PHANTOM ASSASSIN

“Why is loving someone so painful?” — Savannah Wright CHAPTER ONE In a dark secluded valley, Savannah Wright who was four months pregnant and was also carrying her two-year old child kept running for her life. “I need to be alive. I need to save my babies,” Savannah cried in desperation as she tirelessly ran towards the unknown. “Mommy, why are we running away? Why are you crying too?” Gregory Cullen asked, his eyes wide with worry. Savannah broke down the moment she heard her son’s voice, unable to hold back the tears any longer. “Don’t cry, Mommy,” Gregory whispered, wrapping his tiny arms around her neck. “Daddy will find us. He’ll be here soon.” He added softly, trying to comfort his mom with a brave little smile. Savannah didn’t say a word. She just held her son close and ran, heart pounding, through the chaos—driven by nothing but the need to keep herself and her kid safe. Meanwhile, a short distance away, a group of people were searching for Savannah. Their voices echoed across the vast valley. “Find her! Hurry! Before someone gets to her!” A familiar woman's voice rang out from afar. “Follow her scent!” The woman commanded. Savannah's body instinctively becomes more active as her adrenaline consumes her. Despite the wounds, the cuts, and bruises she has in her small body, she was still able to run as fast as she could. “Oh God, please keep me safe. I need to stay alive to protect my babies,” Savannah prayed earnestly as she tried to catch her breath from continuous running. Savannah had been hoping that the trees, bushes, and cold breeze would somehow hide her scent, but she knew for certain it was impossible. A couple of minutes later, one of the women screamed, “There she is!” The five women who had been following Savannah immediately transformed into wolves to catch her. Savannah screamed in frustration—in anger that she couldn’t even save herself and her babies. In just a few seconds, Savannah was surrounded by wolves, their eyes fixed on her as if she had committed something terrible and wicked. "Please... don't. Don't kill me or my babies. We've done nothing wrong," Savannah pleaded, her voice trembling as tears spilled down her cheeks, soaking her skin in desperation. One of the wolves stepped forward, her body contorting until the beast gave way to a woman cloaked in menace. She smirked, eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "Oh, Savannah... there's something deliciously satisfying about watching you beg.” "Camilla… I never wronged you!" Savannah cried out, her voice cracking with desperation. "You have Jasper’s heart—why are you still tormenting me?" Camilla stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with venomous delight. "Oh, sweet naive Savannah. Are you really that stupid?" she sneered. "As long as you and your spawn breathe, I’ll never know peace. Jasper may love me now, but I refuse to sit back and wait for you to weaponize your filthy little brats to steal him away." Savannah’s knees buckled as tears streamed down her face. "You don’t understand! Jasper doesn’t love me—he’s just taking advantage of my vulnerability!” She dropped to the ground, clutching her trembling hands together. "Please… Camilla, I’m begging you. Don’t hurt me and my kid. Don’t hurt us. I swear—you’ll never see us again. We’ll disappear." Camilla tilted her head, a wicked smile curling on her lips. "Oh, darling… I won’t see you again because tonight, you vanish for good." She turned to her pack, voice cold and merciless. "Torture her. And make sure that Savannah Wright and her child never see the light again.” "Sister… are we really going to kill the child?" Cassandra Cain whispered, her voice trembling as she stared at Savannah’s little boy, clinging tightly to his mother’s arms, crying along with her. Guilt gnawed at Cassandra, twisting in her gut like a blade. Camilla Cain snarled, eyes blazing with fury. "What?! Are you scared now?" she snapped. "Think, Cassandra! If you let that brat live, how long before he grows up and comes for our throats? Use your goddamned brain!" Cassandra’s lips quivered. She took a shaky step back. "But… he’s just two years old. He doesn’t even understand what’s happening!" Her sister’s expression darkened, voice dropping to a venomous hiss. "Don’t test me, Cassandra. Do you really want anyone tied to that filthy b***h breathing in our new pack? Her bloodline is a curse. That child is a ticking time bomb." Cassandra clenched her fists, torn between mercy and loyalty. “I’m leaving this one to you. I need to get back before Jasper starts asking questions,” Camilla said, her tone sharp but calm. “Do your part well, dear sister. Drake’s eyes will be on you soon enough.” Cassandra simply watched her sister’s back as she walked away. A few moments later, Savannah's painful cries filled the air as she was beaten without mercy. Blood was gushing from her, a heartbreaking sign that she was suffering a miscarriage. Her body trembled with pain and fear Not long after, Gregory Cullen’s soft, scared voice echoed—sad and desperate. “Mommy! Help me! Save me, please!!” Gregory Cullen screamed, yet his voice was gradually fading. Savannah's tears became more visible as she was so scared to die. “Please… spare my child! I’m begging you,” Savannah cried out, her voice barely audible, strangled by extreme pain and desperation. “I can’t die… my babies need me,” she mumbled, clinging to the last thread of hope as her vision slowly blurred. Half an hour later, the same group of people stood around Savannah’s motionless body, their faces shadowed with uncertainty and dread. “Are you sure she’s dead?” Vanessa Grant, Camilla’s closest friend, asked, her voice trembling as she stared at Savannah’s pale, lifeless form. “Yes. She is,” Cassandra Cain replied coldly, her eyes fixed on the body without a flicker of emotion. “What about her child?” another woman whispered into Cassandra’s ear, her breath shaky, barely audible. Cassandra didn’t answer. She simply turned and gave her a long, deliberate look—one that said everything without a single word. “Toss her body into the river. Let’s make sure no one knows what happened— especially Jasper and Drake,” Cassandra Cain commanded, her voice cold and sharp, without mercy.