THE ALPHA'S MATE IS AN ASSASSIN

One Year Ago

I finally did it...

I shifted...

As the weakest omega in Willow Tree Pack, I have always been bullied. I had no parents, my wolf was practically useless and I was just a weakling overall.

But then when I found out that Alpha Brook was my mate, everything changed. I became determined- I could not afford to be weak.

Since the mating ritual, I vowed to myself to get stronger.

Now, I'm standing in the middle of the pack fields, claws drawn.

I shifted...

Even though it is just a bit. Progress!

My heart skips with joy and my mind flutters to my mate at this moment. Brook would be so happy.

He was such a supportive partner. Even when the elders outrightly rejected me to be Luna of the pack, he stood by me. He believed in me.

Something is tickling me from the inside so I laugh. This is what it felt to be happy?

I can feel the weak presence of my wolf for the first time in years.

"I have to tell Brook!"

I turn on my heels and sprint through the tall grass field. Some pack warriors follow my movements with sneers on their faces. Brook might have accepted me, but his people have not.

It will all change soon!

The pack territory was so huge. It takes me quite a while before I can even reach the mansion's doors.

Naturally, the Alpha's chambers were situated at the very last floor of the great pack house.

My heart is pounding from joy. All the abuse, all the insults.

Weak. Useless. Wolfless.

I will show them how determined I am to become stronger.

I will become fit to rule the pack...

My feet slap against the floorboards as I dash through the corridors. His room is just up ahead so I pick up the pace.

I arrive before the huge doors and pant softly from all the running. There's a wide smile on my face and my stomach is fluttering.

Before I can push the door open, I hear the muffled moan of a lady inside.

"...uuu. Oh, Brook! Ohhhh."

What is this?

Am I dreaming? Convinced I'm hearing things, I press my ear against the wooden door.

"Shhh, Seline...don't be too loud."

That's Brook's voice. My mate.

"Ooouuu. I c-can't! Ar-ar-arghh. Yes...fuck me!"

That voice...

It belongs to my best friend. I pray to the gods that this is all a dream because if not...

My heart is racing faster and it's not from joy. No. It's from something else. A lot of emotions are passing through my heart at this moment; confusion, disbelief, anger, hatred, anguish.

"Ouuuu Alpha! F-f-fuck me faster!"

I start to shake my head and back away. Tears are streaming down my face, leaving behind a burning wet streak. What did I ever do to deserve this?

Why?!

With every moan of pleasure I hear, my world crumbles a little more.

I don't know when it happens but I break down, falling to the floor and wailing.

"Stop it! Why?! Why?!!"

I grip my ears with my claws that have grown out now. My wolf is clawing beneath me, scratching with such force I feel I might lose my mind.

"WHY?!"

The chamber doors open and I look up to see my mate standing before me. He's shirtless and sweaty; I can't help but notice how much he reeks of sex. I can smell the arousal in the air and I want to vomit.

"You..."

My eyes are burning; my vision is blurring.

"Oh get a grip, Gemma. It's not like we were fucking or anything."

Oh? Like that makes it better?

I clench my fists and I watch his eyes dart down to them.

"So you've made progress-"

"Don't! Don't say a word, Brook!" My knees are weak but I force myself to my feet. Behind his huge frame, I notice Seline. She looks nothing like the best friend I knew over the years.

Her lips are curved in a sick smile.

"Oh, poor you. There are some things an omega like yourself can never do in bed."

I glance back to my mate, see all the bite and claw marks. My breath hitches.

"Brook...can we continue? I'm getting excited from all this..."

My eyes are turning red from anger but there's nothing I can do. The Alpha smiles; "I'll be right there. First I have to take care of this nuisance. I can't let her tarnish our images..."

Before I can say a word, my mate opens his filthy mouth.

"I, Alpha Brook of the Willow Tree Pack, rejects you, Gemma of the Willow Tree Pack. I revoke the mate bond."

It's like the world goes silent for a second.

Then pain.

So much pain. It's like a fire has been lit inside of me and there's no way to let it out. I cry aloud and fall to the ground, breathless.

In my confusion and pain, I hear Seline laugh.

"I will make you pay!" Still burning from the inside, I spring to my feet, planning to detach my best friend's head off her neck.

I don't make it far into the room; Brook catches me by the hair.

He growls at me and slams my face into the floor. "Die you wretched creature! Having you for a mate was the worst curse in my entire life! Die!"

My face feels numb; he's slamming it over and over again. Seline is laughing; the wind is blowing from a window nearby.

Run.

The weak voice of my wolf.

Run.

So I do just that, using my last strength to push the alpha off me and darting to the window.

