11: REPORT
1555 Words
RAYMOND
Sitting in my office, I haven't stepped out since I entered yesterday morning. There were lots of workloads and Zonal was going around the smaller packs in the north to see whose dead body that was.
I closed my eyes briefly, feeling fatigue searing through me but I needed to finish this up and then move to go through the history of the pack. Maybe I could find something related to the plague. My father had indicated that I needed to look into it.
Ever since he came down with the illness, he has been saying lots of things that didn't make sense to me. At least, they did to him.
For years now, I have been looking to see if there was something more to the plague but I have not found anything yet. It was as if it just appeared and disappeared which was quite crazy. The cause of the plague just seemed to have disappeared and it was starting to drive me crazy!
Whosoever did this was sure very good at it.
Letting out a deep sigh, I pinched the bridge of my nostrils. I pulled out a stockpile of files and written on it, was Shantelle’s pack name. My heart tightened in my chest but I shook off the painful feeling. Now was not the time.
I went through everything. From the time we had merged the packs till this moment, nothing appeared fishy. Well, except for her parents’ death which till this moment remained a mystery.
Father had called me from college then that something had happened to Shantelle and he hurried me back home. At that point, Shan was already in a coma and I was extremely worried. What was even worse news was her parents’ death and the fact that no one seemed to know who could have done it and for what reason.
Seth, Shantelle’s father, was a just man who never kept enemies. In fact, he was just as easygoing as any other man so his death raised suspicions. My father had tried to look into it but always came to an abrupt end. Nothing was leading to anything.
He just hoped that one day whoever had killed his best friend would suffer for their crime. Years later, the plague broke out in our pack and it was quite evident that all of these were precedented.
The one who was responsible for their death could likely be the one behind it but who was it?
Who was after us?
Picking up Maria, Shan’s mother's profile, I noticed that little was written about her. No pack of origin. Everything that was recorded about her belonged to her husband.
That was strange. Maybe this was where I should start my research from and my father would be the best person to answer. Rising to my feet, I packed up the files to leave but the door creaked open, and Zonal stepped in.
Dropping his head in a small bow, he stopped before the desk.
“And feedback yet?” I arched my brows.
“The corpse does not belong to any neighboring packs but news has reached me that the South has declared someone missing. Not just that, I found this on the body of the corpse.” He placed the locket watch on the desk.
The south? Why would the dead body of the South be found on my pack land?
“That is strange. Are you sure? I don't want any mix-up anywhere. The South is known for its creeping ways of doing things. I don't want to get involved with them.” I mused, taking my seat again.
Zonal sighed. “I think this time we would have to speak to them. Things could be getting out of hand and we would be unaware. Just to play safe, we should contact them.” He suggested.
I shook my head, still reluctant to do such. Sornell, the Alpha in charge there, did not like me. I returned the gesture as well.
“Okay,” I resigned. “Contact Sornell and tell him I would like to speak with him,” I added.
He gave me a curt nod, pausing. “I will be introducing Shan—erm—the doctor to Keiran and others.” He informed me.
I nodded and watched him exit the place. Why was he so intent on telling me about this doctor anyway?
She was a plan for a later. I had other things to do.
LAURENE/SHANTELLE
Having the kids registered in a new school was hectic but important. I didn't want them slacking off at home and even though I could get them homeschooled, I didn't see the need because I needed my kids to be able to socialize better.
Kamara had taken them to school and I was left at home, hoping Zonal would make do with his word to introduce me to the rest of the team. As expected, a knock rapped on the door, and I went to answer.
His eyes ran over me, stopping at my face, the fact that he still didn't believe that I was not Shantelle was obvious on his face but I cleared my throat to distract him.
“Hello,” I greeted.
He blinked, dropping his head slowly, as he would for me if I was his Luna. “Dr. Laurene, are you less busy?” He asked.
I shook my head. “I was expecting you by the way.”
He slowly nodded his head. “Then shall we?” He paved the way for me. I had informed Kamara that I would be leaving before she returned so I had already given her a spare key to help inside.
Going back inside to pick up my purse and some things I might need, I exited the house with him, and we settled in his car.
“Are we going to meet your Alpha there?” I asked, trying to show that since I didn't know them, I should be curious a bit.
His eyes flickered to me before returned his focus to the road. “He has other issues to attend to.”
These issues might include the dead body found on their pack land. I wanted to ask about it but clamped my lips shut. I would just see what I can do about the plague and leave as soon as possible. That was my plan. In fact, I would be glad if I didn't have to meet Raymond all through my stay at the pack.
Finally, we reached the place and it was not what I expected. My expectation was that the place would look shabby and unattended but to my utmost shock, the place was well-vaccinated, controlled, and inspected.
As we walked through the halls, attendants passed by us, I noted separate rooms the people were kept in. I didn't think Raymond would be so considerate to help them this way.
“Alpha Raymond thought it would be bad if they were kept together since one could be recovering and if kept with someone that is not, it would be wrong.” He explained my thoughts as if he could read them.
I nodded, not uttering any words. Most of the people that the plague struck were asleep which was strange. Had they put them to sleep?
“Why are they all asleep?” I asked, wanting to soothe my curiosity.
“They tend to go savage if they are awake. Well, unlike, Raymond’s father, these ones are to be kept asleep.” He explained. That would explain why they were all in chains.
Gosh, this plague must be cleared out.
“And what of Raymond’s father? Is he kept here?”
He shook his head, giving me a side-eye. “He had the plague long before these ones but he is kept under special inspection. Raymond is hard on making sure his father scaled through it but since John lost his mate, Beverly. He had long since given up on making it out alive.”
I understood him. Like my father, John loved Raymond’s mother to the core and would protect her at all costs. I even wondered why he hadn't died. Raymond didn't want to let him go. This plague must have known that Raymond’s weaknesses were his parents so it took them.
“Have any new patients been in recently?” We stepped through the threshold and there were some doctors talking and they stopped when they noticed us.
“Yes, like five months ago.” He replied, stopping. “Dr. Keiran and Dr. Thompson, this is Dr. Laurene, the person Alpha Ray told you about.” He introduced me.
The men stared at me like they were not expecting a female but who cared?
“Hello, I am Dr. Laurene, nice meeting you.” They could already see that I was a threat. Yes, I was. I would take their job from them and the fear was obvious on their faces.
“Our pleasure, Dr. Laurene?” Thompson shook hands with me, our gaze locked, and unsaid words passed through.
We retreated and Zonal went on to talk about other things but the men were not listening. Their focus was on me.
But wait, why would I find Dr. Keiran familiar?
- Writer
