Maya tapped her foot gently against the car’s floor, a restless rhythm she used to calm her nervous, impatient self as she stared out through the right window of the backseat of her cousin’s car.

  The scenery outside looked calm enough, but she wondered aloud what exactly was keeping the human waiting. They were already late for classes.

  Derek had told her the day before that they had a quiz by 8:30 a.m., and she had studied for it without complaint—despite the fact that this would be her very first day in college.

  The opportunity itself had come as a shock.

  Her uncle had summoned her to his conference room and placed her admission papers in front of her as if they were nothing more than routine documents. When she’d asked who arranged it—and why—he’d simply said he believed in educating his pack members. And since she was part of his pack for now, and also his niece, enrolling her alongside his son had seemed only reasonable.

  Out of habit, she had mentioned her father. She already knew her mother would approve. Her father, however, had refused to let her attend college after high school, insisting she devote herself fully to pack duties instead.

  This time, her uncle had dismissed the objection with calm certainty. He would handle her father. All she had to do was take the papers and speak to Derek.

  She’d nearly hugged him then. Nearly. The memory of her recent outburst—the torn peace symbol—had stopped her short. Even so, his forgiveness stayed with her, a kindness her father had never mastered.

  Later, she’d dragged a protesting Derek to her room and refused to let him leave until he’d told her everything—what to expect, what to avoid, which lecturers were nightmares, and which notes were worth copying.

  Maya smiled to herself. College. Freedom. Well… to an extent.

  She was eager to go—eager, too, to finally meet her cousin’s mate. Emma. The human the Moon Goddess had chosen. Curiosity buzzed beneath her nerves; she hoped they would click the way she and Derek had.

  But at the moment, that same human was the reason she might be late for her very first class.

  And she did not find that amusing.

  “Derek…” she called, leaning forward slightly as she addressed her cousin in the driver’s seat, where his fingers tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel to the beat of the music filling the car.

  “Yeah…” Derek muttered, checking his wristwatch for what felt like the umpteenth time as he wondered what was holding up his little witch.

  “What’s wrong? Isn’t she coming?” Maya rubbed her palms together as she peered at her cousin’s face through the small mirror hooked to the inner roofing of the car.

  “She is… just wait a few more minutes,” Derek replied, understanding her anxiety. She didn’t want to be late on her first day.

  He smiled when he caught her flustered expression. He could tell she was nervous—not just about school, but about meeting his mate.

  “Are you sure she’s still around?” Maya asked after a few more minutes ticked by.

  “Yeah,” Derek answered slowly, though he wondered himself what was delaying his little witch. Biting his lower lip, he opened the car door, already deciding what to do next.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to check on her.”

  Before he could take more than a few steps, Emma rushed out of the house, her hair slightly disheveled, her backpack hanging loosely from her shoulders.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  He broke into a wide smile as he watched her fumble with her keys, struggling to lock the front door in her haste. She must have overslept again.

  “Wow…” he heard Maya murmur behind him, and his smile widened further. He knew exactly what had amazed her.

  His little witch’s red hair seemed fuller and redder with each passing day. He doubted she had even noticed. It now brushed close to her waist, giving her a queenly yet unmistakably badass aura.

  Even in its slightly disheveled state, she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her scent reached him as she approached, wearing a shy smile that made his chest tighten.

  “Hey,” he murmured when she was an arm’s length away.

  “Hey,” Emma replied softly. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting,” she added, biting her lip, unaware of the effect the simple motion had on him.

  “No problem. Did you oversleep again?” he asked, forcing his mind away from her lips.

  “Not really. My sister called,” she replied as she headed toward the car. “Let’s go. We’re already late for Mr. Bumpton’s quiz,” she added, shifting her backpack to her left hand while her right reached for the car door handle.

  As she opened it, she jerked back slightly at the sight of a beautiful blonde with deep blue eyes sitting calmly in the backseat.

  “Hey,” the blonde greeted.

  Emma scoffed as a sharp wave of jealousy washed over her.

  “Who are you?”

  —

  Derek watched his mate question his cousin about her identity, amused despite the pleasure he took in her possessiveness.

  “Emma…” he called out, stepping fully into the driver’s seat. “Get in,” he stated, shutting the door firmly before fixing her with a lazy smirk—one Maya didn’t find funny in the slightest.

  She thought her cousin should be explaining the situation to his mate, not smirking like this was some private joke. This was not the right time for his signature smirk. Perhaps she would handle the introductions herself and save them all precious time. They were already late for the quiz.

  “Uhmm, Emma…” she began tentatively. “My name is Maya, and I’m Derek’s cousin,” she said, noting with interest the visible relief that washed over the redhead’s face.

  Maya thought Emma looked familiar somehow—something about her red hair tugged at her memory—but she couldn’t place where or how they might have met.

  “Oh, okay,” Emma muttered, mentally knocking herself for being so silly. She should have waited for Derek to make introductions instead of snapping rudely.

  Oh, Emma, what has gotten into you? she thought as she stepped into the car and shut the door.

  After fastening her seatbelt, she twisted slightly in her seat, studying the girl in the back—still unsettled by how familiar she seemed.

  “Maya, I’m sorry for my rude actions earlier. Seems I woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” she apologized, releasing a quiet breath as she noticed Maya’s lips curve into a smile.

  “It’s okay. I understand,” Maya knew she might have reacted far worse if their positions were reversed.

  Not like he recognizes us. Sia spoke quietly, and Maya sighed as the memory of the event from three days ago resurfaced. She wondered which was worse—a mate who didn’t recognize you, or one who rejected you.

  “Okay, thank you,” she heard the human say, and nodded, settling back against the seat.

  Ten minutes into the drive, Maya noticed the human stealing glances at her using a small hand mirror pulled from her backpack while she powdered her face.

  Maya couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong this time. She doubted Derek had told his mate about her betrayal seven years ago. He hadn’t even told the latter about his true identity.

  “Is anything the matter?” she finally asked, and Emma stiffened slightly, clearly caught in the act.

  “What?” Derek was confused. He had been focused on driving, though he knew, somehow, that his little witch was annoyed with him—for smirking when he should have been explaining.

  He glanced at Emma, when he realized his cousin’s question had been directed at her; Emma, whose nerves fluttered as she turned fully toward Maya.

  “I’m sorry… I just thought you looked familiar,” she explained, ignoring the gape of surprise on Derek’s face.

  “Really? I thought the same too,” Maya replied, smiling slightly. “But can you remember where? I can’t seem to recall…”

  “Well…” Emma drawled, studying the blonde carefully.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh!” She remembered. Her workplace.

  “Do you remember?” Maya asked, excitement flickering through her voice.

  “Yeah—the café! You were with your brother!” Emma exclaimed, recalling the cute guy who had flirted shamelessly with her exhausted self after her first shift at the café.

  “That’s true!” Maya laughed, remembering how she had dragged her brother away by the ear that day.

  “I’m sorry again for my brother’s forwardness that day,” she said, still smiling at the strange smallness of the world. Meeting her cousin’s mate unknowingly—and having it end well—felt like a blessing.

  “Oh, it’s okay,” Emma replied, waving it off.

  “You know Curtis?” Derek cut in, curiosity piqued, interrupting his cousin just as she was about to expand on her brother’s antics.

  “I think you should focus on your driving, Beanhead…” Emma replied sardonically, annoyance at him returning. “You wouldn’t want us to have an accident, would you?”