Chapter 3: lost opportunity

VIPER

I stumble into the Nameless soaked in blood—not mine, though. Alpha Tyler’s. A warrior guarding the gates eyes me, perhaps checking if I came with the Alpha’s head, and I roll my eyes.

“You came back empty,” he sneers, holding a dagger to my throat. “So much for being the best assassin here. Hades will kill you anyway, why should I even spare you?”

I don’t blink. “You’re quite good at holding grudges. You never forget the past, do you?”

“My twin died because of you,” he growls in my face, putting more pressure on the dagger. It cuts my skin, and it stings. “You fucking killed her, and now I get to kill you.”

“I didn’t kill your twin. It was a fair fight. She chose to challenge me.”

“And you chose to slit her throat!”

“She would have killed me first!”

“What the fuck is going on here?!”

The bastard pulls away immediately when he hears Hades’ voice. He lowers his head, and I suck in a breath, tracing the scar on my wrist as several thoughts push through my head.

“Viper,” Hades sounds a bit surprised to see me. “You’re back?”

I nod, still tracing the scar. “I—”

“Tell me some good news,” He gives me that smile that always makes me speechless, and I gulp. He steps closer, his soulless eyes fixed on me. “C’mon, Viper. Tell me about how you killed the mighty Alpha of the Silverblood. I can smell his blood off you.”

“I stabbed him.”

“And?”

“Poison didn’t work on him.”

“But you still killed him, right?”

I shake my head. Smack. My face twists to the side as Hades’ palm collides against my cheeks. It hurts so bad, blood splutters out of my mouth.

But the pain isn’t what makes my eyes sting.

It’s the fact that Hades slapped me.

“And you had the guts to come back here?” He barks, grabbing my chin so I can look him in the eyes. “You fucking crawled back here even after you failed?”

Tears sting my eyes, but I don’t let it fall. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” I say slowly. “This is my only home, Alpha Hades.”

“And yet you don’t belong here!”

“That’s because you’ve refused to acknowledge me!”

“You think I’d acknowledge someone who still dwells in the past and refuses to let go? You think I’ll acknowledge you when you’re hellbent on getting revenge, even to the point of your own death?!”

I freeze, trembling tremendously as a single tear slides down my cheeks. “It was a test.”

Hades pushes me until I fall, hitting the ground with a loud thud. “And you fucking failed,” he snapped. “You’re not ready after all. To become one of us.”

I crumble from inside out, crying ugly tears as Hades walks away.

All I’ve ever wanted is a home. After my entire clan got wiped, I needed something similar to remain sane, but I don’t think I can ever fit in here.

“Let’s get you out of here,” hearing Jake’s voice instantly calms me, and I stop crying as he sweeps me off my feet. I bury my face in his shirt, and he chuckles.

“This is the first time I’m seeing you cry, you know?”

“Then today is your lucky day.”

“Lucky day? It’s a terrible day, Viper.” He tightens his hold on me, “because I don't like seeing you cry. I know this sounds odd, but seeing you like this makes it hard to breathe.”

He kicks the door to my room open and places me on my bed. “But I’m still a little excited I get to see your vulnerable side,” he brushes my bloodstained cheeks, and I tense.

“Jake…”

“I know,” he laughs, pulling away quickly. “I know you’re still not ready.”

“I’ll never be ready, Jake.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Believe it!” I snap, “I’ll never love you. Never ever. I’m too shattered, too broken, to think that worthless emotion can save me.”

Jake’s face falls. His smile falters, and he looks really hurt. “I know,” he says again, his voice barely above a whisper. “And this might sound stupid, but I’ll wait for you, Aurelia.”

“Don’t fucking call me that.”

“I don’t even know why you chose to be called Viper.”

“Because that’s who I am now,” I say softly. “Aurelia was killed fourteen years ago. All that remains now is a ruthless and merciless assassin, Viper.”

~~~

The next day, I’m back at my usual training spot. Jake has been avoiding me for the whole day, and I don’t even bother to reach out to him. He needs his space, and I’ll give him that.

But you know the one thing bugging my mind? Alpha Tyler.

I can’t forget the way his blue eyes held me hostage, or the way his scent nearly drove me to the brink of insanity.

I really need to meet him again.

‘I didn’t think you’d want to see him again,’ Kiera says proudly. ‘I see you’re smitten by our mate’s good looks.’

“I don’t care about good looks,” I bite back. “I want to see him again so I can reject him.”

‘You want to reject an Alpha?!’

“Do you think I care about his title?”

“Yo! Viper!” Emily jugs toward me, smiling like she just got kissed by her lover. “It’s time for lunch. I knew you were planning to skip it, so I’m here to change your mind.”

My stomach grumbles loudly and my cheeks flush.

Emily shakes her head, then starts to drag me. “You shouldn’t starve yourself. How many times do I need to scold you?”

I roll my eyes as we walk into the dining hall. Immediately, all eyes are on us. Emily sits down as the maids begin to serve, and I sit next to her.

“So I heard killing Alpha Tyler was only a test,” someone laughs over his meal. “Our lady took it too seriously and missed the chance she’s been waiting for for years.”

My chest tightens.

“I’m sure she thought she could kill the Alpha. Proud bitch.”

I tighten my fingers around my fork.

“Or maybe her true reason for going was to seduce the Alpha with that face of hers,” a tall, broad man drops a cup of wine in front of me. He stares at me, grinning. “The Alpha must have refused because he’s seen lots of beauties, but I haven’t. I wouldn’t mind having you in my bed, Vip—”

A bloodcurdling scream rips out of his throat as I drive my fork into his palm, twisting it so his blood decorates the dining table. “Maybe I’ll have your blood for wine instead.”