Chapter 1: deadly mission

VIPER

Assassins shouldn’t breathe too loudly, or make loud footsteps that give their presence away, or make a single mistake that’ll definitely cost their lives.

We’re fast, precise—just one lethal strike is enough to kill a target. I chant my usual mantra in my head, clutching my sword tightly as I attack a stupid scarecrow.

“How long have you been here, Viper?” Emily asks as she approaches me. “You’re the most skilled already. What else do you want?”

I don’t stop attacking the scarecrow. “Until Hades acknowledges me. Until he fucking sees me.”

“I know you’re trying to make him notice you, but your obsession for him is unhealthy.” Emily says softly. “I thought you already buried this feeling, he’s not good for you.”

I wipe some sweat off my forehead. Of course I know Hades isn’t good for me, but he’s the one for me. In his ruthlessness, I see myself, but even after I’d been killing for him for years, he still doesn’t see me as one of the Nameless.

I clutch my sword tightly as that reminder stings. “Why are you here?” I face Emily. “I’m sure you didn’t come all the way to beg me to stop training.”

“Right,” Emily scratches her hair, her face suddenly serious. “Hades wants to see you.”

My heart picks up its pace. “Why?”

“I think there’s a new target,” she replies as we walk away from the training ground.

The Nameless is a group of assassins known for their ruthless methods of killing targets, and Hades is our boss—or, like he likes to be referred to, our Alpha.

“And judging from everyone’s tense mood, I can tell this isn’t some simple target,” she adds, shaking her head with a frown. “He suddenly wants to meet with all the skilled assassins of the Nameless.”

I frown. “Which means whoever he wants us to kill this time is a big shot.”

“Exactly,” she explains. She stops at the entrance to Hades’ chambers, giving me a tight smile. “Well, good luck,” she waves.

I nod.

Hades sits on his chair, looking all high and mighty with that snarl on his face. He locks eyes with me the second I walk in—and so do the other assassins.

Realizing I got here late, I lower my head, feeling everyone’s gaze on me.

“I apologize for arriving late, Alpha Hades,” I keep my head lowered for a few seconds, expecting a harsh yell or some sort of punishment, but all I hear is a low grunt.

He’s really bothered by this new target.

“Just sit and let’s get straight to business,” he adds, and I quickly take the only vacant seat.

Jake, my really good friend, winks at me, and I roll my eyes. I’m sure the only thing keeping him rooted to his seat is Hades. He would’ve come running to my side to spill some juicy secrets.

“I’m sure you all must have heard we have a new target,” Hades continues, his cold voice cutting through the room like a blade. “His name is Tyler, Alpha of the Silverblood Pack.”

Gasps echo.

Is he serious? Alpha Tyler? In the entire werewolf territory, he’s the most feared. He’s ruthless, brutal, and so fucking selfish. I heard he killed a family member just to save his own ass once.

Hades wants one of us to kill such a man? That’s a death sentence.

“Alpha Hades, Tyler isn’t that easy to kill,” one of the assassins who challenged me some weeks ago is quick to speak, a slight hint of fear in his voice. “And besides, we never take on Alphas. We just deal with men in power like elders and betas. I thought Alphas were off-limits.”

“Tyler is different,” Hades explains.

“And what makes him different?” The assassin asks again, and I suck in a breath. “You’re breaking your rules for him, Alpha Hades. You never break your rules.”

“And since when do you have the right to question me in that tone?” Hades’ voice rises, anger flashing through his eyes. “Do you have a death wish?”

He quickly drops his head. “I—forgive me, Alpha.”

“Weren’t you the one who said I never break my rules?” Hades storms to the assassin’s seat, and before I can blink, he slits his throat with a dagger. “I never forgive disrespectful brats.”

The assassin grabs his neck, his eyes widening with horror as he slides off his seat. He should have seen that coming for daring to ask a question when Hades hadn’t given orders.

“Now that I have everyone’s attention,” Hades stands in the middle so we can all see him—but strangely, his eyes are on me. “The assassin for this job is Viper.”

Everyone stills.

Blood slowly drains from Jake’s face.

I drop to my knees. “Alpha Hades—”

“You’ve always been curious about the killers of your parents, right?” He has a small smirk on his face as he stares at me, and I ball my hands into fists. “And you’ve always wanted to be a full member of the Nameless.”

I gulp slowly as his gaze pierces through me.

“Bring me Tyler’s head, and you’ll get all your answers.”

‘But this is a death wish!’ My wolf, Kiera, screams in my head. ‘We’re strong, but we can’t take on an Alpha.’

I shut her out and focus on Hades. “If I really bring Alpha Tyler’s head, you’ll give me the names of my parents’ killers? And not just that—you’ll make me a full member of the Nameless?”

“Yes,” Hades smiles at me. “You have my word.”

~~

The second I’m out of Hades’ suffocating chambers, someone hugs me from behind, and I freeze.

There’s only one person bold enough to hug me here.

Jake.

I remain stiff in his arms. “I asked you to quit hugging me like this, Jake,” my voice comes out hard, and he hugs me tighter.

“Jake,” I warn, my voice harsh, and he still doesn’t let go. Pissed, I elbow him, and he groans, pulling away seconds later as he shouts in pain.

“Seriously, Viper? Can’t you be sweet?”

“I’m not wired for sweetness.”

“Then try to be,” he scowls when I turn to face him. “At least do that for me.”

I roll my eyes and start to walk away. He catches up to me, his gaze turning hard. “Viper—”

Before he can get the words out, I raise my hand, shutting him up.

“Don’t try to talk me out of it,” I say calmly. “I’ll finally have the killers of my parents wrapped around my fingers. Hades will finally acknowledge me as a mem—”

“And you think that’s enough?” Jake yells in my face. Jake never yells at me. I’m the one who yells. “You think that’s enough to sacrifice your life? Alpha Tyler would crush you!”

“Then let me die trying!” I bark. “I won’t forgive myself for letting this opportunity pass by, Jake. I’ll finally be able to avenge them.”

Jake grabs my shoulders, worry in his brown eyes. “Believe me, I know how desperate you are for revenge, but do you—”

I effortlessly push him off me. “I said don’t,” I snap. “Don’t try to talk me out of it.”

As I walk away, Jake grabs me again, saying quietly, “And what if you don’t bring his head, huh? You know what Hades does to assassins who fucking fail a mission.”

He kills them.

I know.

But I’m not afraid of death.

So I laugh at Jake. “You don’t know me too well after all.”

I’ve been craving death for a long time.