The Alpha Assassin novel Chapter 28

The room quieted as I walked in. I wasn’t entirely sure why, but it was the desired effect. That’s why I came late. If I only had a few moments, I needed as many eyes on me as I could. But would they recognize me? I changed in the past four years as any child would, but everyone also thought I was dead. I wasn’t on anyone’s radar anymore.

I didn’t look for them as I walked across the room. I didn’t take in the surroundings either. I focused on slipping into that place I used to go when I trained, where the only thing that mattered was my next move, where nerves had no place.

I picked a point to stare at on the wall across from me. A large window with the stars twinkling beyond despite the warm glow of the party within. I learned early enough that if you walked somewhere with enough confidence, people would move out of your way. And they did.

I smelled some food near enough and changed direction to give me something to do, an end goal, instead of just walking into a wall.

Before I could make it to the table, someone came up to my side. “Simone?” A voice I didn’t recognize said, and I blinked up at a tall man with dark blonde, perfectly combed hair. His matching brows tugged together, and I knew I saw him in a memory once.

I opened my mouth to say, well, I didn’t know what, but to say something, but I was tugged back sharply and stumbled.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing here?” Alpha Raymond hissed, pulling me against the nearby wall and shielding me from view. Dominick and Hunter came up behind him, and Luna Natalie stood there with a thin brow raised as if she was finding this all too interesting.

“Hunter invited me,” I explained so quietly I hoped Hunter didn’t hear.

‘What?” Alpha Raymond asked, turning to his son, “You invited her?”

“Well, I mean…” Hunter had his mouth open, and I looked at him, blinking through thick lashes. “Kind of, but it was a joke.”

Luna Addison tutted, and I wasn’t sure if it was out of embarrassment for me or for her son. Dominick looked like he was about to choke on laughter.

“I…” I started, hoping someone else would go on. “I thought that since..”

“You are to be an Alpha’s whore, honey,” Luna Addison said, taking a step closer and plastering on a sympathetic smile. “Not his Luna.”

“I know that,” I said quickly. Quietly.

The crowd directly around us quietened, and Alpha Raymond knew it, too. He took his hand off my arm, and I rubbed where his grip had been, still hanging my head. Hoping to look the perfect picture of embarrassed and small. Nolan strolled up; his mouth hung open when he saw me standing there.

Luna Addison drew near. “What do we do with her?” she hissed. “What if someone recognizes-”

“Shut up, Addy,” Alpha Raymond commanded, his voice low. Luna Addison’s eyes were fiery under the weight of her mate’s command. He glanced around, ignoring her. “We just need to get her out of here. Soon.”

“No one is going to recognize her,” Hunter drawled, leaning casually against the wall next to me. “After all, she is my guest anyway.”

“She was practically a child,” Dominick added. “She came all this way, and she looks so pretty.” I met his gaze, blinking as if it were a compliment that didn’t make my insides churn.

“We can send her home soon,” Nolan said, quickly catching on to what was happening. “But if you drag her out right now, you’re going to cause a scene.” He was right. Nolan was quickly becoming a sort of savior, even if he didn’t mean to be.

“He’s right,” Luna Addison said, pinching her nose.

“Keep a low profile, don’t wander,” Alpha Raymond whispered.

“I have to pee,” I blurted out. And Dominick laughed loudly, or maybe it was Hunter.

“F- Fine,” Alpha Raymond blubbered. “I’ll have someone take you home soon. Don’t stray far from us. Don’t talk to strangers.” Everyone was a stranger here.

“How did you even get here?” Hunter asked.

“I was going to come with you, but when you left, the warriors offered to give me a ride.” I shrugged.

“Warriors?” Dominick asked, his dull brown brows furrowing as he glanced at his dad.

“Later,” his father said. “We will guard you, don’t worry.” Alpha Raymond turned to me with a wicked smile.

“Guard me?” My eyes widened as they met his.

He lowered his voice. “There are threats everywhere, especially here. Stay close, or I can’t guarantee your safety.” I gulped and nodded frantically, blinking.

He thought that he scared me into obedience. He turned from me, and I saw the perfect place to stab him in the back.

Metaphorically, at least…

For now.

I took the time to glance timidly behind him. There was a decent turnout; more than a few people were pretending not to look our way. I locked eyes with the tall, dark blonde man, who looked at me with confusion, a deep v in between his brows. I would have to find him again.

“I need to check in with Ezra,” Alpha Raymond spoke to his mate. He glanced back at me.

“I’m not here to babysit,” Luna Addison pouted, tapping on her empty champagne glass.

“I’ll escort her to the uh restroom,” Nolan spoke up. Before his brothers could protest, I walked to his side, thanking him, silently urging him to move.

He led me out of the room through a side door. The tall entrance doors were closed again. People weren’t directly gaping, but I knew they were looking at us, at me. I hoped it wasn’t just in my head.

I picked out some seemingly familiar faces and had to look away. This was harder than I expected. Seeing others still existing, moving on with their lives, when I myself had stayed locked away and stagnant, focused on nothing but my little world of misery.

I found my resolve and clung to it, reminding myself of why I was here and what I’d gotten through to be here.

“It’s down that way,” Nolan said and motioned to a curving hallway. This place was a lot more modern than the pack house I had been staying in. It was still old, but the insides had been heavily modernized and renovated, not just an extension.

“Thanks,” I mumbled and walked away from him.

I liked her confidence. There was something about me that was instantly at ease with her, drawn to her, interested by her. Was this what friendship could be?

But I remembered I had a game to play, and unfortunately, she was part of it. No matter how big or small.

“What pack are you from?” I asked.

“I’m not from around here.” She looked back at the tapestry. I knew well enough when someone didn’t want to answer a question, so I didn’t press.

“I have to be getting back,” I said. “Nice to meet you, Nova.”

“I hope our paths cross again..”

“Simone,” I said with a smile, “Now part of th-the Blood River pack.” I swallowed, and she stilled, studying me, her eyes narrowed slightly.

Did she recognize me? Even if I didn’t recognize her, that meant nothing; she was older than me by at least a decade.

She didn’t say anything else, so I turned around. I couldn’t hear anyone in the hall, and I hoped Nolan got bored and decided to go back to the party. To my relief and… happiness? Ezra stood where Nolan was.

“How was it?” he whispered, leaning close to me.

“Not as bad as I expected,” I admitted. “Did you get in trouble?” I asked.

He looked down at me with a wry, almost wickedly playful smile. “They couldn’t do anything to me. Who would protect them from their assassin?” he asked.

“You’re right.” I smiled, shaking my head.

A swish of air swished around us as Nova walked past. Once she was in the ballroom, great room, whatever they called it here, I asked, “What is she?”

Ezra looked down at me, his dark brown brows tugged together slightly as he sniffed the air. “She’s a wolf,” he said confidently, and I shook my head.

“She doesn’t smell like the others,” I explained.

“I’ll find out, but I’ll need her blood.” I took a step away from him, my eyes wide. “Not all of it.” He almost laughed. “The scent of blood is easier to tell, for me at least.” His lips set in a thin line.

“I don’t know if it matters. I was just curious.”

His eyes met mine, but he didn’t give anything away.

We headed back to the ballroom with him by my side. The tall blonde man came up to my side again, and I let out a breath of relief. Ezra took a step back but kept his eyes on me.

“Simone Beaufort?” The man said slowly.