spaghetti.

  Derek nodded and turned, intending to walk out of the kitchen after his cousin. But before he could do that, Maya walked back into the kitchen.

  “Hey, what’s the matter? Where did you go?” He studied her face, determined to understand why the sight of his family playing together had triggered her tears. He thought the sight was beautiful—nothing that should invoke pain.

  “Nothing. Some stuff flew into my eyes,” Maya replied, though her gaze drifted back to the little beauty who now seemed to have noticed her.

  “Derek, who is she?” Eva asked, watching Maya.

  “She is our cousin,” Derek replied tentatively, unsure of his sister’s reaction.

  He watched as his little sister trotted toward where Maya stood. He smiled faintly when he noticed that his cousin was nervous. He could tell by the light perspiration forming at the bridge of her nose.

  Why was she nervous though?

  “You’re my cousin?” he heard his sister ask Maya, and he smiled again, eager to see what would happen next.

  His mother’s back was turned to them, but he knew she was listening in.

  “Yes, I am.” Maya’s voice shook slightly. She wondered whether the little girl knew about her betrayal years ago. She hoped not. She couldn’t bear hatred from such a beautiful child.

  “Okay. But I haven’t seen you before. You’re Uncle Arnold’s daughter then. Why am I seeing you guys today for the first time? Do you have a little brother? Where do you stay? Why is your hair blond and not black like mine? Would you teach me how to put on make up? There is a boy in my class. I like him. His name is—”

  Eva was still speaking when her mother cut her off.

  “Eva!!!” Melvina shouted, trying—and failing—to rein in her laughter at her daughter’s train of questions.

  She had decided to ignore the chatter until the little babe mentioned a boy she liked. Melvina scoffed inwardly. Her little girl was just five. What did she know about boys and likeness?

  At that age, she herself had only been concerned about escaping her father’s beating.

  “Yes, Mom,” Eva answered, now holding Maya’s hand with her little one.

  “Allow your cousin to answer your questions one at a time,” Melvina said firmly.

  “But she’s not complaining,” Eva replied, to Derek’s amusement.

  Although he had been angry at his cousin, he hadn’t told his baby sister about her—or her betrayal. He hadn’t deemed it necessary.

  Looking at the duo now, he hoped his cousin wouldn’t betray them again… He might kill her this time around. He didn't joke with his sister.