CHAPTER 5

SPARROW 

My wolf didn't like him.

Neither did I, for that matter.

He gave me an oily smile as I stepped into the room, taking a long time to look at me like I was piece of trash. In that moment, I felt like choking something badly.

‘Someone else's neck won't be a bad idea.’ 

Like the human sitting across from me.

Fortunately, he’s a very useful human. 

Unfortunately, he’s the main reason I'm here dressed in a fucking suit I hated so much. 

I leaned back in my chair, watching with both anticipation and amusement as he meticulously counted out the cash. The crisp banknotes, neatly stacked in piles, represented the fruits of my labour. A small smile crept across my face as I realised he was giving me a larger-than-expected bonus, a tangible reward for the hours I'd poured into this project.

I had completed the assignment perfectly, following the guidelines to the letter. I hadn't sought any external help or clarification. And yet, the grade I received was a mere formality, a token acknowledgment of my efforts. It felt as though my hard work had been undervalued, my dedication taken for granted.

“You military types are unnervingly silent,” he said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to echo off the bare walls. “Is there something you're hiding?”

Why do I need to bother responding? He assumes I'm military, but I'm far more than that. A freelance assassin, to be precise. 

The suit? 

Just a mask, a disguise to blend in. 

There was no need to set him straight. My work speaks for itself.

If he saw the razor-sharp claws beneath, there would be no further question.

I have a particular hate for irrelevant questions. This human got a whole arsenal of them tucked away, lurking behind those dark iris of his. He's clever enough to keep them locked in, opting instead for a more tangible form of gratitude.

He gently slides the final payment across the desk. “Why don't you send my best regards to your brother.”

I almost chuckle as I slide the thick envelope into my jacket pocket. Thaddeus is my brother in name only, with his blond hair, blue eyes, and height that falls a good inch short of my six-foot-five frame. Our resemblance is as distant as our personalities, especially when you consider my dark hair, matching eyes, and intricately inked arms.

Standing up, I dismissed myself without a single word.

If this jackass needs another hit, he knows exactly who to call.

‘My brother.’

This time I did not snort. 

Thaddeus will fucking love that. 

Thea looks more like me than fucking Thaddeus. 

The human may be unfamiliar with Thea, but his true talent lies in the art of deception. He's a skilled negotiator who specialises in ensnaring others, like us, in financial agreements that are impossible to escape.

I’m the assassin among the three of us.

Thaddeus is the boss.

‘Brother,’ I repeat, shaking my head as I make my way out of the rich dick’s house. His private security steers clear of me, fully aware of my reputation for death. 

Or maybe they can just smell the stench of it on my skin. 

‘Fuck it, whatever.’

There are worse reputation in life than being seen as the literal grim reaper. 

I pushed outside and took in a deep breath of fresh air. It calms my soul, allowing me to exist in the serenity of the moment. Three more guards immediately jumped out of my way, their eyes averted. 

They have no idea what I really am, and they're still submitting. 

'Pathetic mortals.'

I take my keys from the waiting valet and slide into my favourite toy. It's one of the perks of werewolf life. 

The Elders cast out the unwanted wolves, condemning them to the 'Reject packs' where rogues roam. It's their way of controlling chaos associated with breaking fated bonds.

Some wolves can handle the rejection from their mate, and others can't. It's the ones who can't that created this new order that mandates all rejects to report to the Reject pack. That's where they make assignments, sending the wolves to their new packs. 

The Elders typically oversee multiple packs' unruly activities, but they avoid the Shadow Moon Pack. Instead, they allow us to govern ourselves, perhaps due to their perceived inability to handle our level of ferocity.

I carefully find my way around the giant fountain in the middle of Rich Dick’s driveway. It's a pompous centrepiece that I doubt anyone actually likes. But it successfully keeps me from gunning the engine—I save that for once I'm through the gate and speeding out of the neighbourhood.

The tie around my neck is the first thing I let go, the damn silk resembling a rope that I want to set on fire. 

I unfasten the top button of my shirt next. 

Then I hit the dial icon on my screen. 

Thaddeus answers the call after the second ring. “You should be on your way back.” 

“Yeah,” I responded. “Deal sealed, cash in pocket.”

“He counted it again?” he questioned.

“Yep.”

“Saves me the trouble.” Thaddeus drawls from the other line, and I can picture him leaning back in his office chair and kicking up his feet on his desk. He’s probably wearing expensive jeans and no shirt. Lucky bastard. “Trust me, one of these days, we’re going to have to rip his head off his body.” 

