Werewolf Assassins

Chapter 9: Alexis' POV

  I thought she would be angry.

     I knew she'd been frustrated when she saw me in the trees, but I was expecting much worse than frustration. Of course, I didn't really give her the opportunity to really get angry. I had seen her head wound, and I had gotten very worried. When I had reached up to pet her and felt her blood on my hand, I had felt my heart drop. When I had gone to get a better look, though, she had taken off running, very nearly knocking me to the ground in the process. I had watched in awe as her wound stitched itself back together while I was hugging her neck. It was incredible.

     Eventually we stopped in the cemetery, and by then her wound had entirely healed, leaving nothing but dried blood on her head and around her ears. I slid off her back and turned to face her with my hands on my hips. I certainly didn't appreciate the sudden running that had nearly knocked me from her back.

     I didn't even have time to form a thought before I saw her beautiful blue eyes flash gold for a moment, then return to normal. I tilted my head, confused.

     "What was that?"

     She gave me a wolfy grin, and I smiled back at her. It took a moment for her to calm her breathing, then just like that her human form was before me, pulling me into a tight hug.

     "The wolf accepted you as ours," she whispered against my ear.

     "That's a good thing, right?" I wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but I wanted to know everything I could about her.

     She nodded and pulled back to look down into my eyes. "My wolf had to accept you as my mate as well. It's a… complicated explanation. Basically, while I have full control and see everything that happens as the wolf, the instincts force me to do certain things or to not do certain things. So the wolf's instincts had to accept you, and that's not something I can control. But it did."

     That was all the explanation she needed to give me before she leaned down and kissed me deeply, her lips soft and warm, a form of home I'd never known before. I never wanted it to end. I never wanted to leave her arms.

     Eventually, however, she pulled back. I whined softly and she smirked down at me. I knew that look, and my heart skipped a beat as I smirked back.

     We were interrupted by the rest of the assassins returning to the cemetery, forming a tight circle around us as Sofia waved them over. I pressed into her side, my arms wrapped tight around her waist, and she pulled me closer with her arm around my shoulder.

     "My family, you all fought well today. Sam, total death and injury count?"

     "Eight dead, including a police dog and the four who were sent to get us, and twenty-two injured, boss," Sam responded. So she was the leader, then. I had guessed as much, from the respect everyone had for her.

     I felt her nod, her hold tightening slightly around my shoulder. "Alright then, about what I had estimated. How many bloodsuckers were there?"

     "Six. Guessing from their speeds and strengths, three newborns, two who were maybe two year old, and one experienced, maybe twenty years old."

     Sofia smiled above me. "Losing only eight to a strong group like that is not bad. That was good work, everyone. Those who we lost will be remembered, and will be given a proper funeral from their families. Sam, I trust you told them what must be done?"

     Sam only nodded, looking pleased with himself.

     "Good. Now, onto happier news." She looked down at me, smiling softly, before turning her attention back to the group. "Everyone here knows what I am. I don't hide it from my family, and we don't have any newbies here. What many of you don't know is that myself, Sam, and Jenny have been researching werewolves for some years now, searching for ways to control the wolf. Until recently, the full moon was a dreaded night for everyone. Training couldn't be completed because that room was taken up by a hungry, angry wolf. Those days are over, for we have found the answer."

     The assembled group looked around at each other, murmuring their confusion but excitement.

     Sofia continued, a warm smile on her face. "That answer came in the form of what is normally a complication during contracts. But as we know, many of us, including myself, were complications for our more senior members. That's how we ended up here. In this case, on my most recent assignment, my complication, and in turn my answer, came in the form of Alexis. The research that Jenny conducted led to the discovery of a werewolf's mate. The mate of a werewolf must be accepted by both the instincts of the wolf and the host of the wolf themselves. And, of course, the mate must accept the host and wolf. Family, I have found my mate, and all parties have accepted each other!"

     She finished her speech and the gathered assassins cheered, whooping and clapping. I nuzzled into her chest, smiling sheepishly, and light blush spreading across my face.

     "That means," I heard her continue, "That I can now create a pack. I have the blood of the alpha in my veins, and given the turmoil we faced, my enemies have sensed it, and have sensed that the one person who can help me control it has come to me. I will not force this curse on any one of you, but if you do wish to join me, I would love to have you. Those who choose not to take the bite will still be considered members of the pack, you simply won't hunt with us."

     I heard the assassins murmuring quietly, speaking amongst themselves. Finally, Sam stepped forward.

     "You know I am with you, Sofia. I told you before, when the time came I would join you, and I intend to keep that promise."

     Sofia smiled at him and nodded. "I knew you would, my old friend. Which is why you will be my beta, should you accept it."

     Sam smiled wide and nodded, kneeling before her. "I would be honored, Alpha."

     After his show of dedication, nearly every other assassin stepped forward as well, and each kneeled beside the other. Around twenty men and women kneeled in front of my mate, and I smiled warmly. She tightened her arm around my shoulder and kissed the top of my head. When I looked around at the gathered men and women, the only person who hadn't stepped forward was Jenny.

     "Head back into the hideout with Jenny? This will take only a few minutes." Her voice was soft against my ear, and I nodded, smiling. I knew I couldn't accept her bite, my daemon blood would burn away the wolf before it ever took hold.

     I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed her softly, to which that wonderful rumble sounded again. I had decided that rumble meant she was happy, and I loved hearing it that much more. Then we released our hold on each other, leaving me a little colder, and I headed for the hideout.

     Jenny followed me at a bit of a distance, and when we were descending the staircase I decided to speak.

     "Why didn't you accept her bite?"

     She seemed startled by my question, but sighed softly. "She and I have an agreement. Because I'm the healer, I have to always keep my head. The wolf becomes very… intense and even though they will heal incredibly fast, broken bones and infections will still need to be treated, only that much faster. Besides, with our history, she doesn't want me wolfing out on her mate one day and… well, you get the picture."

     I frowned. I didn't get the picture at all, but I didn't push. I would simply ask Sofia about it later.

     As we stepped into the hideout, using our combined strength to push open the heavy door, I heard the howls of twenty-something wolves above us. I smiled softly, knowing Sofia had finally created her pack. And I grew excited by what that meant for us.