Yiu shouldn’t point a gun at your mate…human

XAVIAN VARKOS

I flipped the papers as I stepped into the office, slipping into my seat.

“Rayna Valecrest.” I muttered under my breath. The name felt…inevitable.

Thanksgiving had been tolerable because of her. That, I admitted silently.

28 years old, three years married. That was irrelevant. She was..mine.

Her husband, Cassian Dray.

I threw the papers on the desk and looked at Luke, my personal assistant.

“She said she’s a detective.” I said flatly.

“She was, before she got married. Three years ago.”

“Hmm, so she was lying?”

Intriguing.

“She went there today though, after being dropped off by her father at the bus stop. If I'm correct, I think Mrs Dray is about–”

“Valecrest.” I corrected, tapping my pen on the table. “Her name is Valecrest. Not…whatever her husband claims.”

“Mrs Valecrest.”

I ignored him, titles were meaningless.

“She's about to join the force if I’m correct.”

“Getting entangled with such a woman is not advisable, Xav.” Adrian announced as he walked in.

“I’ll leave you to talk.” Luke replied, walking out of the office.

“Did you get what I asked?” I ignored Luke, going straight to the point.

“Yes, I did. But you already asked Luke to do a background check, so what is the use?”

I raised a brow.

He shifted, “So, you want information like she is planning to divorce her husband?”

I paused.

Adrian leaned back on his seat.

“Is she?” I asked him flatly.

“She is. She already got the divorce papers ready. I guess it's left for her husband to sign.” He suddenly chuckled, ”Her husband is a very ridiculous man, Xav. He's in love with another.”

“Then he is going to divorce her.” I replied flatly.

“Who said so?” Adrian raised his brow, before leaning forward. “Cassian runs a company that's on the verge of being really blown, divorcing her is going to spoil his reputation. Reputation is everything in a business. That means that lady is still very much in a spider's web.”

“He will sign,” I said, “He won't have a choice.”

Adrian frowned, “Alpha, are you really about to get entangled with her? She's about to join the FBI and she's a woman stuck in a marriage like that, being with her would do you no good, mate or not.”

I got up from my chair, turning towards the floor to ceiling glass window. The whole of New York is spread out right here.

“She threatened to send you to jail.” He said.

“She did.” I muttered, letting the words settled. “Interesting.”

Adrian hesitated. “She's just…human, she doesn't understand the life of werewolves. You think she's going to accept you based on just mates? Xavian, even the pack–”

I turned, eyes sharp.

His words cut off as he stared at me, already up on his feet.

“Adrian,” I called slightly, “if she doesn't accept me, I’ll go back to Helena, whom you and my mother have prepared for me.”

He exhaled.

“But–”

“No.” I cut him off. ”Rayna Valecrest would accept me. She doesn't have a choice.”

I turned back to the city, watching the city pulse beneath me.

Rayna.

Rayna Valecrest.

“Boss,” Luke rushed in, breathless. I turned slightly, staring at him.

“There’s been another murder.” He gasped, “At Mooncrest Estate.”

“Another murder?” Adrian asked.

“What is your security detail doing about this?” I glanced at him.

“We are working on him. But he knows all our CCTV spots and avoids them.”

I grabbed my phone, walking out of the office. “He keeps interfering in my estates…I don’t like that.”

Luke and Adrian fell in place beside me.

“They said he left a letter this time.” Luke said.

“Letter?” I glanced at him. Are we his lovers or something?

Killing my clients in estates one by one, is he trying to get on my nerves?

“Prepare the car. We are leaving right away.”

“Yes sir.”

RAYNA

I stood straight, my palms sweaty, heart banging against my chest. It’s here…it’s finally here again.

“I can’t believe you actually abandoned the job you loved so much because of your marriage.”

I stared at Director Silas Hargrove, “I am sorry, sir. I won’t make a silly mistake like that anymore.”

“Are you sure about this? You are a very important person to this department, so going off and on is not allowed.” He smiled at me.

“I promise.”

He nodded, “Now, repeat after me. I, Rayna Valecrest ....”

“I, Rayna Valecrest, solemnly swear…”

My eyes burned with unshed tears.

“And that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.”

“So help me, God.” Director ended.

I sucked in a deep breath, “So help me…God.”

Director Silas smiled and opened the black leather case.

My badge.

Gold, heavy and gleaming right back at me.

I grabbed it without hesitation. “Thank you…thank you so much, Director.”

“Welcome again to the bureau, Agent Valecrest.” He said calmly.

Agent Valecrest.

My…life. I was short of breath from how excitement bursted through me.

I pulled the badge from the box, clipping it onto my belt. It fitted perfectly.

“Here,” the director said, stretching his hand.

I gulped.

A Glock 19 Gen 5 staring right back at me.

My own firearm.

My own weapon.

I gulped, collecting it slowly.

The sound of people clapping reminded me that we are still in the world, and this was reality.

“Now, for your first mission. There’s been a murder at Mooncrest Estate. I want you to investigate it, get us the culprit.”

“Yes sir.”

The drive to the estate was fast, crazy fast as this was an important situation.

“This is the second murder in just a week. The first murder had blood stains on the wall that spelt ‘twelve’. We couldn’t understand what that meant.” My fellow agent explained to me on the way.

“Twelve?” I whispered. “What do you think about the murderer? Do you think it was a psychopath or a murder driven by something?”

He sighed, “13 stabs. All in the same place. It’s definitely a psychopath for sure.” He said.

The car arrived at the scene and immediately, I pushed the door open, getting out.

The scene was totally chaotic, uniformed police and local safety authorities roamed the area.

“FBI, please clear out the way.” I said loudly, holding up my badge. “Special Agent Rayna Valecrest, FBI. Please step aside.”

“Ah, yes ma’am.” They nodded, making way for me. I stared at the place of the crime, making sure of safety first.

But then, a shadow moved around the edges. I drew my gun, training it instinctively on the figure.

“Stop!” I barked, aiming for him. “Don’t move.”

He raised his hands slowly. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of me or my gun. Controlled, he slightly turned his head.

Amber eyes.

Again.

My lips parted as he fully turned. “You–“

He took a step forward. My chest tightened.

“Stay back! T…the moment you take another step, I’ll shoot.”

He halted, not moving his eyes away from me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“You don’t think I’m the murderer,” he paused, tilting his head slightly, “do you?”

“What?” I blurted out, breathlessly. “Then, explain why you showed up that day and now?”

“A harmless stroll and a murder scene, do they add up?” He sounded amused.

My fingers tightened on my gun.

He stepped forward.

“I said stay back!” I yelled.

“Rayna.” He muttered underneath his breath, but I heard it. I heard it like he was so close to me, and…he was. How did–I gasped–how did he move that fast?

My gun aimed right at his forehead. He pressed his head in, eyes staring deep at mine.

“You shouldn’t…point a gun at your mate, human.”

What?