The Alphas Assassin (Complete)

The Party

*Gabriel*

My dad turned the radio down in the car and I looked up from my book. Gwen still has her head leaned against the glass in the passenger seat and Esens head was hung back in his seat beside me.

“Gabe, it’s Ari’s birthday, just so you know.”

“Yeah… I know…”

My dad peered at me in the rear view mirror. “Her mom said she likes caramel if you want to stop in the town and get her something before we get to their house.”

I shrugged. “I guess.”

“Gabe…” my dad sighed but I didn’t answer, “I know you’re still upset about that Red River stuff… but I promise you, you don’t have to worry about Ariella being married to Armin…”

“Armin was pretty sure…”

“Well…” My dad cut me off, “Ari was already pretty adamant on who she wanted to marry when she grew up, I’m almost certain it’s not Armin.” My dad tried to give me a teasing laugh but for some reason it came out nervous and guarded.

“I don’t care who she marries…” I marveled looking out the window toward the rolling hillside, watching late chunks of melting snow roll by as we grew closer to the north. It hardly ever snowed in our pack territory, and it was one of the few things I liked about the Waning Moon Territory, it snowed.

“Uncle V!” Ari jumped into my dad's arms, giggling happily as she practically strangled her thin arms around his neck.

He giggled with her as he swung her, her light brown braids swirling with her and her pink dress flowing with the motion as he held her in the air. She had a large tiara pinned into her hair with giant plastic pink and purple jewels.

“Awe look at you Princess!” My dad laughed before he shifted her into one arm to greet Alpha Arlo as he came from the front door of his house.

“Hey Val!” He smiled, rose bitten cheeks raising and brown eyes sparkling as he held his hand out to shake my dads.. I heard Gwen greet Luna Kerstin and Esen came and stood next to me, letting out a bored sigh.

He nudged my shoulder and motioned to the iron gate and we grinned at one another as we tried to turn silently and slink away from the grownups.

My dad made a sharp sound with his mouth as he noticed us inching back. We almost always ran off to the woods to explore when we were in Waning Moons Territory. “We are here for Ari’s birthday, not for you to run off into the woods…”

We both rolled our eyes but I looked into Ariellas eyes, she was still hugged in my dad's arms. At the time, I believed fully he had liked her more as a daughter than he did his own two children. She gave me a sad puppy dog look. Her giant brown eyes looked like saucers on her little face. She fiddled nervously with the edge of my dad's tie and shifted her eyes away from my gaze like an embarrassed child, which she was. but she always seemed to act just a bit younger than her age. I wasn’t sure if it was because my dad was wrapped around her finger or if it was how she normally was.

For some reason ever since I had fought Armin from Red River the previous year she had acted shy toward me. She once used to follow me around like a stray dog and beg to hang out with me and my future Beta, Esen. But last Fall Armin, Alpha Camilo's son, had called Ari, a 6 year old at the time, a slut, and I was the one who defended her first. It resulted in Armin's nose being broken, a split in his lip, and even a crack in his eye socket…

My dad scolded me first in front of the other Alphas, as Alpha Camilo demanded it. But once it was just him and I, he commended me for defending Ari against Armin. He even high-fived me for busting the kids nose, told me I had a pretty strong right hook, and told me to always defend the special people in my life like I had Ari.

“You don’t have to stay…” Ari said sadly as my dad went to set her down on her little white shoes. A sniffle escaped her and a stray tear slipped from her eye over a rosy cheek on her heart shaped face.

I felt a pain in my heart as I met her eyes again, my dad gave an aggravated look as if to say “Now look what you did.”

“No, no!” I started in a stutter, “We were just gonna go for a bit, we were gonna be back before your party!”

She sniffled again and nodded. I watched Luna Kerstin kneel to her and wipe her cheek with her thumb before kissing the side of her head.

“Don’t worry sweetie, I’m sure Gabe and Esen will be at your party, Right Gabe?” She pointed the question to me, Ari’s eyes lit up at the notion and I nodded.

“Right! Of course!” My dad cut in before I could protest. “Be back in an hour. Don’t mess up your clothes.” He ordered Esen and I.

“Yes Alpha.” We said in unison before we turned on our heels and bolted for the iron gate that blocked the stone courtyard from the woods around it.

An hour later we returned to the Waning Moon pack house. It now buzzed with other kids and adults. All the children Ari’s age played games and laughed at a clown that had been ordered in. Older kids sat in chairs staring or chatting with one another. Adults held flutes of bubbling champagne and mingled with one another, laughing and joking with each other, including my older sister who had struck up a conversation with a thick, broad guy in a gaudy pinstripe suit.

My dad had disappeared with the Alpha of Waning Moon. There was never a get together without some sort of alpha business going on between those two. Though, I often believed it was more them just sharing a drink tucked away in Alpha Arlos office away from the hustle and bustle of the families.

I watched Ari like a hawk, unable to take my eyes from her as if I was scared Armin would show up and start calling her slurs again. My dad had told me Red River hadn’t been invited to this event per Ari’s own guest list, and her father honored that for her, only inviting the packs and families with kids she liked.

“Gabriel.” I heard my dads voice as he stepped next to Esen and I. I pulled my face from where my chin was resting in my hand, braced against my leg. “Come with me.”

I swallowed hard and shared a glance with Esen, my eyes cutting to Ari quickly, he and I shared a short nod before I turned to my dad again and stood. I patted off my slacks and adjusted my cuffs before following my dad. He led me down the hall to the office that Alpha Arlo shared with Luna Kerstin.

My dad pushed open the door and motioned me in. I had never been inside the Waning Moon Alphas office, this would be the first time I would be included in pack business.

Two desks sat on opposite sides of the big room, both sides decorated with pictures of them and Ariella. In the middle was a black leather couch and glass coffee table. Smaller arm chairs sat opposite the couch. Alpha Arlo and Luna Kerstin sat side by side on the couch with their eyes turned toward a stack of documents.

They paused and looked up to us as if they were expecting us and smiled.

“Sit, Gabriel.” My father ordered.

“Yes sir…” I answered, I could feel my voice waiver. 13 was young to be in the Alpha business of two packs, but as the only heir to Full Moon, I knew it would come sooner or later, I just always assumed it would be after my first shift.

“Gabe…” Luna Kerstins voice was soft, she looked like Ari, with light brown, wavy hair and dark eyes, the same button nose and heart shaped face. Even someone as young as me could see she was a beautiful woman, and that Alpha Arlo was absolutely enamored with her.

“Yes Ma’am?” I asked in response.

She let out a sigh and looked to her husband, then to my dad. Then her chocolate eyes fell on me with a pleading stare. “We have a favor to ask of you…”