Curtis watched the guys deliberate silently in their personal thoughts about the matter at hand, and soughed. He didn’t know how he was feeling. Although he was sad that Derek was like this, he still thought the latter stupid.
How could he demean his mate like that in front of such a multitude without flinching? He wasn’t surprised with Emma’s outburst. The girl had always been strong headed.
When he had seen her at the party last night, looking all ethereal and beautiful, he had remembered that she had been the same girl he had met at one park one time. He had been trying to toast her then, before his sister had disrupted the act. Then he had thought her the most beautiful human, and it hadn’t changed still. And when she had seen thrown his mate far across the room without touching the latter, he had been shocked more than annoyed, aware that the redhead wasn’t a human.
No matter how he thought on the matter, he knew that something had been at play, a conspiracy. But that still didn’t stop him from tagging Derek a fool. For he knew that if he had been in the same position with Derek, he would have done and acted differently.
And about Claire? He wasn’t sure. He knew that Derek wouldn’t touch her, at least not yet. But he had meant his words last night. He wouldn’t claim her if she didn’t want to be claimed. He wouldn’t force it on her. And if worse came to worse, he would mate with Penny since it seemed the thing that the latter wanted so much. He might as well grant her wish.
But what if her own mate comes along? He thought, sighing again. This matter was getting complicated by the passing second, and by the life of him , he didn’t know why he thought his father was a major player in the turnout of events tonight. He wondered too how his mother was faring.
Perhaps she had known about what would happen tonight, and had decided to stay back. Yes, that must be it. He thought. His mother hadn’t been happy about his father’s acts, whatever it was.
“Curtis, what is the problem?” Clem asked Curtis, after noticing the variety of emotions playing on the latter’s face.
Curtis looked up, to see the three boys all staring at him.
He shrugged. “Not at all.”
“C’mon Curtis, you can tell us anything.” Anthony mentioned, raising his head from the bed’s board, sitting erect.
“Well…” Curtis started, scratching the base of his neck, thinking on the best way to put his thoughts into words without sounding suspicious.
“I think there is a giant conspiracy going on. I’m not sure, but that is what my gut tells me. I believe my father is on it too. Perhaps, they had known what Emma was, and had planned to separate her from Derek, seeing that their plans to stop his coronation had failed.” He stated, watching each of the guys, wanting to take in and analyze the emotions that might creep around their faces.
But the trio’s faces were just bland of emotions. But the thinning of their eyebrows gave room to the fact that they were thinking about his statement.
“I think Curtis is right. I had seen Alpha Arnold’s face when Emma had rejected Derek. It was like he had won a lottery.” Shane mentioned, decidedly not adding the fact that Clem’s parents had also been happy, especially Claire and the mother, the witch, Esther too. For some reason, his eyes had run across the multitude at that point.
Anthony sighed.
“Unfortunately, I think you guys are right.” He said.
“When the secret door had been opened, and everyone was let out from it, I noticed that there were scowls on each of their faces, instead of relief which I had thought would have been the paramount emotion on their face. The beta had come forward then, noising their complaints to Alpha Peter. It tuned out that someone, whose name the people had refused to give up, had spread the rumor that the reason why they had been attacked and killed was because of the human, Emma, that has used charms on Derek such that Derek was thinking of making her a Luna. Worse, the person had mentioned that Emma was working for the dark queen, the reason for the black charms, with whom she was working together with, planning on ruling the pack. The people had been aghast of course. They had wanted Emma burnt, or exiled out of the pack, else they would break away, and join Alpha Arnold’s pack.” Anthony stated wearingly.
“Oh God…”
“This is bad…”
“No wonder…”
Shane, Curtis and Clem muttered out loud, shaking their heads.
“Immediately, Alpha Peter had called for Derek, and asked him to deny Emma in front of the pack, in order to save the unity of the pack. Melvina had been against it, but Alpha Peter had pushed it along that night instead for leaving it for today, to be settled out during an occasional pack meeting which always took place on the first of every month.” Anthony continued.
“And Derek agreed?? He shouldn’t have. He should have made a powerful speech, and of course, at the end, mentioned the rumor whilst promising to discuss it further at the meeting today, holding onto the reason that he would want to discuss the matter amongst the pack members, and not in the presence of other packs. That way, he would have at least calmed the people down. He had gone too far yesterday night. He had even called her a slut! His mate for fudegsake.” Shane said, smiling bitterly when he realized that he had used Emma’s word. He missed her.
“Clem, what do you think? Claire is your sister.” Curtis asked Clem, wanting to know his opinion on the matter.
“Yes, we are twins. But I am against the union. She wouldn’t be happy, so long as Derek isn’t her mate. I just wish her mate was around, then perhaps I can convince her to quit this obsession over Derek.” Clem replied, sighing deeply.
“Actually, her mate is around.” Curtis stated, resolving to grasp onto the hope that Clem had presented before him.
“And who is that?” the trio asked simultaneously with wide eyes.
“Me.” Curtis replied.