Derek noticed it again—the second time in under thirty minutes—his cousin’s eyes widening, almost bulging.

  No one else caught it, but he did; maybe because he was standing right in front of her, or maybe because he’d known her since birth.

  Now, watching her, those wide eyes fixed on Leo, he wondered what had shocked her.

  Every odd reaction from her, the nervous nose-tapping she always did, had started the moment Leo walked in. He debated quietly with himself, wondering if the two had known each other before—possible, considering his best pack warrior had once been a rogue.

  He remembered the night he first met Leo. A cold November evening, four years ago. He’d been fourteen, wandering the forest beyond the pack borders, avoiding his father’s ranting about how unfit and unserious he was for an Alpha’s son.

  He’d been tossing stones, muttering to himself, when he stumbled upon a huge black wolf with dark-brown spots on its forelimbs, scraps of clothes hanging from its mouth.

  The wolf stared straight at him, unblinking, and he remembered the warmth spreading down his pants—fear, not cold. He’d known even at fourteen that it was a rogue.

  Then, in a blink, the wolf shifted into an eighteen-year-old boy.

  Derek had bolted. He didn’t make it far. In minutes, a rough grip snagged his arm and shoved him to the ground. Looking up, he met the glare of the now-clothed stranger—and peed himself again.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” the stranger had said. “I just want some information.”

  He’d only been able to nod; his tongue refused to work.

  “What’s your name? Which pack are you from?” the stranger asked, peering closer.

  Still no voice—until the stranger growled in his face.

  “M-my name is… Derek,” he had stuttered.

  “Okay, Derek. I’m Leo. Which pack are you from?”

  “Black Moon Pack,” he’d managed, a little more confident once he realized the rogue didn’t seem intent on ripping him apart.

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  “Oh, really?” the rogue had said, eyes lighting with something like happiness.

  Derek only nodded, confused about why the name of his pack pleased the stranger.

  “Could you take me to your Alpha?”

  Another nod. He hadn’t bothered explaining he was the Alpha’s son.

  Derek had taken him straight to his father.

  After that night—and the initiation two days later—he had gained a new friend. The rogue who became one of them.

  Now, looking between his cousin and his best warrior, Derek could tell something was happening. His cousin still looked nervous; Leo looked lost, unsure what to do with the feminine beauty standing before him.

  “He’s her mate,” Maru said.

  Derek scoffed inwardly. Impossible.

  “Are you blind or stupid?” Maru taunted.

  He ignored the wolf’s bite of sarcasm and studied his cousin again—really looked. The jitteriness. The way she couldn’t stop staring. His wolf was right. But why wasn’t Leo reacting?

  “Maybe he doesn’t want to claim her because of you,” Maru said. “Your two families are arch enemies.”

  Derek exhaled and shook his head. There was no way he’d keep anyone from their mate over a family feud. He couldn’t stomach the thought of being separated from his little witch; he wouldn’t inflict that on anyone else.

  “That’s my boy,” Maru crowed, and Derek rolled his eyes. His wolf was truly something else.

  “Leo, do you know Derek’s cousin?” Clem asked, snapping Derek out of his thoughts.

  “No, I don’t,” Leo answered, giving the beauty another glance. He’d never seen anyone so stunning. Pity she wasn’t his mate. He wished she were—enemy or not.

  “I’m seeing her for the first time,” he added, still staring, wondering why she looked at him like she knew him… like he belonged to her.

  “Maya,” Clem called, turning to Derek’s cousin—his old playmate. “Do you know him?”

  “Not really,” Maya said, forcing calm even as her heart cracked. Her mate didn’t recognize her. Didn’t feel the bond. And he was Zoe’s boyfriend.

  Why? she whispered inwardly, trying to silence Sia, who wouldn’t stop pacing and whining.

  Sia, calm down, she mind-linked.

  It’s that potion, Sia howled back, agitated.

  Maya exhaled, trying to figure out what potion she meant.

  “Maya,” Clem called again.

  She swallowed. She’d have to lie, say she’d mistaken Leo for someone else. If word got out that her mate didn’t recognize her, her father would skin her alive.

  “I’m sorry, I—” she began, before Derek cut through the hall.

  “They’re mates.”

  The hall erupted.