The Alpha Assassin novel Chapter 1

*Trigger warning for this book. Murder and talk of sexual assault*

I stood in blackness, darker than anything I have seen or felt before, it pulsed through me. It was me.

My parent's bodies under my feet were twisted and bloodied, indicating a death that was anything but painless; I knew they fought back until the very end.

Blood was the only thing that I could smell; its thick tang coated the air, coated my hands. I knew they were there, but my head was clouded, my vision blurry from the moment I stumbled upon them.

Looking for them for solace, to help me, but it was too late, and I could do nothing to help them.

I fell to my knees, accepting my fate. I reached for their hands, still warm from the life that was just taken from them.

I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t feel.

I sat there waiting to die with them, wanting to die with them.

I had nothing to live for, no one else to live for. Everyone was gone.

I couldn’t feel anything, but the hollowness, the complete emptiness that shook me to my core.

Footsteps sounded, and I felt something that might have been relief. My nightmare would be ended, and I could rejoin my family and my pack in the next life alongside the Moon Goddess.

Strong arms pulled me off them, away from my parents.

I screamed for them, but I didn’t hear it; I only knew I did because my throat was on fire.

I kicked and fought whoever was taking me away with my last strength. They ripped me from the death that I didn’t want until tonight when everything I knew, everything I loved, was stolen away from me.

My knees ached as I was thrown onto the cold ground. Senses that felt numb and far away.

“Here she is, Alpha. In one piece as you requested.” A cold hand pulled my hair back, baring my face to him.

“Good, keep her that way,” I swayed even on my knees. The last thing I remembered was his cruel blue eyes, devoid of any emotion except a flicker of amusement at my suffering.

The hollowness in me burst into flames and turned into raging, unshakable hate that was too soon quelled by the darkness I slipped into.

Four years Later

“Aren’t you looking lovely? Is that for me, because you shouldn’t have?” Dominick leaned against the large entryway attempting to block my way, I tried to brush past him, but Hunter showed up right behind him.

“Going somewhere? Hunter leaned against the other side, a dangerous glimmer dancing in his cold blue eyes, “We wanted to have a closer look at what will be ours in a few short weeks. Oblige us, won't you?” He reached out to touch me but pulled back at the last second, I fought a smirk, looking to my feet instead.

Were they not sick of hearing their idle threats? They couldn’t touch me anyways, not until I was eighteen. Commanded by their father, their Alpha, an Alpha who would never be mine.

Hunter kicked off the wall and stepped towards me; Dominick followed him. Dominick might have been older, but Hunter was by far the cruelest and the most wicked of the three brothers.

They both got their dad's light brown hair, dull, and lifeless, like them.

They started circling me slowly, like animals that had already caught their prey and were just toying with it now. I knew how this would go, how it always went, and I settled into my character effortlessly.

There was a chance that not all of them would survive to see who was crowned the next Alpha. The fewer of them to deal with, the better.

“Our father said that he would let us be there for your first shift. Did you know that?” Hunter stopped in front of me. I didn’t. I fought the look of confusion in my eyes and tried to keep them blank, scared.

“Just to see if you are actually one of our mates,” He went on. I doubted The Moon Goddess hated me that much, “But that’s not why we’re coming, of course, mate or not, you’ll belong to the next Alpha.” He curled a side of his mouth in a smile that told me he thought it would be him.

“We’re coming to see you strip bare in front of us.” My heart caught in my throat; the thought of them, of the Alpha, seeing me like that made me shake.

“Now, now, don’t be nervous,” Dominick stepped up and bent to my ear, “We won’t f.uck you that night. That honor is saved for the heir.” He stepped back and crossed his arms, studying my face, “But dad did mention that we could touch.” I swallowed, I didn’t have to pretend to be scared anymore.

This was happening too soon. I thought I had more time, not just a few weeks. I wasted too much d.amn time preparing and took no action.

“Stop acting shocked,” Hunter had a mad glint in his eye that always unnerved me, I could deal with anger and cruelty, but unchecked madness, that was unpredictable, “You knew since the moment you arrived here you were to be nothing but an Alpha’s breeding w.hore. I’m surprised you haven’t been practicing.”

“I wouldn’t want used goods,” Dominick scoffed at his younger brother. I stood there, arms at my side, looking downcast. I learned early on they would get bored sooner if I didn’t react, didn’t give them anything that they wanted besides scared submissive.

“Mom wants us at the front; the visiting Alpha is early.” Nolan cut in, and Hunter shot him a glare that promised death. He was a cat that wasn’t done playing with his mouse.

A plaything that was all I was reduced to, something to torment out of boredom or to try to get a reaction. I noted my anger at that thought and locked it away for later when it would be useful.

“You should get dressed,” Hunter crooned, “Wear something pretty for me, something fit for my chosen whore.” Dominick laughed and turned on his heel, following Hunter out the way they came.

Nolan gave me a wary glance, and I was left there alone. I let my shoulders sag for a split second under the weight of their words before I straightened myself up and headed to my room. I was an Alpha’s daughter, after all, and that's who I still was even if I had no pack.