Chosen By Ruin

Mission Future Alpha

“Kill?” I ask, my expression contorting to a frown.

Alpha Sorren’s gaze drops to my body. “If you can’t do it, I have numerous other uses for you.”

There is no way those other uses would be better.

He continues, “If you don’t agree to it. I will traffick you off to someone who needs a breeder and kill them after he’s done using them, or I’ll return you to Kol and inform him that you’ve been secretly training to avenge your parents’ death.”

A cold wave of fear replaces the control I had wrapped around myself. How did he know?

“How do you…”

“Know?” Soren takes the word from me smoothly, the corner of his lips lifting. “You’re naive if you think you have a loyal friend in Kol’s house.”

My heart breaks immediately. He doesn’t need to say it. The only person that knows of my personal affairs in Scarlet Pack is Maerra. Heavy disappointment rolls through me.

Then realization. Was that why she didn’t want more of my secrets? Because she knew she would tell them?

I’m glad I didn’t later tell her what I would have if she hadn’t stopped me.

“I know everything,” he continues. “Including your plan to escape from my house.” I lower my gaze and let the disappointment hit again. Then why had she told me not to die when she had already pushed me into death’s cold hands? I don’t understand it. And I don’t want to.

I inhale deeply. I would rather not be a breeder nor let him disclose whatever he knows to Alpha Kol. “Tell me about the mission,” I find myself saying against my will.

His lips curl with approval. “I thought so.”

—

That is how I find myself waiting in Soren’s car before the gates of SupraVeil Academy the next morning.

A supernatural school located in Venmount- the east side of the country, situated far away from the urban areas. Humans like me are not supposed to know about this deadly location.

But my mission…

The academy rises ahead like a building that could only exist in one’s imagination. It’s vast, enclosed, looking like nothing can take it down.

“They will definitely think you are Hannah Wales. You look like her now.” Alpha Soren says from the driver seat.

I guess I do. My hair is now dyed- from dark brown to pure blonde, my blue eyes hidden under a golden brown set of contact lenses. And a pyramid and star tattoo is now gracing the left side of my wrist. We got it all done on me by his pack’s hairstylist this morning.

According to Alpha Soren- The girl I am about to impersonate had the features that I now possess. Hannah Wales. But according to Soren, she died two days ago. She couldn’t change into her wolf but forced it and died.

Hannah Wales’ mother is friends with the Luna of the wolf pack in Supraveil. The Luna of the pack is mother to the future Alpha I’m sent to kill- Xaden Draven.

The girl and her parents are members of Alpha Soren’s pack. Hannah was meant to start schooling in the very academy I’m about to set my feet in today, to be thought how to change to her wolf without breaking, but she’s not here. I am, using her personal for a deadly purpose that makes my skin crawl.

But I have no choice.

Just as I am about to step out of his car, Sorren’s hand closes over mine. I freeze.

His thumb drags slowly across my skin- too slow to be anything but intentional.

“Don’t sleep with him,” he says quietly. “Like I’ve said earlier, he was born cursed. Women who do dies.”

I push the fear that threatens to surface away. “I have absolutely zero intention to.” I say, pulling my hand away.

His gaze lingers a second longer than necessary. “Go.” He finally says.

I hesitate again for a moment, having a feeling that I don’t have enough information about this future Alpha or why exactly Soren wants him dead.

But time is going. A month is all I have, and I will gain my freedom. The thought of being free fills me with ecstasy. I can’t wait to find my sister.

I step out of the car and walk toward the gates without looking back.

—

The registration hall is already filled. Voices and movements circle around me. I see young people like me, who are surely here for the right reasons, not for a reason as sick as mine.

I keep my posture straight, and blend in. I join the line, feeling too aware as I approach the long desk where four officials sit. They are registering us in.

According to what I was told, they don’t allow just anybody into their academy. Only people whose surnames are relevant in the supernatural world gets into this training school.

Rhea used to mention hoping when she grows up, she would get into this Academy when we were little- on very random days when we were not fighting or she wasn’t busy hating me.

What if she’s already here? The thought gives me a chill.

It gets to my turn, and I clear my throat silently.

“Your name?” The woman with high arched brows among them ask.

Liliana Veyne. But not here. “Hannah Wales.” I answer and her pen pauses. She looks up at me.

This isn’t the right time to appear nervous. I meet her narrowed displeasing gaze with mine. My gaze falls when she wouldn’t look away.

Just then, she says, “Your mother and I are enemies. I suggest you don’t cross my path.” She gestures for me to go in but my heart only races faster.

I don’t question it. I only regret not getting enough information from Soren. As we walk in, an envelope falls from a brunette’s carelessly-zipped backpack and I help her pick it up before she can walk past it.

“Thank you.” She beams brightly at me. I don’t bother to answer. I’m not here to make friends, and won’t engage with anyone to the extent of developing attachments.

I finally walk into a wide fancy hall way, and I let my eyes roam. Beautiful paintings line the wall. Most of them are eerie. A big black wolf. A high castle surrounded by butterflies. Snakes curled around black flowers.

And a dragon painting. A chilling tingle creeps up my arm, traveling to my spine as I access the dragon painting specifically. It’s…big.

I find it appealing. Do dragons truly exist?

“Beautiful arts. I love them too.” A girl speaks beside me. I let my head turn towards her only to realize she’s the pretty brunette I helped pick up her envelope earlier.

“Yeah.” I answer curtly.

“I’m Sloane Mulligan. Thank you for earlier. First year?” She introduces herself, and even though she sounds warm, I still don’t want to make friends.

“Hannah. First year.” I nod, even though the fake name still feels foreign.

Before anything else can be said- A strange force slams into me. So hard that I lost balance on my feet.

I hit the ground, breath knocked from my lungs as the room erupts in noise.

“Here you are!”

My head snaps up. A boy storms toward me, fury blazing in his eyes.

“Your mother killed my sister!”

My heart drops.

What?

“No…”

I don’t get to finish. Something invisible strikes me again.

My body is thrown sideways- rolling and crashing into the hallway floor. Pain explodes through my ribs, making me dizzy. s**t. I should have brought my daggers here.

He hit me with that force again and I spin. Another spin.

My skin tears where I scrape against the ground.

I can’t stop it.

My body slams into a sudden halt just when I think I’m rolling to death.

I just rolled onto something solid. I look to see a pair of black leather boots.

I groan as I try to stand but my body resists. I had never experienced such before. Maybe I would have asked Soren to allow for better preparation.

“Get off my feet except you have a death wish?” A deep baritone voice threatens above me, reminding me that I’m lying on someone's feet.

I jerk my head up and the bluest eyes I have ever seen pin me in place- Cold, intense, and entirely unimpressed.

His structure and face must have been created when the gods were in their happiest moment.

It feels illogical to notice such in the presence of death, but…

“Leave her, Xaden. She’s mine to kill.”

I turn in time to see the boy who I’ve now concluded uses magic- closes up on me. But beyond the fear I feel is the shocking realization that the blue-eyed I was just slammed onto is Xaden.

My chest heaves as I rise to my feet.

Xaden Draven. The same future Alpha Xaden I was sent here to kill.