As the last class for the day came to an end, Emma sighed in relief as she watched the professor leave the room, the sound of his footsteps fading down the corridor. She hadn’t realized college would be this demanding so quickly.

  “What next?” She heard Maya ask and simply shrugged, exhaustion settling into her shoulders.

  “Nothing really. But I have work,” she said, already packing up her books. She needed to be at the café in the next thirty minutes, and she still wasn’t sure if Derek would be dropping her off.

  Damn him for being so handsome, she thought, sneaking a glance at him from beneath her lashes. He was packing up too, movements unhurried, maddeningly composed.

  “Work? You work?”

  “Yeah. I work part-time at a café,” Emma replied, zipping her bag shut and leaning back against the wall. She waited—quietly, expectantly—for Derek to say something. Anything.

  “That’s nice,” Maya muttered, realization dawning that it was probably the same café where they had run into each other days ago.

  “Is it okay if I walk with you?” she continued, aware of how attached she was becoming to the human. She could see exactly why her cousin—and his mother—had taken to the redhead so easily. Emma was a breath of fresh air.

  “You want to?” Emma’s lips stretched into a genuine smile, pleased that she had just found herself a friend who wouldn’t betray her anytime soon.

  What was the worst that could happen? The beauty was her man’s cousin.

  Her man? Emma couldn’t believe herself.

  “Yeah,” Maya replied, swallowing the question that bubbled at the tip of her tongue. She had almost asked if there was a vacancy at the café, but remembered that after classes, she and Derek were responsible for pack training in the evenings.

  She would simply follow her new friend to work, then return to the pack house. After all, Derek would be going with them.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Speaking of Derek, Maya glanced at her handsome cousin. His face was still withdrawn, tension clinging stubbornly to his features, and she cursed under her breath.

  She had to do something. The atmosphere between the duo was too thick, uncomfortable.

  “And Emma…” she drawled then, throwing caution to the wind.

  “Yeah?”

  “You and Derek should talk already. The tension is making the air unconducive,” she said bluntly. “I’ll be waiting outside the class.”

  With that, she stood, swung her backpack over her shoulder, and walked out with the other students—though she lingered by the doorway, fully prepared to resist anyone who might interrupt the reconciliation between her cousin and his mate. They were now the only two left in the classroom.

  She briefly wondered where Claire had disappeared to, but dismissed the thought just as quickly. She didn’t care.

  Meanwhile, in the classroom, Emma opened her mouth, then shut it again. She rubbed her fingers together nervously, silently cursing Maya for leaving her alone with Derek—and worse, announcing it out loud.

  She thought of several creative ways to pay her new friend back, even though she knew the latter had only done it for her sake.

  “Emma…”

  Derek’s voice reached her, soft but serious.

  She sighed. He rarely called her by name. Is he annoyed with me?

  After all, she had taken things too far, acted like a child deprived of candy.

  She winced inwardly. She needed to apologize.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  They spoke at the exact same time.

  For a heartbeat, they stared—then laughed, startled by the coincidence, tension dissolving into something lighter.

  “It seems you guys are done,” Maya said, stepping back into the classroom with a knowing smile.

  “Maybe,” Derek replied, smiling as well. “Thanks, Coz.” He didn’t miss the flash of surprise that crossed Maya’s face. He hadn’t called her that in seven years.

  “Yeah. Thanks, Maya. You’re the best,” Emma added, still chuckling. She also found Maya’s expression amusing—her friend looked oddly emotional.

  “Don’t mention it. You’re both welcome,” Maya said, walking toward them while mentally coaching herself not to cry. She had her cousin back. She had a new friend. She couldn’t ask for more.

  “So guys… what’s this party I’m hearing about?” Maya asked moments later, when they left the school grounds, voicing the curiosity that had been nagging at her all day—especially after overhearing the human male invite Claire, after hearing her agree.

  “Oh, it’s not really important,” Derek said as he fished his keys from his pocket. They had reached the car park.

  “Hmm. I think it is,” Emma countered lightly. “The whole class was talking about it.”

  “Isn’t it the same party that funny girl invited you to?” she asked him, recalling the phone call that had sparked her jealousy days ago.

  “What girl?” Maya’s hands settled on her hips. She hated being left out of gossip.

  “Cassey. She’s the celebrant,” Derek replied, twirling his car keys around his fingers as he walked toward the car.

  “Oh. I see. Are we going?” Maya quickened her steps, hopeful.

  “Yeah, we are.”