Chapter 2: born to be ruthless

VIPER

I spent the last week training to kill Alpha Tyler. I learned the layouts of his pack, and even a few names if I had to lie to get myself in.

Clad in black from head to toe, including the mask that covers half of my face, I step out of my room.

‘Are you really sure about this?’ Kiera sounds uneasy. ‘We can’t die yet. We don’t even know our mate.’

“I’m not concerned about finding a mate,” I say calmly, marching toward a limo Hades had prepared for me.

Kiera scowls. ‘I am concerned about finding my mate. I mean our mate.’

I roll my eyes, then get into the car, urging the driver to move. Rather than listening to her tantrums, I shut her out.

I have someone to kill.

Not just anyone, but Alpha Tyler.

And killing him will give me answers to my desperate prayers. Hours later, we arrive at the Silverblood pack, and I come down from the limo, adjusting my mask so it covers most of my features.

In the dark, I move like a shadow, sneaking into the pack house like it’s the easiest thing.

I encountered guards, alright.

But they were no match for me.

My main focus is Alpha Tyler.

Each dagger at both sides of my hand drips with the blood of the guards as I sneak down the hallway. I finally reach his chambers, and a small smile curves my lips.

I suck in a breath, open the door, then close it with a small bang.

‘You closed the door too loud! You’re going to get us killed!’ Kiera snaps at me, and I groan low. She’s being a pain in my ass.

I scan the room quickly, and that’s when I notice the bed is empty. The room is freaking dark, but the soft glow of moonlight pouring through the window is more than enough for me.

Click.

Suddenly, bright lights nearly blind me. I freeze when I see the broad figure having a glass of wine.

He sits comfortably on a couch, his legs spread, one hand folded behind his head. He tilts his head as he observes me, and I charge without thinking, aiming at a vital point.

A single kick sends me flying.

I hit the door with a loud crash as the sound of something breaking fills my ears.

Pain spreads through me.

“Where are your friends?” Alpha Tyler asks as he approaches me, still holding his wine, and I struggle to get to my feet. “Coming here alone is a death wish, so I’m sure you brought company. Where are the rest of them?”

He tries to reach for me, but I hold my poisonous dagger to his throat. “What if I told you I didn’t bring any company?”

He looks unfazed. “Perfect,” he stares down at the dagger on his neck. “I’ll get to finish my wine before it gets hot, but before I make you pay for barging in here, care to tell me who sent you?”

I laugh coldly, pressing the dagger against his throat. “One cut and you’ll be dead in minutes.”

“Oh,” he smirks. “You didn’t do your research well. Poison doesn’t work on me.”

It catches me off guard, so I don’t realize when he grabs my throat and slams me against his door. “From your sloppy actions, you’re either a terrible assassin or you didn’t come here to kill me.”

Sloppy actions? He certainly doesn’t know me at all. If there’s one reason for my strange sluggishness, it’s his scent. It’s so distracting, it’s making me restless.

He holds my own dagger against my throat, and I panic. “So, tell me who sent you to kill me.”

“And why would I tell you?” I spit in his face, trying to break myself free.

“Because I’ll kill you if you don’t.”

“You think I'm—” his scent envelopes me again, and I can barely think.

Kiera becomes uneasy, thrashing and whining, then recognition flashes in Alpha Tyler’s orbs as he stares at me.

‘Mate!’ Kiera gasps. ‘Alpha Tyler is our mate!’

He’s distracted. I hit my face against his and he stumbles backward, dropping my dagger to the ground. Without waiting for him to recover, I drive a punch to his stomach, then send another kick to his knee.

Loud footsteps pound in my ears.

His men are coming.

Reaching for my dagger, I jump and strike ruthlessly, the sound of flesh tearing filling the air as blood sputters and hits my face. He grabs my hand, pressing the dagger further into his chest. He’s not even flinching.

“How ruthless,” he smiles. “You’d still kill me after discovering we’re mates?”

The footsteps grow louder and I try to pull away, but he presses my hand against the dagger.

“Who are you?” He asks roughly, pushing the dagger into his chest as he stares at me. He’s in pain now. I can see it. “Give me a name and I’ll allow you to leave before my men barge in.”

Eager to escape, I blurt out. “Give me your word.”

“I give you my word.”

“Aurelia.”

He frowns, his hold loosening. “Aurelia what?”

I don’t even respond. I make a run for the window, and he barks. “Wait! Don’t you dare take a step,” he approaches me, then he drops to one knee, letting out a groan.

As I leap out the window, his voice follows me. “Run if you want,” he says, “but you can’t run for long.”

My blood turns cold.

“I’ll fucking find you, mate.”