Chapter 8

Azalea, wearing a plain black silk dress, walked down the street tiredly.

Sybl had decided to send her on a mission with Devon. There was some nearby lone wolf who worked for the United Werewolf Kingdom that the Aberdeen pack belonged too. Sybl wanted this particular lone wolf of the way for some reason. He was rich, and Azalea suspected he'd been acting as a double spy and minting money. He was close to King Daemon and had previously been giving Sybl intel in exchange for protection once she took over all the packs. But now the man had ghosted Sybl after she'd retreated during the attack on the Aberdeen pack. Sybl didn’t take well to being ignored. She wanted to teach the wolf a lesson so that her other sources remained true to her.  

They stopped short at the man’s house that was being well guarded by some warriors from the Aberdeen pack. Odd how Aberdeen warriors were posted here. 

“These men have seen my face at the battle. If anyone sees me, they will alert Terrence,” Azalea whispered to Devon.  

"Well go off somewhere,” suggested Devon.

"Where?" asked Azalea impatiently.

"Oh I dunno how about that flower shop over there? Otherwise they'll see you hanging around."

Azalea walked over to the flower shop. She saw a little girl standing there holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

"Hello there," said Azalea figuring she might as well make some conversation with the girl.

"Hi! My name’s Ashley! What's yours?" she asked.

"It's Azalea."

"Oh you know I love the flower azalea," said Ashley enthusiastically.

"Well that's nice. Why are you out here so late at night?” asked Azalea with concern. She didn't know why but this girl sparked concern in her. It was impossible to not love this innocent child. Azalea felt protective of her even though she'd just met her. The shop was closed. 

"My mother told me to go out for a walk," Ashley said, head down. "She had-" Ashely stopped short, clearly hesitating telling Azalea the entire story. 

But Azalea didn't need further information. It was all too clear why any mother would tell their daughter to go for a walk at such a late time. 

"It's just you and your mother, isn't it?" Azalea asked gently.

Ashley nodded and rubbed her eye.

"She does the best she can so we can get by," Ashley whispered.

Her heart bleeding for the little girl and single mother, Azalea didn't say another word. 

"You're pretty," Said Ashley. "Just like the flower."

"Thanks, you're very pretty too," said Azalea. 

She stiffened when Devon mind-linked her to join him. 

"I've been calling you for so long," he hissed. "You apparently were too busy playing with little girls and flowers."

Azalea ignored him. She stepped over the unconscious warrior who Devon had knocked out and walked towards the driveway. Another guard was at the door but this seemed to be a personal guard not affiliated with any pack. She took Devon by the arm and linked hers with it.

"Hello," said Azalea pleasantly. "We are here to meet Mr. Bradford."

"It's kind of late don't you think?" asked the guard suspiciously.

"You know it could've been easier to just let us in," muttered Azalea and punched him within the blink of an eye. He fell down unconscious, unable to register that the petite female was attacking him. They went through the door unruffled. The house was quiet. Everyone was sleeping. They split up and Azalea walked into the kitchen. Azalea then saw a maid in a bathrobe opening the fridge. Grabbing the maid by the forearm, she pinned her against the wall with the maids hand behind her back and the maids face up against the wall.

"Now you will listen to me and do what I say." Azalea hissed into her ear.

The maid nodded.

"Good now without looking at me you will call the master of this house and tell him some friends are here to see him. Tell him it's important,” commanded Azalea. The maid without looking at Azalea used an intercom to contact the master.

"Mr. Bradford,” She said her voice shaking. Azalea put pressure on the woman’s wrist. "Some friends are here to see you, “ she said.

"WHAT?! At this hour?" he exclaimed.

"They say it's important," replied the maid.

Bradford swore. "They can wait there untill I wake up then," he retorted irritably.

"Mention Sybl," Azalea whispered.

"They-They're mentioning some person named Sybl," the maid replied with a trembling voice. 

The maid was human, otherwise Sybl would have struck terror in her. 

"I'll be right there," came the brief reply.

Devon then appeared from the door. "Smart," Devon said casually, leaning against the doorframe. 

"Tell him to meet us in the dining room," hissed Azalea.

"They'll meet you in the dining room," the maid said through the intercom.

"Hell they can meet me on the hills of Dover if they want.  Just keep them there," Bradford replied.

"Show us the way to the dining room," demanded Azalea. Pushing the maid ahead of her.

They were lead to the dining room where Devon took out a knife.

"No. There's no reason to kill her. Let her live," Azalea demanded. 

"Azalea she's no use to us now. She should die," argued Devon.

"Oh please don't kill me!" the maid begged. "I did everything you asked! Please!" 

 Azalea concentrated hard, summoning her powers. The knife belonging to Devon slowly floated over to Azalea. The maid began to shake profusely and maid the sign of the cross. 

"Jesus save me from this withcraft!" the maid blubbered, tears mixing with snot. 

"Leave and don't tell anyone about this or else I will let him kill you," threatened Azalea and pushed her out the open window. There was a thump as the maid fell and Azalea watched her get up and run down the lawn until she disappeared into the dark of night. 

Devon was scowling at Azalea, clearly not happy that he'd let the maid live. He looked like he wanted to say something but before he could muster up the courage, the door opened. In came a man in his fourties with graying brown hair and a bulky build.

"Who are you? You guys have any news on the Dark Mistress?" asked Bradford, face pale and wary. 

"We have news alright," chuckled Azalea grimly.

"The news is to keep out of The Dark Mistresss business and she'll let you live. Oh but you already broke that rule. Tell me how hell, I'll be joining you soon," hissed Azalea and quickly twisted the knife in her hand so that it was pointed directly at him. 

Devon was quick to put the man in a chokehold from behind. 

"Wait! You're Azalea! Sybl's assasin!" the man choked out, hands trying to pry Devon's grip off his neck. "Please let me live! I will tell you about your parents!”

“My parents?” Azalea asked, faltering for the kill. Her hold on the handle of the dagger loosened in shock. 

“I've been working on your case for years. I submitted the file to Alpha of Aberdeen! Your parents they were killed by-"

But he was cut off as Devon quickly twisted his neck and snapped it in two. The man fell down dead, slow to defend himself as he'd never been a fighter to begin with. 

 

"DEVON!" screamed Azalea, the dagger clattering to the floor. "He was about to tell-to tell-" Azalea broke off, her body suddenly raked with sobs.

"Sshhh," said Devon, bending to the ground and hugging her body wracked with sobs.

"Why did you do it?" Azalea asked brokenly, still on the floor.

"Because I knew he was lying. Whatever he was going to say... my dear...it would be a lie. To torture you. As a punishment for wanting to kill him. You don't deserve that. This man has always lied to Sybl," finished Devon stroking her hair. Azaleas back rose and fell as sobs continued to shake her body.

Finally, too tired to cry any longer, Azalea slowly extricated herself from Devon's arms and stood up stiffly.

"I'm sorry for losing control," Azalea said quietly. "I've just been crying ever since-"

"Don't say it," said Devon. "Terrence isn't worth your trouble. He's caused you nothing but pain."

Azalea looked at Devon pitifully, knowing he was right. She'd made her choice and she had to stick by it now. 

Devon brought his head down to meet Azaleas lips but the minute their lips touched, Azalea felt her heart twist in disgust. She pulled away.

"No," said Azalea outloud, shaking her head. "No."

And with that, she ran out of the house and reached the flower shop. 

"Azalea," Devon  called running after her. "AZALEA!"

But Azalea didn't listen she blindly ran into some one. Azalea froze. The scent. The shirt. The muscles. She looked up and she was looking into Terrence's eyes.