I fly through the opening and fall from the top floor to the ground. The pain knocks me out for a second but I don't stop.

I get up and I run.

I run.

Oh what a cursed life I live...

I don't stop running.

Present Day

The man standing next to me stinks.

I have to wiggle my nose every minute to somehow get rid of the stench. It doesn't work, though; it's only a reflex.

The only reason I have to stand next to this horribly smelling rogue is because we've been summoned by the Akari League Rogue Leaders.

A year ago when I ran from the Willow Tree Pack, I had nowhere to go. I slept in caves, crying and mourning my horrible fate. There were days I went without food or water, completely frozen in grief.

Until I was discovered by a rogue she-wolf, she had been harsh, laughing at my predicament.

"You trusted a pack wolf, an alpha at that? All they care about is their bloody hierarchy. Who told you someone like him would truly accept you?"

Her words had been like thousands of needles piercing through my skin. I cried then, feeling the brutal force of rejection hit me again.

The lady, Laila, had said nothing. She just watched me cry in that dark cave. She watched me cry until I had no tears left.

That was when she asked, "How will you like to join us?"

I did not even hesitate. Of what use was it staying in this cave crying? My now ex-mate was probably deep inside my best friend.

I could not cry for him any longer.

So I followed Laila; through the thick forest, over two rivers and into a hidden mountain range.

It was there I met the Akari League.

They were a group of free-minded folks who believed that the system of Alphas should be destroyed. No, they believed it should be theirs.

I knew it was wrong- it was rebellion - but I couldn't care less.

Why should I?

Instead, I trained with my new found powers. I could not fully shift but I was quick and extremely tactical. My superiors sent me on a lot of smaller missions until I got the hang of it.

Killing other wolves.

Every time my claw sliced the throat of a gamma or beta wolf, I felt a certain relief.

It was like I was slitting Brook's throat, and it felt like revenge. Maybe I was running mad, who knows? The truth is, the weak omega Gemma was gone.

My wolf might have been almost inexistent, but it didn't stop me from becoming stronger.

Now, I find myself in the present, standing in a dark chamber - awaiting the Akari leaders' speech.

I wriggle my nose again; this wolf really smells. I look to my right, and he looks back at me and smiles. Before I can sneer at him, I hear the thunderous voice of Vaki, one of the leaders.

"Today, we have summoned all of you here because of an important development." The man is bald and missing an eye.

"As you all know, the wolfthrone has been empty for a year. But word has passed that a new ruler is emerging. The White Crow."

Everyone in the room is still.

The name is familiar. The White Crow is one of the most powerful lycans in the entirety of Suro and beyond.

Was it him?

How was anyone supposed to even get close enough to kill that monster...

As if answering my question, another leader answers. Her eyes are so hollow it's like she's a skeleton. "We know that sending an assassin to claim the throne from him is equal to suicide, but there's a way..."

A pause.

"The White Crow has a very terrible weakness. On the night of the Blood Moon, when wolves receive extreme power every year, he falls ill. We don't know the reason; maybe a curse or something. But the fact is, that is our window to kill him. But to do that, we need someone equally smart and attention-grabbing to get close enough to him. We only have 10 months to the next blood moon..."

I look around the crowd. Everyone's face is pale. No one wanted to be a part of this.

"Gemma."

I hear my name and I pause.

What?

"Gemma is the exact weapon we'll use. She looks innocent and can pull off being his concubine. For 10 months, you must gain his attention and-"

"No! I-I can't..." my voice is shaking. I am not even strong enough to defeat a normal alpha. What makes them think I can do this?

The lady on the podium smiles. Her teeth are all jagged.

"Yes. You can. The moment you joined the Akari League, you signed up for this. You have no say."

My heart sinks, and I look down at the floor. "Yes, miss."

I hear her chuckle. "Perfect! The rest of you will be assigned duties in the royal court to support Gemma. You must keep your eyes and ears peeled. Reports on the progress must be given every month."

My heart is racing. This cannot be happening.

The White Crow?

The only lycan in the entirety of Suro to ascend to the throne without having royal blood. There is no history of his previous packs or background.

It's like he just appeared from thin air.

And that's the most off-putting part of him. Did he fall from the sky then- or rather, ascend from hell?

My body is covered in goosebumps as I stand, listening to the remaining details.

I can't do this...

At dawn the following day, I'm dressed in a hood and made to board a wagon of girls heading to the capital. Every single wolf here was a weak omega ready to become concubines or slaves to the new king.

The sun rising was not so pretty today.

I can't do this

I've said this statement again and again. The Akari League was sending me to my death.

I observe the somber but hopeful expressions on the girls' faces. They must be glad for the opportunity to serve in the capital.

