Chapter 137 - AT HIS COUSIN'S PACK

Derek and Maya had left early in the morning with the warriors of the Wind Winders Pack to meet up with the party going on in their pack, especially in honour of the celebrant, who might be their next alpha. Well, it would be determined this night. And although the celebrant was the younger, the pack members thought that he had higher chances of becoming the alpha, especially since his elder sister hadn't been conferred the title since she had turned 18, two years ago, even though it was known that she was more than fit for the job, more wiser and stronger. 

But Maya couldn't care less. Actually, she wasn't interested in becoming the alpha of her pack. The weeks, a month now, that she had spent with Derek and his family, had opened her eyes to things she had been missing while in her own pack. She wished that she could take up the blood oath and join her cousin's pack.  And even if at last she was conferred with the Alpha's title since she was the first born, something she didn't even dare to hope about since she had been seeing the favours her father had always given to her younger brother, then, there would be a lot of changes she would instil in the pack. But till then.

For now, she had to celebrate with her frisky brother. She only wished that her redheaded friend, Emma, was here. It would have been pizzazzy; at least she wouldn't have to feel the wrongness or loneliness that was incoming; a feeling that she dreaded, especially when she would see her mate that wouldn't be able to recognize her, and her ex bestfriend, and worse, if the two were smooching or cuddling up and down. But she couldn't bring the human here, it was risky.

The Toyota jeeps came to a stop at the big black gate, which was the entrance to Maya's pack. One of her pack warriors must have mind linked a member of pack, within the confines of the gate, because in the next minute, the gate was opened and they were ushered into the pack environs.

"Your pack house is quite…" Derek was saying, more like a whisper, halting a bit, in order to procure a right word for what his eyes were seeing, when Maya interjected him.

"Bland? Dull?..." She queried, fixing in words she knew described or was close to describing the state of her pack.

"Yeah, I think." He replied, staring around the pack environs as the car moved further into the pack.

"You can have my father to thank for that." She said, causing Derek to shrug in reply. As far as he was concerned, his uncle, Alpha Arnold, had nothing to offer, if not gloom and chaos. He could still remember the evil look on his face when he had tried to burn him alive during the last pack war, if not for his mate that had intervened, mentioning the fact that they had been out of time already. He knew that the woman had saved his life; he never got to thank her though. But he would now. He thought, holding tight the jewellery he had purchased and held on for a while; he never forgets favours.

When they got to the main pack house which housed the Alpha and his family, the cars came to a halt. Maya and Derek stepped out their own car, taking long glances around, before her brother, Curtis, walked majestically down the stairs to welcome them.

With his eyes, he had already sent away the other occupants of the vehicles, telling them through their general mind link, to look for their other pack members whom they haven't seen for almost a month for a fill in.

"Hello Sis…" He said, with a wide smile, as he approached Maya who stood with Derek by the car.

"Curtis…" Maya stated as a greeting, before hugging her brother. Although he acted weird sometimes, and although sometimes he acted devilish, under the influence of their father of course, he was still her younger brother, a part of her. He was blood.

They had hugged for a while, before Derek coughed slightly, alerting them of his presence there.

"Derek…" Curtis mentioned with a thin smile, after disengaging from the hug with his sister.

"Curtis…" Derek stated with a thin smile of his too, while staring at his cousin whom he towered over with some inches. They had never gotten along; always at loggerheads. When they had been younger, he had thought that the blonde guy was delusional, as he had always been thinking and acting like he had been trying to steal his sister away from him. He thought that the blonde dude should have just flowed along with them. He never did. He was either with Claire, his fellow trouble finder, or some other boys which were not really part of their clique.

"Didn't know that you would be coming…" Curtis said, still keeping up the thin smile.

"Didn't know that either…" Derek responded, his lips turning up in a smirk.

"Oh God…" Maya breathed out, as she stared at the two guys who were towering over her. She had always why they never get along, always in competition with one another.

"Guys, let's go inside. I'm hungry." She stated, holding her belly, and walking away from them towards the entrance to the living room, expecting that they would follow suit.

And they did, walking side by side.

"You came in to check on your pack members right?" Curtis asked Derek as they walked towards the door, leading to the living room of the family house.

"Yes." Derek replied. He wasn't lying actually. Of course, it had been part of the reason he had come; to check on his pack members, but that hadn't been the main reason. He had come to look out for his cousin, and keep her company, perhaps even talk some sense into Leo if it was necessary and if it ever did come to that. But he had to admit, he had been also curious to see how his former pack house was looking like at the present.

Once upon a time, he had lived in this particular pack house with his family, and everyone in the two packs now, in unity and harmony. His father had been the Alpha of them all, even though he had been the younger of the two brothers. He didn't know how that had happened. His mother had only told him that his grandfather had made the choice himself, but she hadn't told him the reason why, or had she delved deeper. He had been sceptical to ask his father too. The issue seemed to have been a touchy subject.

But his father had ruled wisely and well, until his elder brother had interjected the leadership, and had pursued his father and his loyalties out of the pack. It had been a most eventful time, a period he would never forget. Looking around the pack, he saw that it had diminished greatly, due to lack of care, although it still maintained part of that regally beauty that had fascinated him then. The pack members, though big enough, weren't looking as nourished as happy and contented as those in his pack. Or was it just his eyes? He didn't know. But he sure that his father would like to hear the updates from him when he came back, since the older man hadn't been here since that chaotic time, seven years ago.

At first when he had told his parents that he would be going with Maya to her pack today, they had refused vehemently, sighting his uncle's cruelty and wickedness. But he had persisted, his mother finally understanding the reason why he had wanted to go; until his father had agreed, on the condition that he wouldn't stay there for more than a day. He had agreed whole heartedly, hoping that Maya would agree the same. He wasn't leaving his cousin alone in that pack, even though the pack was were she belonged. He didn't want his uncle to demand anything from her again. He would stay with her, even if she decided to stay for three days. He also wanted to stay because of her unworking affliation with the head of his warriors, Leo.

But then his cousin, Curtis, didn't need to know that.

"I see…" Curtis said after sometime.

When they entered into the living room, Alpha Peter and his mate was waiting for them. Maya was already sitting on one of the long sofas in the room, her eyes latched to Derek's as she signified him to join her on the sofa, of which Derek gladly obliged. 

Alpha Arnold of course, noticed the interaction between her daughter and his nephew, and he didn't know what to think of it. He hadn't expected them to get close again, especially what had transpired between them during the pack war, seven years ago. But whatever it was, he hoped it wouldn't hinder his plan. On a second thought, he smiled as he suddenly saw the advantage he could get from their closeness. It lifted up his mood which his mate noticed; an observation which only served to sour her mood. But he was her mate; and she got his back always.

"Alas, my nephew…" Alpha Arnold mentioned while gesturing with his hands towards Derek.

"Welcome to my humble abode.." He stated, with a sinister smile.