Chapter one

Ariadne POV,

    The loud blast of the gun made my stomach revolt. The spicy scent of fear wafted from Chris as he jerked onto my waist. I look up to him, my mate. Our binding ritual as mates was supposed to be tonight.

    

“Ariadne, focus on me.” He grimaced in pain.

    

“No, I can't Chris.” I pushed against his arms. I have to save them. Ahead of us were coven blazing and screams thundering in the air.

    

He groaned in pain. “Those men have no intention of letting any of us live except you. There are too many for us to fight off. Most of the pack connections are now cold. Almost

everyone is dead.”

    

“What?” My body froze. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come here thinking I would have a home, a life of my own.

    

“Yes, and I’ll be following soon.” Chris nodded toward his side.

    

Now that he wasn’t holding it, I could see his wound. The gash was so deep that the muscle was visible, and the way the blood was pouring from it, from his breathing I knew they had to have hit the main artery. Even with shifter healing, no one could survive that. I peeped through the brush and back to him.

    

“No. I’ll take you to the hospital.” I weep. "Chris you can't die just yet." Chris is my love and I love him more than the world, we forge through, and everyone knows we're not fated mates. I could have saved him if I told him about myself earlier. My selfishness had massacred everyone.

    

“I’m barely hanging on as it is.” A tear trailed down his cheek. “I had to keep it together long enough to find you. You have to run. Go far away," my hand still clung onto his, my throat burning. " I'm glad you saved me and made me feel loved again, Ariadne.” He choked on his breath.

    

“You can't give up just yet." My voice cracked. 

    

    "One of the attackers said they’re here to find you. We can’t let them catch you.” His hand wipes across my face.

    

    Only if they knew why they were here. I pulled from him, I knew those marks on their arm, they were from the Abyss and are here for me, harsh tears burned down my cheeks like vinegar.

    

“I… I don’t want to leave you.” 

    

“Baby girl, I love you, but you have to.” He kissed my cheek. “They’re gathering a small group to search for you. Go. Before it’s too late.”

    

I gasped out of the bed and wobbled my hand to my forehead. " Chris I'm sorry it's all my fault." I sobbed.

    

    I tried to remember his smell and his touch. Sobs rack me and my tongue hangs to the wall of my mouth as reality shoots down my spine. I raised my face from my soaked palm.

    

My head hurt and I held onto it while sitting up on the bed. Wincing. Panic coursed through me.

I saw my chest covered in a raven shirt. It wasn't mine.  

Gladly I'm aware of my environment I'm a room not my room, I tried to sober up but the nightmare shoots through my core, my head boils up.

"What am I doing here? I'm a mess." I groaned. "This looks —" 

Suddenly my mind flashed to last night. I had drunk far more than I could imagine all thanks to that fucked up guy and I manage to remember how someone sashayed and mocked me while making out with him. 

My gaze darted to my phone as it vibrated against the wooden surface. Chills shot through my spine, and my hand cupped it up.

I remembered what I was here for and I can't recall if I had used my time proficiently or if I just screwed up. 

I hope I didn't spill my profile out at the party and my ulterior motives, that I came here to find the Alpha of the Ember Moon Pack, Alpha Henry Ford.

I was trained in the Abyss. We are not allowed to fall in love. Develop emotions. But having fun isn't an exception. Yet I fell victim that I haven't recovered from, the man I had dreamed to be with along with his pack was mutilated in cold blood.

I have lost it all.

I don't know if I will be able to find it again. Chris once gave me hope but now I'm back to being a cold wounded assassin.

The happiness. The cheerful smile that resonated on his face, made my heart once beat.

The pain of having to lose someone close and being forced to the old way because you know nothing could change your fate.

Mate bond, that is nonsense for me I dare not wind it anymore.

It hurts but we can't do anything.

Our lives as assassins had been ruined since the day they forced that path on us.

"Yes, Alpha Creed, he wasn't there. I mean. . . I could have used the entire night searching for him." I scooped the shirt to my chest. The lie fell heavily out of my mouth.

I bit down on my lips. And dart my palm to my banging head.

"Remember you're here to monitor and kill the vivacious Alpha Henry. Where are you?" His decisive voice boomed.

Whatever he did wasn't my concern. And I'm not supposed to know. It was either his life or mine, something feels off with this guy I had a one-night stand with.

"I'm in my apartment. The long night made me oversleep." Another puddle of the lie.