My heart is plunging deeper and deeper.

This would probably be my last and most terrible mission.

For who in all of the kingdoms could kill the infamous White Crow?

A man who had slaughtered a thousand wolves in a breath.

The journey to the capital made me want to vomit.

As the days flew by, the girls started getting familiar. The all couldn't stop talking about how wonderful this was. Who wouldn't want the protection from the most powerful man in Suro Kingdom?

Being in his harem was everything omega girls like them could wish for.

It's horrible listening to all this. Why did they feel like they couldn't be anything without some stupid Alpha's protection?

I wanted to slap them in their faces. Look at me, I had an alpha for a mate. Where did that lead me?

I ended up becoming a killer to stay alive.

I pity them all; they're just too innocent to understand.

The most part of the journey is sickening because of all the chatter. I zone out many times to save myself from the horror of listening to them.

It takes five days to reach the capital. The capital of Suro is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.

Unlike the forests where I grew up in Willo Tree, this was just magnificent.

Strangely shaped buildings, numerous traders and neatly dressed lycans. Everyone here was civilized and organized.

Is this the work of that monster?

The White Crow is an animal, I doubt it was him.

We pass through the middle of the city heading for the palace. The further we go, the more crowded it seems to get.

"Today's the king's coronation. I just hope they allow us to wash our faces first before we're presented," one of the girls says. She's a scrawny thing with a very long nose.

"True! If I must impress the king, then this sac will not do. But it's a shame, we won't have any time. See, the wagon driver is taking us straight in."

In truth, we were on the very long line of people coming from far and near. The huge palace gates were open and for as far as I could see, different creatures are present with gifts.

It's a grand affair.

The person who was gifting us to the king is an elder called Queen Mother. At least that's what I heard from the girls. Who cared?

Everything would end in ten months. It didn't matter whether the entire kingdoms came to pay their respects.

It's either I would die or the king would die.

I couldn't run away from the mission. Joining the Akari League was like selling your soul.

You belonged to them no matter what. Your mission was your life- you either died doing it, or died avoiding it.

I was not going to die.

After staying in the line for hours, the wagon finally reaches the main palace entrance.

"And now! A gift of seven maidens from the Queen mother herself!"

The guards rush up to us and make us walk in a single line towards the throne. We keep our heads down throughout.

The closer I get, the more my skin begins to tingle.

Fear?

Yes. I am afraid. This is a dangerous mission; who wouldn't be?

But this feeling is different from fear. It's like my weak wolf is scratching beneath my skin, itching to be released. It's the same feeling I felt before I shifted a bit.

However this one is more intense. Like I can't breathe or think.

Blood is rushing to my head and I feel a little light.

What is this feeling?

"Kneel before your king."

We immediately fall to our knees. I can't look at anything but the plush red carpet beneath my knees. My head hurts, I can barely think.

"Your majesty, these are Queen Mother's gifts to you," says the announcer.

My stomach is hurting, my feet are tingly.

Look up.

It's my wolf. She's desperate for something in this court. But I know I can't look up.

I could be killed on the spot.

Look up.

I ignore the voice and clench my eyes shut, waiting for the king to acknowledge us and let us go.

He doesn't. The court is silent, waiting for him.

"Son, don't you like the gifts?" A female asks. Her voice is sickeningly sweet and sends chills all over my body.

She's the Queen mother. However, she was not the woman who birthed the king. He came from nowhere.

This woman was an elder of the court given the title of Queen mother according to custom.

"Raise your heads," comes a cold, detached male voice.

I raise my head slowly, fighting my wolf within me. She's stressing for some reason. Even as we raise our faces, no one dares to look up to meet the eyes of the king.

I keep my eyes at his feet.

He rises and the court goes silent. It's deathly still as he comes down from the podium.

I watch his feet walk from the first girl; I think he's observing their faces.

From one girl to the other, he moves. I'm at the very end so my panic grows as he comes closer.

Did he hear about the Akari's plans?

Did he know?...

His feet stop in front of me and my blood screams in my veins. What is this?

Every vessel in my body is tense and my heart is racing. I shouldn't seem suspicious so I try to steel my nerves.

Cold fingers lift my jaw and I try my best to keep away from his eyes.

My face is tingling where he touches me.

"Look at me, girl," he whispers.

My breath hitches. The White Crow is touching me now- speaking to me.

I raise my gaze from his open garment exposing his chest and trail up to his face.

It's as though time stops when our eyes meet.

Those golden eyes...

We pause and my head spins. My wolf is howling louder within me, pushing and screaming for escape.

She's going mad within me.

One word is circulating in my head. It's haunting; bringing back terrible memories I had long since buried.

Mate.