“He will reject me, please; there will be so many omegas that would want to sleep with you.” The words were clearer as I inched closer, I could smell her fear; she knew that no one was coming for her. I knew that feeling all too well.
“But I want you,” That boy crooned, “And I always get what I want," He growled.
I took a few more steps until I was around the corner facing the alcove where he had her.
“Now,” He carried on, his voice made me shudder, “Turn around and pull up your dress for a future Alpha, or will I have to do it for you.”
I took a few loud steps, and they both stared at me, the omega with tears streaming down her face. Young, I didn’t know her name actually, and the visiting Alpha’s son, whose name I never wanted to know, stared back at me.
The Alpha's son gave me a lazy grin but didn’t loosen his grip on the terrified girl.
“Oh, I was just going to my room. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” I looked away from them, ashamed of what I walked in on.
I took a risk and made to move a step away, “Wait.” I smiled internally, “Why don’t you join us for some fun?”
I looked behind my shoulder and bit my thumb, “The Alpha has strict rules about his omegas and respects the mate bond here. I wouldn’t break them if I were you.” I said with shaken confidence.
“And you? What rules does he have for you?” He smiled but released his grip on the shaking omega.
I shook my head, “I don’t know.” My shoulders sagged, and he studied me before finally releasing his prey.
He took a few steps toward me, and I flinched.
“I will have my fun tonight.” He took my chin in his fingers and gripped it, I fought it for a second before relaxing into his grip, I couldn’t have a bruise; that was the last thing I needed to show up tomorrow.
I swallowed perceptibly, he leaned closer to my face, and I flinched. He paused for a second which felt like hours, before I felt his tongue against the side of my cheek. I recoiled, but he held my chin in place as he licked the side of my face. Every part of me turned inwards at his possessive, demeaning touch.
I was blatantly reminded that the touching ban only applied to his sons. I was actually shocked into silence for the first time in a while.
“I’ll be seeing you later.” He said with such confidence, my eyes drifted to my room above us, “A door won't keep me out, and you, you are nothing.” He shrugged, watching my gaze.
“Wh-where are you staying?” I forced out.
“Does it matter?” He sauntered away, his hands in his pockets, and once he turned the corner I sagged into the cool stone wall.
I turned to look for the omega, but she was long gone. Good. I hoped she had enough sense to warm the others, and every other girl in this place stayed out of the way for the next few hours.
Fuck this. My careful plans were thrown out the window.
I took a breath and stood straight before taking a detour to a place I knew would be deserted and unguarded this time of night. The head omega’s office in the new wing. I had to check something.
I took my time undressing, waiting until Alice came in. She helped me brush out my hair after I got in my nightgown.
As soon as she left, I let out a breath I was holding the entire time. I threw back the rug and grabbed what I stashed from the compartment.
This was supposed to be for later, I didn’t want to waste one of my chances yet, but I had to.
Once most of the omegas passed to their quarters, I locked my door and changed, braiding my hair as tight as possible to keep it out of my face, hoping it was tight enough that no strands would be left behind.
I waited a bit longer just to be sure everyone was in their rooms before propping open my window that lead to a small balcony that was more of a ledge. I never understood ornamental balconies, ones that were more for show than for use, but it worked for my purpose.
I gripped the stone walls and settled myself into a forgotten place I used to go to when I trained. Focusing on instincts, on survival above all else. Part of me still remembered it, even if it was a ghost of the place I used to be able to reach during trainings.
I landed on the soft grass looking back to my window that barely looked cracked, not like it mattered much; I had committed to this now.
I took my position between two hedges in the garden, a focal point I mapped out months before. It was well hidden but had an uninterrupted view of most of the packhouse and the entirety of the glass addition.
The garden was never monitored and was rarely ever guarded. They kept their warriors further out to focus on potential outside threats. My lips curled into a smile at the thought.
I waited until the lights went off one by one in the other's rooms. I clenched my fingers and moved my legs to keep my blood flowing. The adrenaline pumping through me kept me warm against the biting cold.
A light flicked back on, and I shifted from foot to foot, ready to move as soon as I saw movement in the hall window.
There were too many windows there, and at night with the lights on, everything was visible to those outside. They had to know, had to know the vulnerable position it would put them in. But they thought there were no threats that could get to them, no one that could get close to the packhouse without them knowing, without their permission.
