The Alpha Assassin novel Chapter 44

After Ezra left the library last night, I tried to push the thoughts of us away and focus.

He left all the details I needed in our book, and I scribbled the outcome of my own meeting. My heart was thudding the entire time, and I was unsure if it was because of Ezra or how close I was, we were from taking a public stand against Black River.

After a quiet breakfast, Tia almost knocked me over in the hallway, handing me a note. I was expecting it to be from Sam, but it was in Ezra’s neat handwriting. How did he know about Tia? Did I tell him? But I kept forgetting that he was a hired assassin; his job was to know things.

Our Place

That was all it said, and I nodded at Tia gratefully. She was bouncing up and down, and her eyes sparkled. She nodded back vigorously and almost skipped away.

I walked into the library and up next to him. He nodded slowly in acknowledgment before looking back vacantly into the fire. He was tenser than normal, and I knew I was too.

“No talk of his death?” Ezra asked. I shook my head.

There still wasn’t a funeral or open talk, but the air around the packhouse changed. It seemed obvious to me that others knew of Dominick's death; the strangest part of the entire thing was that they wanted to keep it hidden when the rest of the trials were so public. The audience would notice that only two of the sons were competing this evening.

“The warriors seem to know Dominick’s trainer left last night. I don’t understand,” Ezra said.

I shrugged. “Maybe they finally decided to play the doting parents?” I suggested.

“You really don’t think they care about their son's death?” he asked.

I mulled that over. “I think they do to some extent, whatever extent they are capable of loving. But they were always treated as options, three sons in competition to become the next Alpha. I’m unsure if they are grieving the person or a potential heir.”

“I don’t understand them,” he said, looking genuinely put-off.

“I stopped trying to years ago and just accepted that some people are horrible,” I snorted. He didn’t say anything for a moment. “It was a bit foolish on both our parts not to spend time talking about the events yesterday night,” I mused. We were supposed to talk about both our very eventful evenings but only talked of us.

“I thought what we spoke of was more important,” he said, no hint of joking on his face.

I nodded, unsure what to say. “It’s all in place then?” I asked.

“Yes.” He grimaced. “I told her no harm would come, that she would be saved…”

I sensed his apprehension and asked, “But?”

“The fear, you could smell it for a mile. She didn’t even fight; she just froze. I have never seen anyone like that, not in all of my years.” He grimaced. “But I have, I have seen it but in far seedier places. Places where decency and dignity were never learned. Maybe that’s why it seemed so strange, why it seemed to off. I wouldn’t expect something like that to happen here. In an assumed respectable pack…”

He swallowed. “Why?” he murmured, but I knew he wasn’t asking me.

“I was trained to see people as targets, and only that,” he admitted. “I had to teach myself. I am still teaching myself to see others as beings and not just analyze them as opponents, assets, or potential threats.”

“I know,” he added with a smile, glancing down at me, but his smile wasn’t his own; it was hollow. “It sound robotic, but it was the only way I survived. Guilt ate at me, but it would have consumed me completely if I hadn’t seen it like that. After my brothers and I left, I forced myself to believe that there was good in everyone that no one could be pure evil. That was partially to help my own healing but also to try to connect with others in a way I never had to,” he admitted. “I believed no one was past the point of redemption, but it seems I was mistaken.” There was a shadow over his face.

I breathed out through my nose after I was certain he was finished talking and said, “I’m not sure if it’s easier knowing Alpha Raymond is just cruel to be cruel. If there was some other gain to the murder of my pack, I don’t know if that would make it easier or harder for me to swallow. But no amount of goodness would change my views on him.”

He looked me back over. “I know.”

“And nothing will save him from me,” I promised.

A real smile crossed his face. “I know.”

“Ready?” Ezra asked; he scanned me, but his eyes were wary.

“I am,” I confirmed.

“I know, but it doesn’t make me any less worried.” He looked ahead. “And that doesn’t mean I don’t find you extremely capable, I just. I worry.”

“I do, too,” I admitted. I trusted him more than anyone, especially in the art of death. But there were times, namely when he was doing something for me outside his duties. If he were caught because of me…

But it wasn’t just the guilt. I couldn’t stand the thought of any harm coming his way, even though it was evident he had handled and survived his fair share of it.

“I wish we could communicate… If we marked each other,” he said, frowning, and then his eyes widened as if he just realized what he said. It sunk into me, too, but I tried to stay calm; he couldn’t have meant that.

“Er,” he stumbled, it was cute, and he looked so boyish. “I’ll see you tonight. Until then,” he said.

“Until then,” I agreed, not wanting to embarrass him further.

I started to walk away, but he grasped my arm and pulled me back to him; my breath caught before he placed his lips against mine. Golden butterflies erupted, trying to break free from under my skin.

