Leo watched silently, the telepathic communication going on between Curtis and Maya, his supposed mate, he still wasn’t sure of their mateship, but he was very sure that he was very much attracted to her. The gown that she wore glued to her like a second skin, the lacy material giving snippets of how creamy and soft her full skin would be, enticing, seducing. He found out he wanted to hold her, to caress her beautiful face, to hold her to himself by gripping her waist, he wanted to shield her away from the eyes of the other guys in the room which were staring at her openly, unashamedly. The fact that she wasn’t even aware of the effect she had on the opposite sex endeasred her more to him. He wanted her.
But first, he had to know what was wrong. He was sure that Maya must have told Curtis some bad news, seeing that the latter’s eyes were dilated out of shock. He needed to speak with her, with both of them.
And so, carefully, he untangled his arm from Zoe’s, a posture she had manipulated him into, before tapping Curtis on the shoulder.
“What is the problem?” He asked, when Curtis recovered himself from the shock.
Curtis wanted to give a reply, but a sharp rebuke from Maya, had him noticing that they weren’t alone in the party. There were werewolves around, perhaps some other supernaturals-it wasn’t advisable to discuss such sensitive matters here. They had to move to some other place, perhaps Derek’s room.
“Curtis…” Leo called, seeing that the blonde wasn’t talking. He shifted his gaze from him to Maya who was still in the same position. She wasn’t even looking at him, her attention was only centered on her brother. Had she decided to give up on him? He thought, feeling his heart constrict painfully at that realization. No, she wouldn’t. If she had been sure that they were mates, shouldn’t she wait?
“Till when…?” His wolf asked, and he almost balked for surprise.
“Even you?” He asked, and his wolf scoffed.
“I cannot feel the mate bond, at least not yet, but you are so much attracted to her. I think your friend must have been right. The potion must have done something to weaken her wolf, so that i can’t bond with her.” It said, and he nodded, finding some sense in what his wolf had mentioned.
But that could wait, he needed to find out what was troubling the siblings, he had a feeling that it had something to do with Derek.
Now thinking about it, he hadn’t seen Clem and Shane since the party began, Claire too. And where was Anthony? What about the redhead, Emma? Where was the Luna and Eva?
Other members of the pack were here. Where were these seven?
Grabbing Curtis lightly by the arm, deciding to get the answer from the horse’s mouth, he led him through the guests until they came face to face with Maya. Behind them, the two girls that they came with were fuming with anger, but who cares?
“What is happening?” He asked Maya, refusing to drown in the blueness of her eyes, which although wasn’t focused on him, still calleth unto him; or the heady feeling that her scent was giving him. Did she change her perfume or what? Inside him, he felt his wolf’s unsure excitement. The scent wasn’t strong, but oh, up close, it was so delicious, distinct but still there. He felt like hugging her to himself. But that could wait, he had to find out what was wrong first.
“Let’s go to his room. I think Clem and Shane are there.” Maya replied, still not looking at him-an action which saddened his heart. Was he that ugly to look at? But the girls in the pack had fawned over him alot. Zoe wouldn’t be keen on keeping him if he wasn’t handsome either. Or was she still angry with him? But he apologized. He thought, walking behind Curtis, as she led them away from the hall through the other entrance.
***
Melvina was with Esther. She had gone along with the witch, hoping to find an answer to her son’s situation in one of the many books she had seen in the latter’s house the last time she had been here. As it had stood with her some hours ago, she had almost given up hope that Emma would be returning, but she couldn’t do the same on her son’s matter. There had to be something that could be done, other than a mate’s presence.
She had asked Esther about the blue flame that had escaped in bouts out of Anthony’s hand which had succeeded in subduing the beast, but the little witch had had no idea about it.
And so, she had decided to follow her home, hoping to find it in one of the old books there.
Currently, she was alone in the library, skimming through one of the books, when she heard indistinct voices in the next room, or two rooms. She wasn’t sure which one, but she was sure that two people were conversing.
But how was that possible, since Esther and she had come alone? Who was the other person?
Gently, she dropped the book that she had been holding on the table, and tiptoed away from the room toward the direction of the voices.
It happened to be in the sitting room.
But as she got closer to look, the voices stopped.
Had they found her out?
She didn’t know, and she didn’t care.
Immediately, she walked into the sitting majestically, ready for anything or anybody, frowning as she saw only Esther in the room, sitting on the long couch, a book on her lap.
The witch raised up her head as she walked in, having felt a presence.
“Is there any problem? Did you find anything useful?” She asked, closing the book she was reading.
“No.” Melvina replied.
“I had come out, because I thought I had heard some voices here. I thought someone had visited.” she said, meeting Esther’s gaze.
“Hmm, that’s not possible. I’ve been alone here. No other person was here.” Esther stated, before looking down to the book on her lap, unaware that she had just risked Melvina’s suspiciousness of her.