Chapter 2: The Assassin

Somewhere in the Dark Moon pack

Iris' POV

"Daddyyy!"

I jolted awake, panting and sweating profusely in the cool of the well air-conditioned bedroom I slept. "Not again. Not again." I glanced at the small digital clock under the lampshade on the nightstand. "Exactly one a.m."

I darted around my cozy room frightfully, as memories of the nightmare flashed into my mind, causing my chest to lump with apprehension. This was the the sixteenth time, in the sixteen years of my life that the same horrifying nightmare haunted every eve of my birthday.

Everything seemed normal and quiet, except the occasional rhythm of chirping crickets in the yard, until a loud crashing sound came from the kitchen downstairs, which was immediately followed by a piercing scream from mother, and hurrying feet, tromping down the hallway.

"Mommy!" I hurled out of bed, pushing the duvet aside. Goosebumps appeared on my skin, as I gasped for air. It's happening just the way I'd dreamed it to be.

Suddenly, the house went dark, tightening the band across my ribcage that I lost the ability to breath. "This can't be happening. Not when tomorrow is my birthday."

Another shriek came from mother, then a body thudded against the wall. The sound of men grunting in a brawl tore through the silence, as father's voice rebounded from the direction of their master bedroom. "Who are you, and what do you want with my family?" Father's voice lost it's rich timbre.

I took measured steps to the door, and raised my hand to the door knob with trembling hands. My hairline was drenched in perspiration, and my palms became damp, a wave of fear chilling me to the bones.

I turned the knob slowly, pulling it ajar slowly. Thankfully, my bedroom door wasn't the type that whistles or creaks. Barefooted, I peeped into the dark hallway, and saw drops of blood splotched around the polished floor board. Other than the bright reflection from the full moon that Illuminated the white-painted hallway from the sash window, the duplex was otherwise dark and gloomy.

Afraid of uttering a statement and making a sound to alert the intruder, I followed the fresh prints of blood to my parent's bedroom. The door was partly opened, a pool of blood gathering under the door, heightening my fear. It was exactly the way I saw it happening.

"Who sent you to come for my family? What have we done to deserve this?"

Father's rich baritone had lost its sauce. The fear in his voice was tangible. All the while, the intruder remained silent, struggling with father, and breaking furniture and glassware.

The closer I got to the door and the blood, the faster the thumping of my heart. I pushed the white oaken door open, ashen and unmoving.

"No mommy. No!" I wept.

I fell over her lifeless body, wailing at the top of my lungs, too petrified to touch her. Her golden blonde hair was matted in her blood, pouring from behind her head. A dagger was driven deep into her chest, to the extent that I couldn't see the shine of the blade, as if the killer had no mercy.

"What are you doing here?" Father voice caught my attention, as he struggled with the intruder against the wall. He wore a bomber jacket, with the hood pulled over his face, which prevented me from seeing what he looked like.

"Run, Iris. Run." Father warned. "You shouldn't be here! Run away!"

The intruder seized the opportunity, drove a dagger under father's ribs, and pulled it out. Father fell to his knees, beside mother, pale as death. The burly intruder reached for me, brandishing the blood-stained dagger before me.

He swung his hand in the air above me, but father grabbed his arm, tucking it behind him, and kicking the inside of his knee. The intruder fell on one knee before me, but he was smart enough to hide his face.

"Get out of here now, Iris. Run while you still can."

His eyes glowed, and his canines lengthened. He seized the neck of the intruder with one arm, bleeding from the mouth.

"Why aren't you healing, daddy?" I cried.

"Wolfsbane." Father managed, tightening his grip around the intruder's neck. "His blade is coated in wolfsbane. I want you to run far away from here as possible. Please, do that for me."

I was too weak to run; too weak to think straight. I can't be orphaned at sixteen. Tomorrow was supposed to be my birthday. As the tension between them increased, the chin of the intruder tilted upward, exposing his face. His jade eyes shone in the reflection of the moon, a fresh cut I thought came from father ran along the hollow of his left cheek into his scalp.

"What are you still waiting for? Run! Now!"

Suddenly, the Intruder's hands found the dagger on the floor. He drove it swiftly into father's chest from under him, and pulled out the blade. Blood splattered all over father's chest and mouth over the Intruder's shoulder. The intruder repeated the action multiple times, drawing out life and blood from father.

"Nooo!" I screamed.

The intruder turned to me, a steely glare in his gaze. He was as cold as the night, dark as a shadow. Before he could reach for me, I darted out of the room to the hallway, taking the flight of stairs down to the sitting room. I reached for the door but it was locked.

I pushed, and jammed, and pulled, but the door wouldn't budge. A new wave of fear washed over me, as I heard the Intruder's feet stomping down the stairs.

Intuitively, I grabbed the fire extinguisher affixed to the wall beside the kitchen, and threw it at the large window. The glass shattered to pieces, falling all over the floor beside the mantle piece that held the large family portrait. I can't believe I wont be seeing the happy faces of my parents ever again.

I placed a leg over the window to escape, but the intruder clasped a hand firmly over my shoulder. I shrieked, biting down on the skin between his thumb and index finger. He grunted, and pushed me away, which sent me falling over the window into the cold wooden floor of the porch.

My thighs became moist with blood, pouring from the deep cut I sustained. I gathered myself up, and darted into the dark woods without looking behind me. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, with thorns and shrubs marking my skin.

The rustle of dry leaves behind me told me that the intruder was on my tail, and closing in on me faster than I thought. I took a bold chance to glance over my shoulder to see how close he was. His formidable figure was only ten meters away from me. I tried to increase my speed, but I had lost too much blood. Life and hope was bleak and unreachable.

If I hadn't felt unlucky about being wolf-less, now was the perfect time to reminisce on my bad luck. I zigzagged through the woods, ensuring I didn't take a straight trail- a handy knowledge I got from watching reality crime shows on TV. That way, the assailant on my tail would have a hard time catching up with me.

The gory images of mother and father lying lifeless in the pool of their own blood perched into my mind again, tears stinging my eyes. The whistling breeze winding past me blew them out of my sockets, lifting my auburn hairs behind me. I didn't know where I was going, or what I'd find, but I gave in to the wind, and the emptiness of my heart to keep leading me.

Hopefully, I would find a shelter, or a person who could help.

The breaking of dry twigs behind me sounded closer. He was just a hard breath away from me. I sighted a steep on my right that led to only God knows where, and made for it. I rolled over the slope, whimpering from the multiple bruises that met the exposed parts of my skin.

Fortunately for me, the intruder didn't follow, but unfortunately, my once spotless skin I so much prided myself in bore the consequences.

At the foot of the steep, I dragged myself up to find out I had sustained a broken shoulder, and a sore body. My hair had dragged along remnants of dried leaves and twigs. A burning sensation throbbed my left brow, with warm liquid rimming out of a deep cut above it, blurring my vision.

The end of the slope branched into two separate paths. Instinctively, I took the right bushy path, and hobbled on, praying silently under my breath for a savior. I kept looking behind me, but I couldn't find the intruder, until I bumped into a rigid figure before me. I fell back on my butt, out of breath and strength.

"Iris, what are you doing here by this time of the night?"

"Alpha Payne?" I stretched my hands towards him.

The relief that my prayer had been answered shut my tired lids, and I gave in to the chilly blanket of darkness laid over me.

"He'll pay with his blood for what he has done to my family," I remembered swearing.

***

Author's note: Hello beautiful reader, this story contains lots of cringy graphical contents ranging from bloodshed to torture and fiery sex. This is my first book, and I'll love to read your comments and reviews on it. Don't forget to gift a gem as a token of encouragement. XOXO : )