They were lulled into a complacency that I was happy to shake them from.
I squinted to confirm that the flash of movement I saw was the person I was looking for. I scanned the short distance between where I stood at the side door that would lead me to the chosen spot.
Satisfied with the quiet blanketed around me; I rushed to the door and listened before opening it and slipping in right where the old and new packhouse met. I turned toward the old packhouse where I knew an alcove was waiting for me, and I let myself sink into the shadows watching the spot where he would come.
My heart beat through my ears, and I focused on the steady beating to help calm me and ground me to this place. I knew what I had to do, my body knew the movements; I couldn't overthink it.
Footsteps sounded on the carpeted stairs as he sauntered down, not bothering to be quiet. A man that knew that he was untouchable, a man that would take what he wanted because he thought it was owed to him.
I let him walk a few steps closer before slipping out and blocking his way. He stepped back, surprised for a second, before giving me a smirk that told me he thought he got me right where he wanted me.
“Looking for me?” I took a step forward, and before he could open his mouth, I was in front of him. Two quick simultaneous movements, a slice to the windpipe and jugular, and he was crumpled beneath me, his blood pooling out on the white carpet.
He let out one last gush of air, and that smirk was wiped off his face. Never again would he give that smirk to a woman.
I looked down at my blood-splattered hands. Fuck.
I should have snuck up once he passed me, but I wanted him to know it was me. I wanted to see his face when I did it. Possibly a grave error on my part but not one I could dwell on.
I tucked the knives I stole from the kitchen and sharped this afternoon back into their makeshift sheaths on my belt.
I debated returning them to the kitchen now, I wanted no evidence left, but I couldn’t risk running into anyone like this. I ensured there was no blood on the bottom of my shoes as I slipped away back through where I came from.
The short distance back to my room looked like miles now. My heart was erratic as I stuck to the side of the house. Almost there, almost to where I could start scaling the wall back to my room.
A muffled scream. Shit. Someone already found him?
I couldn’t scale the wall couldn’t risk being caught in such an obvious position, when the warriors were called - and they probably already were. I ran the last few steps to the door that I never planned on using and reminded myself to shut it behind me quietly.
Thankfully, this one led to the stairs, the winding staircase where my room was just three floors above.
I started walking, too slowly my brain was shouting, but I couldn’t risk going faster while still staying quiet.
I reached the first landing of the ancient spiral staircase and paused for a moment. I knew it would probably be quiet as these were guest rooms, and it was.
I repeated my movements until I got to the next one. Just one more flight and a hallway separated me from my room.
This time I heard the rustling of feet, a lot of feet. I wasn't surprised; some of the head warriors stayed on this floor, and they would be the first to be alerted.
I pinned myself against the wall out of sight, unless anyone decided to use this stairway. This wasn't the staircase that would be the quickest for them, but if they were smart, they would cover all their bases and not rush to the already dead body.
A few last feet shouting orders ran past the landing. Thankfully, no one turned down this way. Idiots.
I rushed up the stairs quicker, this time to my floor that I shared with some of the omega's that didn't have their own cottages.
Their hushed voices sounded louder until I could make them out. Some walked past, and some just seemed to cluster in the hallway. The last thing I needed. A flicker of rage shot through me, but I wasn’t sure why. I clenched my fist, willing them to go back to their rooms. Of course, they didn't.
“We have to go down to support the ranked members.”
“What happened?”
“I’m scared, I don’t want to go.”
They didn't seem to be in any rush to actually go assist their ranked members. Move move move, I pleaded silently to them, but they didn't listen.
I had no other option, I was already behind on time, and I knew it was mere moments before one of them would come knocking on my door.
I turned around and walked re-traced my steps as fast as I could to the only window I could squeeze out of between the two floors.
The window groaned and creaked as I forced it open. I hauled myself up and through it after ensuring the outside was clear. Most of the warriors were hopefully distracted with the body for a few minutes more.
That's all I needed, a few minutes.
I closed the window behind me, hanging from the ledge, my muscles burning with the effort. I reached my foot out until I found the purchase of stones that jutted out around the spiraling tower that held the stairs.
I could see my window, my salvation. I grabbed onto ivy, but I didn’t trust it. I found some crevices in the old stone, and slowly made my way across. One foot found a space, one hand grabbed onto a cracked, solid stone.