Too soon, he pulled back.

“I love to see you flush,” he rumbled. The backs of his fingers trailed down one of my cheeks.

“I’ll take you by surprise one day.” I raised a brow and disappeared. I hoped half as beautifully as he could.

“You take me by surprise daily,” he murmured, his voice a whisper on the air behind me.

__

When night started to fall, the house was quiet despite the Omegas. This trial started just before dusk so the audience could watch them on most of the leg of their challenge. At the end, out of eyesight would be their prize.

The first person to complete the course, race, whatever, and claim the prize and bring her back would win. Probably thrown over their shoulder after having uninterrupted time with her. I closed my eyes, it didn’t matter. That wasn’t going to happen.

It was a long walk, especially through the woods, while trying to be quiet. But Ezra promised it was clear, and I didn’t sense anyone. He took over the task of positioning warriors as a sort of referee around the course but, conveniently, didn’t schedule anyone.

I was probably a third of the way there when I heard a loud pop and cheering in the distance. It was starting.

My stomach lurched when the trees cleared. A small stage, barely more than a pedestal, stood a woman with bright red hair, unbound and blowing softly in the breeze. That might be a problem, but that wasn’t why I felt sick.

She was standing there in a thin white dress, bare feet, and her hands tied behind her. Over her eyes was a matching white blindfold, and I could smell her fear, even from this far.

She chewed her lips, and I saw she didn’t believe me, but I didn’t have time to convince her, and I doubted I could, even if I had laid the entire plan out. Tia’s steps were loud enough for Amber to hear them now. I could hear Amber’s heartbeat, but her breathing thankfully evened.

“Thank you,” she whispered, glancing at me sideways. “You saved my life.”

“He wouldn’t have-”

She shook her head, closing her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. “If he would have, after today-” Her voice cracked. “I would have.”

I grabbed her hand and squeezed it, and she moved closer as we waited for Tia.

“Hi,” Tia said; she was breathless, and her smile was bright. She took a few steps forward and lowered her voice. “Ezra sent me. He gave me this.” She handed me a carefully folded note. “And this.” She pulled a long white scarf from her pocket, also neatly folded.

Something came up. Everything is fine. Tia knows what to do. I can’t wait to hear everything.

Yours

My heart lurched at how he signed it, and I looked at Tia. I trusted her… as much as I could. But if Ezra did, too, I guess this would work.

“Amber, you know Tia?” I confirmed, and she nodded slightly. “Okay then, be careful and don’t be seen. Take precautions and as much time as you need; there is no need to rush back.” I looked at both of them, hoping they would understand.

They nodded, and I released Amber’s hand. Tia grabbed the pack from the ground and hoisted it on her shoulders. Amber glanced back once, but they headed off.

I unwrapped the dagger Ezra lent me from the leather I wrapped it in and unsheathed it, wrapping its sheath and Ezra’s note back up and hiding it behind a tree.

When I made it to the tree line, I listened carefully. There was still a distant humming I assumed was the crowd. But nothing closer that I could make out.

I hurried to the platform and tied the scarf around my braid, ensuring none of my black hair could be seen. I smiled at Ezra coming to my aid. I had to admit I wasn’t sure how to hide my hair and was going to have to improvise with an extra shirt from the pack. It was unusual but nice having someone there for me, looking out. It was nice having him there for me.

I put the blindfold back on; I didn’t need sight for this, and then loosely wrapped the ropes around my wrists, holding them behind me, clutching the dagger.

The dagger felt good. It felt right. It was cool, but it felt warm and steady in my hands. It felt like Ezra, and it grounded me.

I took deep breaths and listened until footsteps sounded in the distance. I worried for a brief moment that Nolan would have won. He was more sensible, and Ezra said he won the first challenge. But I pushed that away. I would deal with that if it came to it. But I put my faith in Hunter to win or Ezra to have rigged it.

The footsteps were fast, uneven. They didn’t sound like Nolan’s, but I didn’t know how he ran. They slowed near me, and I knew he was close, but who was it?

The way they sauntered confidently up the small steps told me it was Hunter. The low chuckle that made his sticky, hot breath fan over my face confirmed it. I recoiled, and he laughed louder.

His hands came to my breasts, and I stilled. My stomach rolled, and my cheeks flushed with anger and disgust. His thumbs brushed over my bra.

“You aren’t supposed to be wearing anything underneath.” I could hear the frown in his voice.

I moved my hand, and it was his turn to pause. I let the anger out. I let it harden and solidify, and I pushed the dagger against his pants hard enough that I knew I hit his dick.

“And you aren’t supposed to touch someone without their permission,” I spat. My voice crackled, and my anger and aura seeped out, surrounding us.