I have seen what happened to Beta wolves that failed their mission. It wasn't nice at all.

The door hits the wall and I gasped.

"Alpha Creed, what are you doing here?" I cringe.

"You lying sultry bitch!"

"I'm sorry you have to see me in this state." I ran out of bed with the comforter on my chest.

A slap landed across my face. "I'm too lenient with you. I should have ended your life long ago."

"Alpha Henry." I breathed out a desperate plea.

"Shut up! You bitch." Alpha Creed snarled and pulled back.

"How dare you stand there and look at me when your mission here is to find that vivacious Alpha. You dirty whore!" 

I closed my eyes, I didn't bother to justify myself when I had already done everything I could.

I sighed memories of my life flashing through my memories. The man that killed my family and raided Chris's pack. He stood before me, using me as his toy yet I'm still like this before him; helpless, defenceless.

"Don't lie. You should not stray too far else I would be forced to take the most step you've dreaded. I sent you on this mission because you are one of the best Beta wolves."

"I'm sorry Alpha, I shouldn't have lied." I hummed defeated.

"I didn't send you here to have fun all you want without restrictions, strictly business!"

"I'm sorry Alpha, it was a little distraction, I promise I wouldn't let it happen again, and as I said Alpha Henry wasn't there, I believe I would be given a second chance." I quickly snapped drawing Bryson's jacket over my shoulder. His scent lingered. Vanilla white musk and cider. My nose savoured it like it was edible. He is the handsome wolf I met in the woods before the Moon festival. 

This place was so bizarre, in the early hours of the day like this, it was cold and I could feel goosebumps tingle over my skin. Bryson's face still cut into the back of my head. 

"Stuff it! He is going to the Hilton resort for a meeting, if you screw things up you're  going to have to come back to the Abyss and you know what the rules are." He instructed. "I will have you dead. Don't become a fool of your emotions like last time."

    "A life for a failed mission." I cracked, in my case, it would be more deadly. I was told I could recognize my victim by his aura, 

    

"I'm sure he wasn't there, there was no Alpha there."

"Henry Ford is no ordinary wolf!"

    "You could as well use that as a reminder, you're smart. I didn't spare you for this!" I clutched my dress as tears rolled down. 

He walked out of the room and I was left alone to my cruel fate.

I limp down a hallway and through a living room before I finally reach the fresh air my long had been craving.

 The stench of Bryson. A male werewolf was on my body, I hadn't washed. It somehow gave me comfort and made me feel protected from my boss. Bryson got the very exploit of me and I was still mesmerized by the fact that I spent the night with him. I see, he was so good at getting what he wanted, he made me high on whatever he calls alcohol, I've never felt used and discarded. He didn't even wait. Instead, he left me in that shit hole, how indolent!

    Well. . . It was better for both of us. I pushed my apartment door open.

    

I entered the toilet and washed myself up, scrubbing every inch of his lingering scent on my skin. I needed to get to Henry and this Bryson of a guy was smithing every opportunity I had to get my freedom in Oak Borough. I couldn't shoot his thought off my head. His silver eyes roamed in the back of my head.

I got to pass the hotelkeeper who had a grin on her face, and she quickly snapped.

"You must be having a date today." She cleaned the tumbler in her hands with a wide grin. I nudged my nose, wondering if Bryson's scent was still on me.

    

I forced a smile, "Thanks for yesterday, I couldn't have moved in without help from you." 

"You are in a hurry, why don't we sit over a drink maybe later in the day," She proposed and I nodded my head, before sauntering through the foyer and the door.

I boarded the cab, gave him the location and folded into the seat before we drove off.

His driving was less hoarse and smooth than the former I had boarded, and in just— I wasn't calculating but in fewer minutes we arrived at a grand hotel, more extravagant than the one I had lodged. I handed him his money, and I alighted out of the car adjusting my leather skirt and white chiffon off-shoulder shirt I wore.

I trudged myself to the resort and traced to the room where I sensed wolves were gathered, I spotted a tall captioned figure stepping ahead of me, his tanky sharp scent came to me. From what his broad shoulder looked he had worked out a lot. I froze as he turned his blazing steel eyes as I remembered, full of passion and fire.

 Bryson. I muttered, 

Suddenly he blinked, his head snapping up, and his silver eyes were drifting towards me but then reality hit me as I realized I couldn't act on my instincts. The decor on Bryson's face froze. I gripped. But I can't deny his appeal.