THE ALPHA I WAS BORN TO KILL

Evara heard the wolf's scream. She stopped halfway down the rocky slope and grabbed the tree beside her. Her boots slipped on the wet ground, but she managed to steady herself just before she went over the edge. The sound of a long, broken cry echoed again from somewhere deep beyond the trees. Evara looked toward the dark forest below. Her wolf was awake. For most of Evara’s life, her wolf had been quiet, as if it lived behind a locked door within her and had no interest in coming out. Tonight, it had been restless since sunset. Now, It was terrified. Evara pushed away from the tree. “What are you afraid of?” The answer came as a sharp pain behind her eyes. A flash of blood on snow. A man on his knees, and a black wolf standing over him. Then, nothing. Evara blinked rapidly until the vision faded. She inhaled deeply through her nose and kept moving. She had spent years learning not to panic when her wolf showed her things. Usually, the images were useless: Snippets of places she had never seen, faces she didn't recognize, moments that made no sense. But tonight was different. Tonight, she had a destination: the northern border, and an order to kill Rhyden Vale. Evara reached the bottom of the slope and crouched behind a fallen tree. Ahead, the forest opened into a narrow road. Two guards stood beside a wooden barrier marking the Northern Territory. She could see the silver wolf carved into the posts. She touched the knife strapped beneath her coat, took one deep breath, and stepped onto the road. “Stop.” A voice came from her left. Evara froze. A man stepped out from behind the trees with a bow already drawn. Another appeared behind her. She glanced over her shoulder. Three guards, not two. Their clothes were dark, marked with the northern pack's silver symbol. The first guard looked her over. “State your name.” “Evara Voss.” The guards exchanged a knowing look. The one with the bow lowered it slightly. “Why are you here?” he asked. “To see the Alpha,” she replied. “Why?” “That's between me and him.” The guard's face turned serious. “No one crosses this border without a reason.” Evara offered a faint smile. “I have one.” And then she moved. The first guard reached out to grab her arm. In a flash, she caught his wrist, twisted, and slammed her shoulder into his chest. He crumpled to the ground. The second guard charged at her. Evara ducked under his fist and struck his ribs. He staggered back, gasping. The third guard fired an arrow. Evara heard the whistle before she saw it and dropped to the ground. The arrow struck the tree behind her. She rolled across the dirt and came up with her knife in hand. The guard stared at her. “You really picked the wrong border to mess with.” “Probably.” She shot back. He charged. Evara met him halfway. The fight lasted less than a minute. When it ended, all three guards were alive, but none were on their feet. Evara wiped the dirt off her sleeve, looked toward the road, at the unconscious guards, then toward the distant mountains. She crossed the border anyway. By midnight, she had reached the northern settlement. It was more bigger than she expected. Buildings sprawled between the ancient trees, linked by narrow paths lit with glowing yellow lamps. Wolves roamed through the streets in their human form, some carrying weapons, others returning from patrol. Beyond the bustling settlement stood a massive stone building overlooking the valley. The Alpha's house. Evara had expected guards, but not this many. She stood in the shadows and watched as a group of elite fighters came through the gates. One tall, broad-shouldered, dark-haired man walked in front of them. He wasn't dressed to impress. He wore simple black trousers, a dark shirt, and boots covered in mud from the forest. Yet the entire crowd stepped aside as he passed by. No one needed to announce his title. He was Rhyden Vale. Evara's fingers tightened around her knife. Her wolf went completely silent. That dead quiet frightened her more than the screaming. Rhyden stopped abruptly. His head turned. For one terrifying second, Evara thought he was looking directly onto her hiding spot. Then, one of the fighters spoke to him, and he continued walking. Evara waited until the group disappeared inside the building. She had one chance; get close, kill him and leave. Simple. At least, it had been simple when she accepted the order. She made her way toward the house to the back entrance without being seen. The door was unlocked, she slipped inside. The building was eerily quiet. She crept down a corridor, keeping her steps light. A voice came from ahead. “You're late.” Evara stopped dead. A woman stood at the end of the hallway, dark hair pulled back and had a weapon resting at her hip. Maevra Sorn. Evara knew the name. Rhyden's second-in-command. Maevra stared at her. Evara drew her knife. Maevra's hand went to her weapon. Neither moved. Then, a crash came from outside. Both women turned. A second later, someone shouted. “Attack!” The building erupted into chaos. Doors slammed open, and feet thundered through the halls. Maevra looked back at Evara. “Who are you?” Evara stayed silent. She heard claws scraping against the stone outside. Not one wolf, but dozens. Maevra drew her sword, casting a final glance at Evara. “Stay here.” Evara nearly laughed. “Not a chance.” She ran past her, and they burst into the courtyard together. Chaos had already taken over the settlement. Wolves fought between the buildings, fire burned near the eastern gate, and people screamed out orders over the din. A wounded fighter stumbled across the courtyard and collapsed. Suddenly, three enemy wolves rushed through the broken gate. Evara didn't hesitate. She ran toward them, her wolf finally woke. Power rushed through her body. Her bones shifted and cracked. Her hands hit the ground. The world has changed. She could smell blood, smoke, fear and something familiar. Evara lifted her head. Across the courtyard stood Rhyden. He was watching her. For the first time, she saw his eyes clearly: dark, focused, and utterly confused. Then, out of nowhere, an enemy wolf attacked him from behind. Instinct took over. In a flash, Evara closed the gap and collided with the attacker. They rolled across the ground. The wolf snapped at her throat, but Evara caught its jaw in a fierce grip, her muscles burning under the strain. Then another wolf joined the fray. She twisted away and sank her claws into the first wolf's shoulder. It howled in pain and backed off. Before the second could strike, Rhyden reached them. He shifted halfway, seized the second attacker by the neck, and threw it across the courtyard. Evara stared at him. He stared back. Deep within her mind, her wolf whispered one word. Him. Evara's stomach dropped. Rhyden stepped closer. “Who sent you?” he demanded. She backed away, her fur bristling. His eyes dropped, noticing the knife at her side. His expression changed. “You came here to kill me.” Evara said nothing. Rhyden's gaze turned serious. Before he could act, another explosion shook the eastern wall. Stone collapsed, and screams from people pierced the smoky air. Rhyden turned toward the noise. Evara looked at the burning gate, then back at the Alpha. She had come here to kill Rhyden, but it seemed someone else was trying to kill him first.