Just a few feet up and then a few feet to the left, I was almost there. I paused every few seconds to listen if anyone was coming beneath, not that it would be any use. If I were caught out here, I would be worse than dead.
I finally made it to my small balcony. I laid my cheek against the freezing stone for a split second, cooling down the heat that coursed through me. A second was all I could spare for a moment of relief.
I mustered the last of my remaining strength to pull myself from the ledge through my window. If I lingered any longer and lost any ounce of adrenaline, I wouldn't have the strength.
I landed with a thud, and I froze on the floor, letting my eyes adjust to this new kind of darkness. It was quiet.
I pushed myself off the floor, wasting no time peeling off my clothes that were drenched with sweat.
They smelled awful, a mix of blood and sweat, but I wouldn't have time for a shower. I threw them in the dying fire, it shot to life at the ammunition. The fire warmed my back as I unwillingly stashed the bloodied knives. I had no time to get rid of them tonight or even clean them.
I splashed my face with water, not daring to even look in the mirror as I went to work scrubbing my hands and face multiple times.
I was stupid to get this much blood on me, it was already dried from the extra time it took me to get back here. I scrubbed my hands raw with anger at myself.
I finally looked in the mirror to make sure there weren't any lingering drops that I missed.
Something about my appearance made me pause. The forgotten glimmer in my eye flickered back to life. I smiled at myself as I pulled my hair from its braid and let it fall around me, checking for any debris stuck in it.
As I pulled on the nightgown I was wearing earlier, I glanced at the fire; thankful that my clothes were already turned to ash, I put another log on top of it. Scanning the room again for anything, I missed anything out of place.
The window, I bounded towards it to close it against the cold before unlocking the door.
The adrenaline and anxiety of tonight mixed with my excitement and relief that it was over. It felt like lightning was coursing through my veins.
I rushed to the bed and tucked myself in, rumpling the sheets. I turned to face the door.
I couldn't help it.
I couldn't not remember the last time I came here, to this very bed, covered in blood. Last time, I didn’t bother to wash it off for days.
*FLASHBACK*It was my favorite night of the year. A celebration that was just for our pack that everyone took part in.We lived on blessed lands, ones gifted by the Moon Goddess herself, and tonight we thanked her for it and honored our history.Most of the pack thought that at least, but I, as an Alpha’s daughter, knew that it was much more than a celebration.Tonight was the night that our lands regenerated.It wasn’t the Alphas who were blessed but the land itself that we took our strength from. We had a reputation for being fair but we were strong, and my dad made sure that we lived up to the gift we had been blessed with.Our pack was known for being fearless warriors, some mistook us for ones that had an insane amount of bloodlust, but we never went in a fight unprovoked. We trained to defend our lands so that no one thought of going up against us. We had a reputation to uphold long before my dad became Alpha.We were untouchable. The Blood Moon pack hadn’t lost a battle in a h
must have fallen asleep, but I didn’t know when. I had a fitful night of sleep, I kept waking up nervous, my heart pumping, and then found it hard to latch back onto slumber.I wanted to know what was going on. I wanted it to be morning already so that I could find out for myself.I replayed the night, again and again, noting what I could have done better for next time and retracing my steps. I was convinced that I left no evidence, but that did little to quell my nerves, or maybe it was lingering adrenaline coursing through me.Finally, dull light filtered through the windows, and even though my body felt tired and protested my dragging it out of bed, my mind was fully awake.I forced myself to take time getting showered and to make sure there was no lingering trace of blood on me. I also didn’t want to show up to breakfast too early, everything had to be as it was yesterday, well, without the visiting Alpha’s son there.That thought curled my lips upwards, and I might have been wor
I wandered without a shadow. Everywhere I used to go if I was allowed to leave, I was followed by a few warriors. Later that changed to a few omegas, and then just one.The fact that they let me leave now was a combination of years of the persona I carefully built and their complacency.They should have been worried, even if they thought the threat followed the visitors here; there was obviously a breach in security.I wandered seemingly aimlessly around the place until I reached the edge of the forest and slipped between the trees. I pulled out the map I’d been working on slowly over the last few years in bits and pieces. I knew where I was going, or I thought I did.I picked some Perscyth’s for myself, a bright white flower with thick petals that were stark against the muted browns they pushed through.These flowers broke through the rough patches that didn’t get much sunlight. I always admired them, the ones that were able to grow into something beautiful despite their circumstance
