Chapter 11 A Decade Later

• FUKAYNA
• “You’ll never know if you won’t go there,” Neb Er Tcher said in a condescending tone, just like ten years ago.
• Right. A decade ago, after my savior left me, I followed the thread-like light. It was coming from Relia’s magic to guide me to our first hideout she had prepared. Not long afterwards, we reunited. She also ran away from home, tired of the feud between our kinds.
• “You’re still sulking after what I did, huh?” I quipped.
• “What did you do?” He played innocent.
• “Oh, just because I didn’t let you come out ever since we escaped from my father, you’re becoming a pain in my ass!”
• “What did you say? Shouldn’t I be the one who’d say that?”
• “Say what?”
• “You’re the pain in my ass, Kayna! You’ve always been!” he growled. “Why must I even be trapped in this useless female body? This is so unfair! I’ve already pleaded to the Moon Goddess! Why is she punishing me this way?”
• I laughed at his speech. “There you go again. And again, how dare you say my body is useless? I have never had a peace of mind, even once, since you appeared in my head! I must be crazy for letting you stay inside my body. I should’ve done everything I could to exorcise you! Maybe I should do that starting now!”
• He growled even louder, pissed at what I said. It was good to provoke him once in a while, this arrogant and narcissist wolf. It made my mundane life more enjoyable, if that was the right word.
• “And you treat me like an evil spirit now? May I remind you? I gave you strength and every super ability you can have. You enjoyed everything because of me, Kayna. If it weren’t for me, your pack wouldn’t be awed by your alter self, and that’s me, by the way! If it weren’t for me, you would’ve died a long time ago when you escaped from your father’s sentinels! If it weren’t for me⸺”
• He halted, and I stopped in my tracks, too. I was walking down the crowded street one late afternoon in Bucharest, after leaving my car in the parking lot. My eyes grew wide when I spotted someone familiar. I sniffed the air, and I wasn’t wrong at all. That herb-like scent, like oregano, was none other than Beta Costel. He was my father’s trusted werewolf with Romani blood. He was tall and well-built. In fact, he towered over almost everyone that was near him. His brown skin looked healthy in the afternoon summer sun. Just like a decade ago, he appeared in his late thirties, with the same short curly black hair, onyx black eyes, thick eyebrows, wavy nose, dark lips, and angular face. He was quite handsome. However, his ever grim face reflected that of annoyance as he talked with another werewolf.
• I cursed in my head. It was Caturix!
• Why are they here? Do they know I’m here?
• Panic rose inside my chest, but I tried to keep it cool. There could be another reason why they were here.
• “You were saying, Neb Er Tcher?” I taunted him nonetheless. “Must I still have to go and check out who’s my mysterious and potential investor?”
• “You said you needed a new investor. No matter, you can pull this through. They won’t recognize us because of the potion you imbibed, remember?”
• I scoffed while my eyes scanned the entire vicinity. Just what I thought. Some other members of the pack were there, scattered everywhere. They must still be looking for me, as ordered by my father. But why was Beta Costel really here? Was it purely business, thus the reason why he wanted to talk to the owner of Excella Enterprise? I knew my father’s businesses, and one of them was to invest in other companies. For that, he or his representative must talk to the owner of the said company. And now, he wanted to talk to me in person, hence the meet up at a restaurant.
• It smelled fishy. However, I could just not ignore the reason why Beta Costel himself with my father’s sentinel was here. I had to know.
• “You’re right, wolf. I think I have to face this, and we’ll see from there.”
• I walked up to Beta Costel and greeted him.
• “You’re the owner of Excella Enterprise?” he asked as we walked into the restaurant, followed closely by Caturix.
• I could still remember what transpired ten years ago, while escaping my father’s territory. I could also remember my savior’s face, but I shook my head internally. I must not be distracted, especially at this time. It was mandatory that my mind was clear, so I could pull this through without hiccups. Otherwise, Beta Costel might see any crack and recognize me. How would I know if they were not just scheming right now? What if they used magic too to track me down? It was not an impossibility, knowing my father.
• Right now, I just hoped that Relia’s potion was stronger than any magic my father would have used to locate me. Otherwise, it was game over, and I’d be trapped in our palace for a lifetime. Not to mention, I’d be offered to Alpha Zygmunt like a gift to the gods. I didn’t want that to happen. That young Polish Alpha was the last creature I’d marry and mate with!
• “How did you know it was me?” Beta Costel asked me after we ordered some food and drinks and the waitress left us.
• I laughed “demurely,” something my real self wouldn’t have done in normal circumstances. “I just figured. I have this… let’s say sixth sense,” I answered him, meeting his onyx gaze.
• A small smile played on his peach lips, while his eyes assessed me. It seemed that he could see right through me. Darn Beta Costel for making me nervous right now. He must feel it now. And yet, I had to hold my ground.
• “May I know why you want to invest in Excella Enterprise?” I shot right to business.
• “I see big potential income in your IT and tourism businesses, so don’t doubt about my other reason. Unless…” He deliberately paused, giving me a more penetrating gaze. “You’ll give me another reason.”
• Wait, is he flirting with me? I almost cringed.
• “No, he’s not, you idiot! You should know him better. He’s not one to flirt with women, Kayna,” Neb Er Tcher chastised me.
• “Then, what do you think he’s doing right now?”
• “He’s trying to read you more. He already sensed you’re nervous in his presence. That’s a great job, by the way. Let him raise his suspicions, Kayna!” he lectured.
• Suddenly, screams filled the air outside, making my back straighten. All of us turned our heads in that direction.
• “What’s going on?” I inquired breathlessly.