The Alpha Assassin novel Chapter 39

That night, I snuck out in my hidden pants, my hair braided and coiled in a tight bun. I wrapped a scarf around the lower half of my mouth and dawned a hooded cape.

I walked a wide circle starting behind the packhouse and snaked through the forest so I wouldn’t be seen by anyone. It took longer wearing clunky men's shoes I swiped on the way out, but I didn’t want to bring anything besides the clothes on my back.

There was part of the maze that sprawled into the edge of the forest. The onlookers were sitting above the maze dug partially into the ground. I hated how impressed I was; this was a huge feat for only a week of preparation. But I had to give credit to the Omegas, warriors, and whomever else they tasked with this. It wasn’t like The Alpha and Luna were the ones out here digging.

I memorized the map Ezra drew and came to one of the three points he marked that were the most hidden from the audience. This part of the maze was short and something you would accidentally stumble upon.

It was hidden from view as the onlookers sat above the treeline, but some parts provided even more shelter in case someone was looking from another angel under the stands. I had to be hidden not only from the onlookers but from the Omegas and warriors stationed around.

I hoped that Dominick took Ezra’s advice. He was looking even worse than before, and I knew he would need a few moments to collect himself, at least.

I heard cheers and then a growl of an animal. I shivered; it sounded too close, but I knew it must be in the middle of the maze.

At the first point Ezra marked, I ran my hand along the wooden planks, poking and prodding until I found the one Ezra mentioned might be loose. He mentioned it as a ‘safety precaution’ to me. I smiled to myself; even though he was helping me, he did so in a way that was more of a suggestion and not outright partnering with me.

The morally good mercenary.

He was nothing like what I expected. He was everything I never let myself dream of after I was taken. The butterflies danced around my stomach, but their wings were edges in knives. The thought of him now came with a clawing hurt I couldn’t suppress.

I focused wholly on loosening the board further until I could pick it up. I wanted to jump over the fence, but the fresh mud on my shoes would leave suspicious prints, so my entrance was going to be, unfortunately, less dramatic. They wouldn’t be looking for anyone outside the trials, and I want to keep it that way.

I put the plank back into place and waited until I heard uneven breathing. Dominick was slow, catching his breath, but it sounded like wheezing. Once he was only a few steps past me, I pushed myself through the plank and discreetly marked it.

You’ve got this - Aksala reminded me.

I let the anger flair, it was right there under the surface waiting for this moment. It filled me, wrapped around me, and I breathed deeply, finally able to sit in my anger. I became something entirely different, I shed not only my mask but whatever was beneath and I became anger incarnate.

I trudged behind him, not trying to hide my steps. He whirled around, holding a sword in front of him. His face was blanched and covered in mud, but there were sweat stains streaked through it, or possibly tears. He swayed, and his hand trembled. His sleeve was pulled up, and I noted a rash on it.

I pulled down the scarf that shrouded me, revealing my face. “It pains me to kill you like this, but you really brought it upon yourself.” I walked toward him with my hands up until I stood in front of his sword. I didn’t bring any weapons, but I didn’t need any. I had his.

“W-what are you doing here? Is this real?” He was really ruining my dramatic reveal.

“This is real.” I curled up my lips, and his brows furrowed. He reached out to touch my hand, and I let him. Once he confirmed I wasn’t a figment of his imagination, his confusion only rose.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Didn’t you hear me the first time? I’ve come to end your life. This is me getting some satisfaction from dealing with your ongoing threats, lude comments, and that one time you tried to touch me in the hall after my birthday.”

I returned the boots to where I borrowed them; they blended in with the other muddy worker’s boots waiting to be cleaned by the Omegas. I debated getting myself cleaned first, but once I got to my room, I had to stay there, and the laundry was close to the back door. I listened extra hard, but my heartbeat still had a mind of its own. There was noise of Omegas still working at this hour, but no one outside, so I dropped them and scurried up the steps.

We’re okay - Aksala reminded me, she grounded me. She was right.

Once I returned to my room, I threw my socks in the fire and cleaned my cloak in the tub before I took as long of a shower as I could. My cloak was drying over an armchair, looking as if I was careless when I got undressed.

Alice came in to find me sitting in front of my mirror, brushing through my wet hair in a nightgown.

“No dinner?” she asked.

“I’m not feeling that great,” I admitted. “The excitement and nerves have gotten to me.”

Alice took the brush from my hand and worked on de-tangling my hair. “I understand,” she said quietly, “every day has been so busy from morning til night, and we’re all on edge with it being an event,” she said. It was the most she talked to me outside of asking about my dress or hair choices.

“An event?” I asked curiously, looking at her in the mirror.

“It’s not just ranked members,” she whispered. “The last person attacked was a warrior. I know he was mated to a Beta, but he was a warrior first. What if they come for an Omega next?” She swallowed but clamped down on her lips.

“I’m scared, too,” I admitted. It was the truth, even if we weren’t scared of the same thing.