11

Devon thought about stopping by Kiara’s room before leaving for West Pack, but he knew the temptation to stay back till she is back on her feet will overwhelm him, so he just left her in the care of Luka and Eliza – the two people he’d trust with his soul – and left with Alfonso early in the morning.

The West Pack was a 3-hour journey, but given the reason he was going, he was very sure he was not going to come back that same day. Ketura was a strong and stubborn one, and something tells him that she already knows he was coming, which if his instincts are right, this visit was going to be a long one.

Sighing, he rubbed his forehead and turned to Alfonso, who has been scrolling on a tablet with his forehead tightly clenched. “What is wrong?”

He shut down the tablet as he released a deep breath, “there has been a suspicious shut down of some our database, and some intel seem to be missing as well. I have given the team some guidelines and everything will be back on track soon.”

Devon’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. There were so many reasons his pack was ruled as number one, and his large intel on anybody and any pack was one of them, hence the security system was top notch. A breach seemed extremely suspicious as the system has been up and running for decades now, but Devon chose to cast his suspicions aside – Alfonso was in charge of the computer security and he trusted him to handle this just fine. But the gnawing feeling at the pit of his stomach remained.

“Well, keep me posted on it.” Alfonso nodded. “Also, did the rogue reveal any more intel?”

“He has been quiet, extremely quiet since he was shown to his room.”

“Hmm…” Devon whispered and rubbed the stubble that was growing on his chin – he didn’t keep beards, but he was too stressed to have a proper shave – he knew exactly why he wasn’t speaking. “I guess we’ll get all our answers when we get to the West Pack.” 

The car grew silent after that, only occasionally filled with the sounds of Alfonso typing or sending a text. Different thoughts, on the other hand, clouded Devon’s mind. They ranged from his pack to Kiara back at home, then it rested on Ketura; particularly on the promise she made him a decade ago.

“One day you are going to come find me, Devon, and I will be the one wielding power over you.” Determination had clouded her gaze back then, and he believed her. She was part witch after all, and they are bound to their words.

The car slowly came to a halt, and that was when he realized they had reached the West Pack. The once bubbly and lively pack was now a forest, the only thing that showed it was a Pack was the huge signboard on the long gate with the name brandished on it.

Everything and everywhere was oddly quiet, and that was how Devon knew there were people already anticipating his arrival and he cracked a smile. He expected nothing less from her.

“Ketura, there is no need to play these games, just come out.” No sooner had the words left his mouth, an arrow laced with silver narrowly missed his eyes, and the gate creaked open; revealing a red-haired girl that looked like she was in her mid-twenties, and behind her was a crowd – some of them had shifted, and the rest looked like they were ready to at any moment.

“Long time no see, Devon.” She crossed her arm over her chest, revealing the snake tattoo that covered her entire left arm, while her eyes blazing with anger.

Devon’s eyes took in the crowd behind her and he tucked his hands into his pockets and walked over to them. He bent to Ketura’s height and whispered in her ears, “10 minutes top, that’s all it’d take to have their hands snapped clean off their shoulders, and that time limit is for my driver. I expected you to be better prepared for this.” 

“I am…” slipping out the knife she kept hidden in her sleeves, and attempted to stab him with, but he caught her hand right on time and in a second, he twisted her hand to her back and forced to her knees.

“I think it is best for the rest of you to let go of whatever idea you have right now and get lost.” 

The rogues glanced at each other and started walking back by taking small steps, but Ketura’s voice stopped them in their tracks. “A blood oath hangs around your neck; you are bound by your blood to give your life for me if that is what is required.” A groan escaped her lips when Devon pressed down hard on her twisted arm, but she didn’t stop, “Da mihi animam tuam.”

The rogues instantly seemed to lose their abilities to think, their eyes rolled to the back of their heads – making only the sclera visible- and like zombies, they mindlessly began to attack.

“I will leave them up to you,” he glanced at Alfonso and Bacchus, who were already fending off the wolves. “Kill them all, she has asked for their lives.” He disappeared into the pack, shutting the gate tightly behind him.

“If that is all you’ve got, you wasted not just my time, but you have also wasted a decade for nothing!” Ketura groaned, spitting out blood as her back hit the wall violently. “Is this all you planned? A bunch of rogues? I expected better.”

Her lips curved up in a smile, and she wiped the blood off her lips with the back of her hand as she slowly stood to her feet despite the pain shooting up her back. “Devon Vukovic,” she said his name like a curse.

“Ketura Afra,” he called back – one way to avoid a witch’s curse was to be careful with names, and after being around her kind, he knew what to do.

She breathed out a laugh at his response; she knew he knew things to do to shield himself from a curse, but he did not know it all. “Do you remember what you did to me 10 years ago, Devon?” anger coursed through her veins when she saw the guilt that quickly flashed through his eyes, she knows he remembers, and that was going to be his downfall.