Chapter 47 - THE EFFECT OF THE WITCH'S POTION: MAYA'S MATE

Derek observed again, that for the second time under the space of thirty minutes, his cousin's eyes haf widened, more like bulged out. The first time had been when Leo had stepped into the Hall, interrupting the lame excuse he had conjured up to give his cousin who had seemed restless and impatient all of a sudden. The others hadn't noticed, but he had; perhaps because he was directly in front of her, or maybe because he had known her since birth.

Now staring at her and her bulging eyes, he wondered what she was suprised or shocked about. Then with a startling speed, he realized that these reactions he was observing on his cousin, including the nose tapping which she did whenever she was nervous, had all started since Leo came. He dabated in his thoughts, whether the duo had known each other, sometime in the past, considering the fact that his best pack warrior was an ex rogue.

He still remembered when he had first met Leo. It was on a chilly November night, four years ago. He had been 14 then, and was taking a stroll in the forest, outside the pack environs. He had actually been trying to escape his father's rantings on how nonchalant and unfit he was for the Alpha's title, only because he had left training till dusk to play with his one year old sister.

The chubby beauty had him hooked then, and now. He could do anything for her, even if it had involved going against his father's orders.

While strolling in the forest, throwing stones and muttering nothings to himself, he came across a huge black wolf, with dark brown spots on its fore limbs, which carried pieces of clothing in its mouth. The wolf had been staring at him so strongly and directly, that he remembered peeing in his pants as he shivered from fear rather than the cold. He had known that the wolf was a rogue, even as a little teen.

But in a twinkle of an eye, the wolf had transformed into a young guy, of around 18years old.

Derek could remember taking to his heels then, in a bid to escape the wolf while he still had the chance, since the wolf had changed to its human form.

But he hadn't run for more than ten minutes, when he was caught roughly by the hand and pushed to the ground. He had looked up then, to see the clothed stranger growling at him in anger. He had peed on himself again for the second time.

"I don't want to hurt you." The stranger had said then. "I just want some information from you."

He had just nodded his head, indicating that the strange guy could go on with his questions; for his tongue had refused to be loosened up.

"What's your name? Which Pack are you from?" The strange guy had asked, coming closer to him.

But he hadn't been able to reply, as his tongue refused to do its speaking work; until the stranger growled again, this time around, in his face.

"My... name is….Derek." He had stuttered.

"Okay Derek, I'm Leo. Which Pack are you from?" The stranger had asked.

"Black Moon's Pack." He had replied, more confidently than before, seeing that the rogue wasn't planning on killing him.

"Oh, really?" The rogue had asked, his eyes brimming in happiness.

He had just nodded, wondering why the strange guy in front of him had been happy at the mention of his pack's name.

"Could you take me to your Alpha?" He had heard him ask, and nodded again; not finding it necessary to point out that he was the Alpha's son.

"Lead the way then." The rogue had said.

He had taken him to his father. And while he did the introductions, he ignored the jab on his ribs by the new guy when he had discovered that he was the Alpha's son. After that night, and two days more at the initiation ceremony, he had gotten himself a new friend; the rogue who was now part of their pack.

Looking at his cousin and his best pack warrior, Derek could sense that there was something going on between them. His cousin still looked nervous, but his friend looked at lost, like he didn't know what to do with the feminine beauty in front of him.

"He is her mate." He heard Maru say, and scoffed inwardly. There was just no way.

"Are you blind or stupid?" Maru said, taunting him.

Ignoring his wolf's jabs, he stared keenly at his cousin and noticed her jitterinesss. His wolf was right. But why was his friend unresponsive. He thought.

"Perhaps he doesn't want to claim her because of you; knowing that your two families are arch enemies." Maru opined, answering his thoughts.

Derek sighed and shook his head negatively. There was no way he would keep anyone from his or her mate because of some family feuds. He couldn't imagine being separated from his little witch, and so wouldn't want that for another.

"That's my boy." He heard Maru say, and scoffed. His wolf was really something else.

"Leo, do you know Derek's Cousin?" He heard Clem ask his best pack warrior.

"No, I don't." Leo replied, taking a glance at the otherworldly beauty in front of him. He hadn't seen any, more beautiful, but sadly, she wasn't his mate. He wished she was, even though she was Derek's enemy.

"I'm just seeing her for the first time." He continued, still staring at the beauty that intrigued him. He wondered why she was staring at him that way, like he was hers.

"Maya.." Clem called out to his friend's cousin, and one-time playmate.

"Do you know him?" He asked, still finding the situation a little bit abstruse.

"Not really." Maya replied, trying to rein in her emotions, as she felt heartbroken that her mate couldn't recognize their mate bond, apart from the fact that he was Zoe's boyfriend.

'Why?' She asked herself repeatedly, as she tried to silence her wolf, even if it was for a minute. Sia was uncomfortable, and she made a lot of restless noises whenever she was.

"Sia, calm down." She mind linked her wolf.

"It's that potion!" She could hear Sia howl intermittently, and sighed; trying to understand what or which potion her wolf was talking about.

"Maya… " She heard Clem call her again, and soughed. She would have to tell them that she had mistaken Leo for someone else. It wouldn't sink well if it was heard that her mate couldn't recognize their mate bond; her father would kill her.

"I'm sorry. I had..." She was saying, before she got interrupted by her cousin.

"They are mates.." He had said, causing an uproar in the hall.