The Alpha Assassin

I stopped by the kitchen, where it was a bustle of activity.“Miss Simone, can I help you with something?” The head omega, Amelia, wiped her hands on her apron and offered me a genuine smile.The Omegas here always treated me kindly and respected the station I once held, now reduced to nothing besides my powerful bloodline.I shook my head, “I don’t want to be any trouble. I just came for a snack.” She nodded and let me pass. I knew where everything was here; this place had become my refuge since I was allowed out of my room.This kitchen was the only place that I felt remotely comfortable in since I lost my home. I craved the warmth of the place and the constant activity that helped to distract me from those thoughts and memories that replayed themselves in my mind whenever I had a moment of solitude.I went right toward what I was looking for. I knew this kitchen and the rest of the castle well from hours spent wandering alone. I made to pick up an apple slice covered in cinnamon and

*FLASHBACK*It was my favorite night of the year. A celebration that was just for our pack that everyone took part in.We lived on blessed lands, ones gifted by the Moon Goddess herself, and tonight, we thanked her for it and honored our history.Most of the pack thought that at least, but I, as an Alpha’s daughter, knew that it was much more than a celebration.Tonight was the night that our lands regenerated.It wasn’t the Alphas who were blessed but the land itself from which we took our strength. We had a reputation for being fair, but we were strong, and my dad made sure that we lived up to the gift we had been blessed with.Our pack was known for being fearless warriors, some mistook us for ones that had an insane amount of bloodlust, but we never went in a fight unprovoked. We trained to defend our lands so that no one thought of going up against us. We had a reputation to uphold long before my dad became Alpha.We were untouchable. The Blood Moon pack hadn’t lost a battle in a

I wandered without a shadow. Everywhere I used to go if I was allowed to leave, I was followed by a few warriors. Later, that changed to a few omegas and then just one.The fact that they let me leave now was a combination of years of the persona I carefully built and their complacency.They should have been worried, even if they thought the threat followed the visitors here; there was obviously a breach in security.I wandered seemingly aimlessly around the place until I reached the edge of the forest and slipped between the trees. I pulled out the map I’d been working on slowly over the last few years in bits and pieces. I knew where I was going, or I thought I did.I picked some Perscyths for myself, a bright white flower with thick petals that were stark against the muted browns they pushed through.These flowers broke through the rough patches that didn’t get much sunlight. I always admired them, the ones that were able to grow into something beautiful despite their circumstances.

Four years agoI didn’t know if that pain in my stomach was from hunger, the sharp ongoing ache of sadness, or the recent beatings administered under his watchful eye.I didn’t understand what they wanted me for, or where I was being held. I had been here for what? Weeks? Months? And I hardly saw anyone. I was locked in a bedroom, a semi-nice one at that; why not just throw me into the dungeon and be over with it?A sharp knock sounded, and I knew who it belonged to. I didn’t feel the fear he wanted me to. That was the problem. I felt nothing but grief so raw it seared through any other emotion.I used to try to soothe myself by dreaming of ways to get revenge, but I knew they were far-fetched. I was alone. I was some type of prisoner, for Goddess knew what reason, and no one was coming to help me.I couldn’t save myself even if I wanted to.He came in, towering over me. I didn’t look up, but I saw how he blocked out the dull light filtering between the curtains.“Now, how are we doing

I managed some sleep after leaving my parting gift. I watched in the shadows to make sure she received it before falling into a dreamless sleep. The normal fall of footsteps awoken me. I rubbed my eyes and made my way to the bathroom, taking a quick, thorough shower. I was getting better at this; no traces of blood and barely any last night. I fidgeted in the seat before the mirror, waiting for an appropriate time to leave the room even though I had been fully dressed for what seemed like hours but was actually only a few minutes. Alice usually only attended to me or checked on me, spied on me, whatever she did, at night.After the omegas shuffling settled down and finally dissipated, I could leave. I looked in the mirror and slipped on my mask. The blood-soaked, fiery girl who demanded payment for her misery was gone in the blink of an eye. I stared back at the broken orphan who was too afraid to make eye contact or stand up for herself. I walked out the door, forcing my feet to