Under the shocked gazes of the four boys, Emma squirmed a bit. Did she say anything wrong? 

Melvina.

A tiny thought nagged at the back of her head. It seemed Melvina wasn’t just an ordinary citizen of the county—her instincts had been right.

She guessed she’d have to wait for one of the boys to slip up and give her a clue.

“What did you just say?” she heard a voice—Clem’s—ask.

Tearing her gaze from Derek, which her traitorous eyes had lingered on for a full minute, she turned sideways. Clem was staring at her, eyes wide in surprise.

“Did you just say Melvina?” His tone was low, almost reverent.

What’s wrong with these people? Emma thought, confused.

“Yeah, I said Melvina. I met her when I went out strolling. She showed me around and even took me to the Fill-Up eatery, where we ate together. She paid for the food too.” 

“You ate together with the Lu—Melvina? At the Fill-Up?” Leo asked, totally bewildered.

“Yeah, I just said that.” Emma’s irritation began to show. “Quit the stares already. I’m tired of being looked at like that.” Her eyes darted pointedly to Derek. His stare was setting her off.

“Tired?” Clem stepped closer. “Did you perhaps encounter some other people?” He didn’t even glance at the food, now forgotten on the polished wooden table.

“Yeah, there were many of them,” Emma replied. “They looked at me like I was some kind of freak.”

A pause. “I don’t know them particularly… but they stared at me so unabashedly. I think it has something to do with Melvina, though.”

“And why do you think so?” Derek asked, curiosity sharpening his tone. He wanted to know what the little witch thought of his mother.

“Well…” Emma dragged on, studying their faces. When she saw that they were all listening intently, she smiled. She had them where she wanted them. She just had to play her cards right.

“For one, the stares didn’t start until I met Melvina,” she said. She didn’t think it necessary to mention that Melvina was actually the first person she’d met in the neighborhood—discounting the little girl chasing her cat.

“And it was worse in the eatery,” she continued, pausing deliberately. Their rapt attention made her smile inwardly.

“What happened then?” Leo, impatient with her pauses, queried.

“When I entered the cafeteria with Melvina, I heard sharp gasps and saw the shock on their faces. But I don’t know how Melvina did it—she just looked at them, and they all went quiet like robots. Who is she?” Emma blurted, looking from one boy to the other. She knew they had answers. Their earlier reaction had given them away.

But no one answered.

Emma frowned, studying their faces again. That same blank look she’d seen in the cafeteria had returned. 

Are they robots too? she wondered. No… they can’t be. Especially Derek. A robot couldn’t make my heart race like that.

“Hey.” She snapped her fingers to get their attention. “Who is Melvina?”

“Oh, she’s the governor’s wife,” Derek said at last, blinking rapidly. He couldn’t believe the little witch had already met his mother. Is fate playing a joke or what?

“Oh, that explains it,” Emma said, rubbing her forehead, though the hunch still tugged at her. She had the feeling there was more to it than they were letting on. 

Still, she decided to let it go—for now. Her mother always said time revealed all things hidden in due season. She guessed she’d have to wait.

“So how do you see her? Was she any good?”

“Very beautiful,” Emma sighed dreamily, Melvina’s image filling her thoughts. “And very kind too. She was the one who paid for all this.” She gestured toward the food on the table, still wrapped neatly in white nylon bags marked Fill-Up.

“She also stopped me from being bullied,” Emma added, her lips twisting in disgust at the memory of the blonde who’d torn at her hair. “She’s really a psycho,” she muttered, sinking into the fluffy chair she’d earlier avoided when she’d seen it full of cigarette packs and mold.

“Which psycho?”

“Who bullied you?”

Clem and Derek asked in unison, stepping in front of her. Their sudden movement startled Shane, who nudged Derek—reminding him of their earlier agreement.

But Derek’s protective instincts wouldn’t let him stop. Who dared bully his mate? 

Wait—his mate? He’d think about that later. Right now, he needed to know who had laid a hand on his little witch.

Emma recognized male competition when she saw it. And it pleased her—no small deal—that she was the center of attention between two very handsome boys, especially Derek. 

Looking up at him, she caught the glint of anger in his deep blue eyes. Did he really care that much? The thought made her blush.

“Emma?”

Oh. She’d zoned out again—always did when she stared at Derek’s lips.

“A blondie,” she replied quickly. “Melvina called her Claire.”

Derek cursed inwardly at the mention of Claire’s name. This was exactly what he’d feared. He knew how dangerous and possessive the latter could be, even though they weren’t mates. 

She didn’t even know who Emma truly was, yet she already saw her as an enemy. 

“I apologise for that, Emma.” He said, ignoring his friends. “I think she just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”

Emma gave a faint nod, absent minded, dimly aware of the guys taking seats on the sofas.

“So, where did you meet the governess?”

Shane sat silently, staring at Emma, his favorite orange juice untouched. Derek’s mother had really done it this time. 

“I met her while strolling,” Emma replied. “...while I was resting my aching feet after walking for some time.”

She frowned though, wondering about Derek’s sudden fascination with the governor’s wife. Does he like her? 

She was also curious about Claire. The boys had gone quiet the moment she mentioned the name. Was she another important person? 

“Did she ask you anything?” Derek continued, moving to sit on the sofa opposite her. He didn’t dare sit too close; he didn’t trust his wolf not to pull her onto his lap. And gods help him, he wanted that. 

“Not much,” Emma said. “Just the usual—‘who are you’ and ‘what are you doing here.’” She didn’t think it necessary to tell them everything that had happened between her and Melvina.

“Then what next?” Derek asked, rubbing his hands together, the pack meeting already forgotten.

“Then we went to the eatery,” Emma said, sighing. The endless questions were wearing her out. She just wanted to sleep.

“Then wha—”

“Nothing!” Emma snapped, cutting him off. “Why are you so interested in your governor’s wife? Do you like her?” She was breathing hard, her tone laced with irritation and something dangerously close to jealousy.

Derek opened his mouth, then closed it, trying to contain the laughter bubbling up inside him. But his friends’ sudden outburst of laughter broke his restraint.

“Did I hear that correctly?” Shane managed between laughs.

Emma’s face burned with embarrassment. She realized she’d gotten it all wrong but decided she didn’t care. To hell with them, she thought, standing abruptly. She needed to sleep this humiliation off.

But before she could move, Derek caught her hand. She didn’t even want to think about how fast he’d reached her; all she could focus on was the warmth of his touch, the softness of his skin against hers. A dizzying shiver ran down her spine.

“I…” Derek muttered, still fighting back laughter. How can I be interested in my own mother? The thought made him chuckle again.

The sound snapped Emma out of her daze. Anger surged, and she yanked her hand free.

“When you’re done laughing,” she said coldly, “pick your friends and get the hell out of my house. I’m going to rest.” 

Without another glance, she turned and walked off toward the master bedroom.

“Wait—” Derek called, reaching out to her again, but Shane held him back.

“We’re late for the pack meeting.”