The New Mission

**12 Years Later**

The sound of blades clashing filled the underground training ground, and the air was thick with tension— who would win this round?  

Sienna skillfully dodged a strike, twisted her body, and slammed her opponent onto the dirt floor. Before he could recover from her hit, she pressed her blade against his throat.

“I won, again” she smirked arrogantly.

The man, now at her mercy, nodded reluctantly.

Satisfied, Sienna stood, twirling her dagger between her fingers before keeping it away at her side. The other assassins and new intake who were watching the battle clapped and cheered. To them, she was no longer a normal assassin; she was the order’s deadliest weapon, and many think with her skill, she'd soon be promoted to a grand master.  

A timid voice broke through the cheers. “Sienna.”  

She turned to see a feeble-looking maid standing by the entrance

“The Lord has sent for you.”

Sienna exhaled and wiped the beads of sweat from her brow before walking through the halls. The only source of light was the oil lamps on the wall, which cast a dim glow, barely illuminating the long hall.

She pushed open one of the giant doors and went in

“You still don't know how to knock, do you?”

The man, who seemed to be in his late thirties, smiled; he was the same man who'd taken her years ago. He watched as she advanced with his ever-calculating gaze.

“You know me too well, Richie”

He chuckled before sitting upright.

“There's a mission for you” his voice is calm but steady.

“Who's the target?”

A creepy smile formed on Richie's lips

“The Alpha King”

Sienna’s body stiffened— could it be the same person she knew?

Richie's next word shattered the air like a death sentence

“Kieran”

A cold chill ran down her spine as she heard his name— he was the same man who stole her life from her. Now his life had been given to her— she swore never to let him get away.

“What’s the plan?” She asked 

“You just have to infiltrate his pack,” Richie stood to his feet and strolled to the other side of the table.

“I heard he'll be haunting in the woods tomorrow— I also have Intel on the spot where he usually gets his games.” he paused and gave her another calculated look before he continued.

“We’ll station you in that area so he can mistake you for a game— it might hurt but…”

“I don't care,” she cuts in.

“Ok, good luck— I'll see you off tomorrow”

She bowed and took a quick turn leaving the room. She felt different unexplained emotions— finally, she was going to have her hands on the person who ruined her life.

——–—

Sienna ran through the bushes as fast as she could but she wasn't fast enough as the spear struck her back before she even heard it coming.

“Oh no,” her body jerked up as she felt a sharp pain through her shoulder sending her crashing on the dirty forest floor. She fell flat on her face as she released a painful gasp.

She tasted something metallic in her mouth— blood.

“Richie better let me bury this idiot my way this time” she sneered.

In pain, she held onto the cold earth, wanting to help herself up, but her limbs refused to obey. The wound wasn't that painful to her but she had to feign her pain to attract the attention she wanted.

Soon she heard footsteps and the crunching of dried leaves getting closer. She could sense the soldiers coming closer–— she lifted her eyes then she saw him

Kieran.

His presence was undeniable. Broad shoulders, dressed in a long black cloak, moving with the wind. He was on his horse with his bow in his hand, his sharp, piercing golden eyes locked on her.

  

Sienna felt a sudden rush of adrenaline, this was the man who murdered her family, the one who destroyed the only place she could call home.

Her fingers curled into a fist, she would've killed him at that moment if she wasn't following orders.

“Hi…” she muttered as she tried to lift herself but darkness clouded her vision. Her body was shutting down due to excessive loss of blood.

The last thing she saw before collapsing was Kieran stepping down from his horse and rushing towards her.

————

SILVERFANG ROYAL HOUSE

The voice could be heard, but they felt distant; she had to force herself up— her eyes fluttered open to the dim candlelight, and the scent of herbs and sun-dried linens filled her nose.

She tried to move but the pain she felt instantly made her fall back as she sucked in a sharp breath.

“She's finally awake,” a voice said.

“She became aware of her environment as her senses sharpened— she was safe.

The door flew open, followed by heavy footsteps.

Then she heard his voice;

“I see you're finally awake.”

She turned her head slowly, he was standing right at the foot of the bed. Seeing him from this angle made her realize he was more striking than she'd seen earlier— tall and intimidating. The aura around him was that of absolute authority.

His golden eyes studied her for a few minutes, they were unreadable.

During that time, none of them spoke. The world around them seemed to blur— she wasn't afraid, she was furious.

“You shot me,” she finally spoke, her voice hoarse but firm.

“It was an accident.” He raised a brow

“You liar” she bit back a bitter laugh.

“I was out hunting with my soldiers,” he continued, his arms crossed.

“You moved too quickly, we thought you were a prey. It was a mistake.”

“I bet it was also a mistake when you ruined my life” she muttered in a low voice that he couldn't make out what he was saying.

“You say?” Kieran asked, trying to understand what she just said.

Sienna forced her face to become neutral, suppressing the rage she felt.

“I said, it seems was at the wrong place at the wrong time”

Kieran started staring again, his sharp gaze made her feel like he could see right through her tricks.

“Where are you from?”

She swallowed— what was she going to tell him?

“Well, I— I don't have a pack; I've been on my own for years,” her voice came out rather soft.

“A rogue?” His eyes darkened

“I lost everything,” she nodded. 

That part wasn’t a lie though.  

Kieran's eyes lingered as if he was searching for something.

“How'd you survive alone?”

“Well, I just did what I needed to do”

The room fell silent, she felt it was the perfect time to act.

“I have nowhere else to go; I'm tired of being out there— it's so cold.” She looked up with false desperation.

“I can work for you; even if it's as a servant, I'll gladly do it— please just let me stay,” she pouted.

Kieran's expression didn't seem to change, but she saw something flickered in his gaze— sympathy! She got him right where she wanted.

“You’d work as a servant?” he asked. 

“It's better than starving under the cold night air.” She lowered her gaze.

Another painfully long moment of silence passed before Kieran turned to one of his guards.

“When she heals, take her to work at the main palace”

Sienna kept a fake grateful expression as her heart pounded.

She'd passed the first round.