The Job

Lucy

As I rode through the city streets on my power bike , the roar of the engine drowned out my thoughts. Despite the rush of adrenaline that came with the ride, a sense of discontent gnawed at my heart.

Maintaining romantic relationships, felt like an impossible feat when I couldn't even be honest about who I truly was. And as for finding my mate, well, that seemed like a distant dream, shattered time and time again by the harsh reality of my existence. I was born to kill. That's one thing I know how to do, and I do it quite excellently. But lately, I've been feeling lost. I've been trying to find myself. I feel like I can do something better with my life. I've had enough with the blood money and looking over my shoulders.

Finally arriving at the base nestled within the heart of the city's nightlife, I was greeted by a sea of flashing lights and pulsating music. Despite the throng of people clamoring for entry outside the Red Lotus Clubhouse, I was granted passage with a mere nod to the imposing bouncers after parking my bike.

Stepping into the VIP section, my senses were assaulted by the sight of scantily clad women gyrating provocatively around the seated men. At the center of it all sat the man on top, the alpha king himself, Alpha Jax, leader of the Ace of Spades Syndicate, reclining on a throne-like seat with a cigar dangling from his lips.

Originally, the Ace of Spades Syndicate was created as a special security force designed to battle rogues and vampire terrorists in the city. But after key threats were neutralized, the alpha king converted us into assassins to do his dirty work, with mouthwatering compensation. As my presence was acknowledged, the alpha king's smile widened, sending a shiver down my spine. With a snap of his fingers, the room fell silent, the women dismissed with a wave of his hand.

Bending a knee respectfully before him, I offered my homage. "May your reign be long, your majesty," I murmured, my voice tinged with reverence.

The alpha king's response was laced with amusement as he regarded me with a knowing glint in his eyes. "The star that shines brightest in the night," he replied, his tone dripping with authority. "I'm glad you made it, and on time. Rise up, angel of death."

With a sense of duty weighing heavily on my shoulders, I rose to my feet. "Why don't you take a seat and have a drink with me, Night Star?" The alpha king's voice cut through the tension in the room, his gaze fixed on me as he gestured toward the bottle of whiskey on the table before him.

I offered a polite smile in response to the invitation. "I appreciate your hospitality, your majesty, but I'll pass," I replied, my tone firm but respectful.

The alpha king's eyes narrowed slightly at my refusal, a hint of disappointment flickering across his features. "It's Friday, Night Star. Loosen up and have a drink for moon's sake," he urged, his tone coaxing.

But I shook my head in refusal, my resolve unwavering. "I must decline," I said, my voice steady despite the weight of the alpha king's expectations.

"Alright, alright, let's get down to business then," the alpha king conceded with a sigh. With a wave of his hand, a man entered the room, placing a briefcase on the table between us.

I eyed the briefcase warily, my instincts on high alert as I took a step back. Alpha Jax rose from his seat, pouring himself a glass of whiskey before circling around the table to stand behind me. Sensing his presence at my back, I tensed, my mind racing with suspicion.

"Go ahead and open the briefcase," his voice sliced through the silence, startling me with its unexpectedness.

"What?!" I exclaimed, taken aback by the request. "I'm sorry, your majesty, but I can't do that."

In this business it's kill or be killed, this could easily be a setup for all I know, he regarded me with a look of disappointment, lost his patience and he handed his drink to me to hold and proceeded to open the briefcase himself. As the contents were revealed, my breath caught in my throat, my eyes widening in disbelief, as the glass of whiskey slipped from my palm and shattered on the ground.

The briefcase contained a staggering amount of money, more than I had ever seen in my entire life. Before I could process the sight before me, his next words sent a chill down my spine.

"You like what you see, don't you, Night Star?" he asked, a smirk playing at his lips. "This money is all yours, but first, you have to do me one little favor."

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood before him, the weight of his demand heavy on my shoulders. The allure of such wealth was undeniable, a tantalizing temptation that threatened to cloud my judgment. But beneath the surface, a storm of conflicting emotions raged within me. Could I truly accept this offer, knowing that it came with strings attached? What price would I have to pay in exchange for this fortune?

Alpha Jax's smirk widened as he watched my internal struggle play out before him. He knew the power he held over me, the leverage he could exert to bend me to his will.

With a deep breath, I steadied myself, my resolve hardening like steel. "What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me.

Alpha Jax's eyes gleamed with satisfaction at my compliance. The man who had brought in the briefcase returned, carrying an envelope that he handed over to Alpha Jax. With a swift motion, the alpha king extracted a photograph from the envelope and passed it to me, his expression inscrutable as he watched my reaction.

I studied the image with a furrowed brow, my gaze lingering on the handsome face staring back at me. "Such a handsome young man," I remarked quietly, my tone tinged with curiosity. "But what does he have to do with this?"

Alpha Jax's lips twisted into a sneer as he circled around the room, his movements calculated and deliberate. "I want his head," he declared, his voice laced with bitterness. "Bring me the head of this bastard, and you can keep all this money."

My heart hammered in my chest, the weight of his demand heavy on my shoulders. The allure of the money was undeniable, but the thought of taking another life left a bitter taste in my mouth.

After a moment of agonizing silence, I closed the briefcase with a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, your majesty, but I'll have to decline," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Kindly find someone else for the job."

Alpha Jax's reaction was immediate and intense. He stared at me with a mixture of shock and disbelief, as if unable to comprehend my refusal. "What did you say?" he demanded, his voice laced with anger.

Even the drunken spectators in the room fell silent, their attention fixed on the tense exchange unfolding before them.

I met Alpha Jax's gaze with a steely resolve of my own. "With all due respect, your majesty, I'm no longer interested in blood money. I won't be able to take another innocent life, not anymore," I replied, my words ringing with finality.

His laughter cut through the air like a whip, his amusement bordering on madness. He walked back to the table and poured himself another glass of whiskey, downing it in one gulp before returning to face me.

"I know what this is, right?" he said, his tone dripping with scorn. "The money is not enough."

With a flourish, he gestured for another briefcase to be brought in, doubling the amount of cash before my eyes. "There you go, angel of death, double the amount" he said, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Twenty million fucking dollars, plus it's all in cash."

But I remained unmoved, my expression impassive as I closed the second briefcase. "It's not about the money, your majesty," I said, my voice tinged with sadness. "I've changed. I want a different kind of life now. I want freedom from this shadow..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Alpha Jax's hand lashed out, his palm connecting with my cheek in a sharp slap. The sting of the blow reverberated through my body, igniting a fire of defiance within me.

"You'll never be a normal person, Night Star," he spat, his anger boiling over like a volcano ready to erupt. "You were born a killer, and a killer you'll die."

I spat out a mouthful of blood and met his gaze in a cold stare. "We'll see about that." With that, I turned around and walked to the door.