“Yep,” I repeat, fully aware of that future task. “He thinks we're brothers.”

Thaddeus grunts from the other line. “He’s an old fool blinded by his greed for cash.”

“As long as he keeps paying us, he is unfortunately useful.”

“Until he starts asking questions,” Thaddeus returns. “Of which I'm hearing a few rumbling through the circle already.”

“Hmmm…” I hum, fully prepared to turn around to handle the situation. 

“Not now,” Thaddeus says, reading me easily even through the phone. “We will have to see how the cards play out. And in the interim, we will indulge in the incoming shipment.”

“Incoming shipment?” I repeat. 

“From the Elders,” he clarified. “They have fresh meat.”

“Female?” I asked hopefully. 

Thaddeus wouldn't waste my time on this unless the fresh meat was indeed a female or someone relevant from our past. 

“Female,” he finally confirms. “That's what I have been told, anyway. She's a feral little thing, too. She apparently killed her own mother.”

I whistle, already intrigued. “Sounds like my kind of woman.”

I had learned a long time ago that family isn't about blood, it’s about loyalty. If I could kill my own mother, I absolutely would. But my father already did it for me. Right before taking his own life. 

Worthless fucking wolves. 

“She’s a half breed,” Thaddeus goes on, ignoring my interjection. “I guess her mother fucked with a Brute wolf, created a Mongrel, and so her mate rejected her upon turning.”

I frown at his explanation. “What? How old is she? Six?” That's how old most pups are when they have their first shift. 

“No,” he scoffs. “Early twenties.”

“And she just found out about her patronage?” I ask, confused as hell. “wouldn't that have been obvious with her first shift?”

“She is from the Silver moon pack,” he responded, those words alone explained everything. 

“Fuck, messed up shit” I cursed. 

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Rather than send her to their pack, she is coming to ours because of her violent outburst and mixed heritage.”

“I see.” I turn into a main road that will take me to the highway, the wheels squealing in protest at my rising speed. “So, tell me. Are we throwing a welcome party?”

“Thea is working on it.

“Taking bets already on who get to fuck her first?” I guess, grinning.”

Brute wolves love sex. It's a part of us engraved into our animal spirit. Not just for men, but for women, too. And Shadow moon pack is severely lacking in the female department, giving the new wolf her pick of bedmates. 

“Among other things,” Thaddeus responded.

“Alpha or beta?” I ask. The answer will Influence my bet. And I don't bother guessing Omega since that's too unlikely to be true. It would also cause a riot in the pack. 

“Leonardo claims she was rejected by an Alpha’s son, so I'm guessing she's an Alpha’s reject,” he says. “Alpha Arturo’s son, to be precise.”

I nearly freeze in my seat. “Shit.”

“Yeah, words going around is that the two packs are trying to merge and this little wolf put a kink in those plans when she turned out to be a Mongrel.”

“Fuck,” I breathe, clearly impressed and a bit enthralled by all the drama. “Have you confirmed with your father?”

“Not yet,” he replies. “But I have left him a message, though. And I have told Leonardo to find out more for us.” 

I nod. Leonardo is one of our informants on the Elder council. If anyone can find out the truth, it's him. But it would be good to know what Thaddeus’s father has to say about it because he's the Shadow moon Alpha, after all. 

“Sounds like we're in for an intriguing evening,” I murmured.

"Quite," Thaddeus agrees, his English accent betraying his omega mother's influence. She, a rare omega, had the privilege of multiple mates, including Thaddeus' Alpha father. The other males in her nest, both Alphas in their own right, had chosen to submit to Thaddeus' father's authority.

Similar to how Thea and I allow Thaddeus to lead. 

The three of us are all Shadow moon Alphas.

But Thaddeus is the strategist.

I’m the brawn. 

And Thea is the brains.

“I will be there in about twenty minutes,” I tell Thaddeus. 

“I will have the yacht prepped and waiting.” He replied before ending the call. 

Well, this day just improved itself drastically. Once I rid myself of this stuffy suit, I will be all wolf again. 

And maybe I will have an Alpha toy to play with tonight. It's been a long tim

e since I entertained a female capable of taking my entire strength. I have been forced to indulge my needs with humans instead. Which is pretty much like fuvking an empty glass. 

Not fun for me.

Not fun for her. 

Not fun all around. 

But a pretty new wolf? 'Mmmm, yes, please.'

Maybe I should engage Thea in the game too. 

Depends on how the welcome party goes. 

‘Welcome to the brute wolves, little wolf.’ I smirk to myself. ‘I hope you ready to sink your teeth in,’