The Alpha Assassin novel Chapter 61

Even with years of careful composure, I couldn’t hide my shock. This might have very well been the most surprising thing I had ever heard.

Aksala started to say something multiple times but stopped. I could feel shock ripple through her, too.

Alpha Raymond's face mirrored my own, but his was mixed with a sadistic sort of rage as he turned clench-fisted to his son.

His shoulders lifted as he heaved mighty breaths, but no words came out, nothing but a guttural, choked sound.

“Is that, is that even sanctioned?” an Alpha asked, stepping forward.

I didn’t see him before so he must be Alpha Timothy who told me no in hiding. I crossed my arms gently and fixed him with a stare he eventually couldn’t look away from. It was apparent he was a small man, not in stature, but one that was given too much power, and that was the only thing he could wield over others.

Elder John’s brows tugged together; he tilted his head and finally said, “I do think it is.”

The crowd gasped, but I wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or fear.

“It’s unprecedented, sure,” The Elder went on, ignoring them. “But the Alphas of the challenge don’t get a vote, so their packs usually don’t. But since you did unintentionally count your pack in with the rest and Simone didn’t.” Elder John nodded toward Alpha Raymond. “I would say it is.”

He shook his head a few times, muttering something under his breath.” Nolan is the heir, I’m assuming?” Elder John asked.

“Yes,” Nolan stated, and he glanced my way, but his face wasn’t angry or accusatory; it looked almost sad. He nodded to me briefly before turning back to The Elder. “The only heir.”

Alpha Raymond’s face was red as he looked between The Elder and his only living son.

“We can have a re-vote if you’re too nervous,” I said to his back. My voice was lilting and coated with sweetness.

I kept my face impassive despite the smile that wanted to spring up when I felt his rage radiate off him in hot waves.

He turned on his heel slowly toward me. “I am not afraid of a little girl with unstable emotions.”

He growled and closed the few steps between us; the crowd gasped and backed up as he stumbled toward me, stretching out his hand as if to strangle me.

Aksala tutted in my mind.

I dipped under his reach, hooked my foot in front of his shin, and knocked into his side, letting his force topple him to the ground. It was his own mistake that he twisted mid-air and landed on his back.

Raymond’s breath whoosed out of him, and he clawed at his chest for air.

It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen.

I crossed my arms, standing over him, and fixed my face with a mix of a frown and a pretty pout.

“Oh, Alpha.” I shook my head. “So prone to unstable emotions, are we?”

I stood impassively watching him until he could pull himself up. “Let’s do this then,” he growled.

This was a dance that I knew before I knew words; it was ingrained in me and a part of me deeper than anything else. It went past instinct; it was written in the very essence of my blood.

I closed my eyes briefly and settled into that place that I used to wear as a second skin. Where nothing but the target mattered. Where fighting was my only instinct and the entirety of my body followed.

It felt cool and caressed against my senses.

When I opened my eyes, I was still in that place; it was something I had forgotten, but I knew I never would again. A place I tried to lock myself in those first few months here and I very well might have succeeded.

This place felt like my pack, like my childhood. Instead of pushing that away I let the memories of my parents and pack flicker through me. This was for them all, not for me, and I would not suppress their memories anymore.

Raymond stood tall in front of me, but he didn’t scare me. I stood tall with the memories of my loved ones behind me, my ancestors guiding me.

I didn’t have to pretend anymore.

I took a deep breath through my nose and let the last fragments of my mask shatter past the point of fixing.

I would never play that person I pretended to be again.

Whoever I was under it, whatever I was now.

She was free.