Everything seemed to settle down in the next few days. At least, I didn’t hear of any new developments, and like the ignorant assholes they were, The Alpha and Luna seemed to forget about the incident completely. You know, the small incident of an allied Alpha’s only son getting murdered inside your packhouse..probably nothing to worry about. I spent time in the kitchens, idly arranging flowers there and listening to the gossip of the omegas. But that’s all it was, gossip. There weren’t any new developments, thankfully, no evidence. The visiting Alpha and Luna left with their son’s body. I was still waiting to hear if they found anything, but if Alpha Raymond got a call about it, he didn’t share it in front of me.I brushed my hair idly in the mirror, resuming my nightly position before Alice came in and helped me brush it again before dinner. I wondered if she was smarter than she let on if she was a spy for them. She never asked questions, though, and never seemed to notice anythi
I made a detour through the kitchen, the best source of news. The omegas rarely noticed me anymore. I busied myself, getting a glass of water and fanning my face in case anyone looked my way. “There are some cute ones out there.” “None that are my taste; when it comes to warriors, they’re all the same,” “Why are they all still outside? It seems so dumb to keep them in that tent instead of going to their rooms.” “I heard it was so the sons could inspect them.” “Like cattle.” “I guess warriors are no better than omegas,” A few of them laughed. “Not tonight, they aren’t.” I slipped out, no one noticing. I grabbed a cloth and scissors. I went into the hall and almost bumped into him. “There you are.” He tilted his head, crooning. I looked down and shifted from foot to foot. I couldn’t decide if this was a good or bad development. “Look at me when I’m talking to you, bitch,” he spat, and I looked up, blinking a few times. “You turned out to be quite pretty, you know?” he said,
The place was quiet, eerily so. The kind of quiet you only got after a night of activity and a rush of adrenaline felt by all. I debated using the window, but there were too many extra warriors around. Besides, I was more shielded under the mask I created—a terrified shell of a girl looking for water and comfort after a trying night of mysterious death. No one was outside the door and no sound at all in the hallway. I didn’t bring a light source; instead ran a hand along the familiar corridors. I didn’t waste my time here. The past few years were spent memorizing, learning, and planning. I knew this place better than anyone. I spent days walking the packhouse before I was allowed out of it. I counted the stairs, memorized the turns, knew the feel of the hallway when it curved slightly, telling me I was about to reach another alcove. I could walk this place with my eyes closed, and I have done it before.No one was downstairs, not even nurses, but who needed to guard a dead man anyw
I managed some sleep after leaving my parting gift. I watched in the shadows to make sure she received it before falling into a dreamless sleep. The normal fall of footsteps awoken me. I rubbed my eyes and made my way to the bathroom, taking a quick thorough shower. I was getting better at this; no traces of blood and barely any last night. I fidgeted in the seat before the mirror, waiting for an appropriate time to leave the room even though I had been fully dressed for what seemed like hours but was actually only a few minutes. Alice usually only attended to me or checked on me, spied on me, whatever she did, at night.After the omegas shuffling settled down and finally dissipated, I could leave. I looked in the mirror and slipped on my mask. The blood-soaked fiery girl that demanded payment for her misery was gone in the blink of an eye. I stared back at the broken orphan who was too afraid to make eye contact or stand up for herself. I walked out the door, forcing my feet to
I held his stare even though every part of me screamed to run. He couldn’t have known, could he? There was no way. He finally averted his gaze after what might have been the longest minutes of my life. “Who sent you?” Alpha Raymond's voice was hard but low. He glanced around at the omegas in the dining room. “He said that you would know.” The man spoke, his voice like churning, velvety thunder. Alpha Raymond's mouth hung open for a split second. He stood up so fast that his chair fell behind him. He brushed past the man and slammed the doors wide open, so they hit the unwavering stone walls. I jumped, not having to fake it. This couldn’t be happening. I tried to process it all. Who was this man, and who sent him? I couldn’t have others sniffing around; I was so close. I should have swallowed my pride and just finished them off sooner. I shouldn’t have made it a game. “The fuck are you looking at?” Hunter spat towards the man. The man didn’t speak, just held Hunter’s stare with