The Midnight Foxxx

Chapter 5

VIXEN

“I have your next assignment,” Silas doesn’t look up from the pile of paper on his desk as he speaks. I cross my arms over my chest and shift my weight to one hip, waiting for him to continue. When he finally looks up at me, a frown tugs at his lips, “Don’t give me that look. Watch the attitude.” The urge to roll my eyes is hard to resist, but mange to uncross my arms and straighten up. “That’s better,” he smiles, voice condescending, “Now, the target. He’s become a regular in the last coupe of weeks and racked up quite the bill and refuses to pay. You know what to do.” A slip of paper is thrusted into my hands and I’m promptly dismissed. With a heavy sigh I head up to my room.

The slip paper of is tossed onto the meager excuse of a dresser and I start pulling out my usual black attire. Cargo pants, tank top, leather jacket and gloves, completed with combat boots. Once fully dressed a utility belt is clipped around my waist, equipped with two tomahawks and ten throwing knives. Brass knuckles are stored in an easily accessible pocket. Two more knives are sheathed onto the side of each boot. I do a quick once over, taking inventory of everything before looking into the cracked mirror hanging crooked above the dresser. Long black hair cascades over my shoulders, flowing down to my waist. With a heavy sigh I begin the long process of french braiding all of it into two long tails, then tuck them under my coat to keep them out of the way.

Once satisfied that I’m ready I grab the slip of paper again, unfolding it. The name Wilder Bishop stares back at me with scribbles of number scrawling down the page eventually reaching a complete total of his debt written in bold print on the bottom. I hover my hand over the page, focusing my gaze on the written name as I cast a seeking spell. The name glows before a sigil appears in the center of the paper, an arrow nestled in the middle of it pointing towards my target. It’s slipped into my pocket before leaving my room and head down stairs and out the back door.

Trees tower over me, blocking most of the moonlight from reaching the forest floor. It’s eerily quiet, no animal noises, just the rustling of wind through the high reaching branches. I check the sigil again and it’s glowing bright red. He’s close, and given we’re miles into dense woods in the middle of the night I’d guess he’s a shifter and out for a run in his wolf form. I frown at the paper Silas gave to me, he only ever gives names, never discloses if they’re human or otherwise. If he’s shifted this is going to be all the more difficult. He’ll be faster and stronger with heightened sense that might be able to see past my concealment spell. On top of all that who the hell knows where he decided to leave his clothes before shifting.

The surrounding woods remain quiet, leaving behind an unsettling feeling. The air starts to feel charged with energy causing the hair on my arms to stand on end. My brisk pace slows to a halt and sniff the air. The faint scent of a wolf touches my nose and immediately go on guard. A high hanging branch catches my attention, looking thick and sturdy enough to hold my weight. The faint and familiar tickle of magic caresses my skin before I blink up into the canopy. Leaves rustle and wood groans under the sudden added weight but quickly settles.

Red blinking light draws my attention, looking down I see the pocket holding the tracking spell is lighting up like a damn Christmas tree, meaning the target is incredibly close. I quickly release the spell before the miniature rave gives away my location. A twig snaps near by followed by crinkling foliage and I hold my breath. Heavy foot steps start creeping closer, muffled by the soft earth but still audible. Chancing a look down a large russet wolf steps into view, his steps lumbering and care free. He doesn’t look up at me, instead keeping his attention straight ahead. I relax realizing he hasn’t noticed me. A quick scan of his body confirms he doesn’t have anything on his person, and must of stashed his clothes and anything valuable. I internally groan at the prospect of following this asshole around in the woods in the middle of the night until he decides to go the f**k home.

After several hours it becomes apparent he’s walking in circles. A big circle that spans a couple of miles, walking the same path over and over again. I feel as though I’m about to go crazy when he finally deviates from his usual course. The forest starts to thin out and moving among the trees becomes increasingly difficult as the space between them continuously grows. The next available branch is too far to jump and hold my breath as I teleport myself over to it. I was certain he would hear or sense the magic but the wolf continues on, oblivious to what’s going on above. A soft chuckle escapes my chest at the complete lack of awareness this shifter possesses.

Eventually he comes to a stop at the base of a large tree. I watch in fascination and mild jealously as he shifts back into human form. My hand caresses the collar locked tightly around my throat that prevents me from shifting. A sense of longing washes over me with the force of a tsunami. I can’t even remember the last time I was in my coyote form, or even heard her in my mind. The collar completely subdues her, leaving behind an empty feeling. Sadness settles over me but quickly banish it and refocus on the task at hand. The target is now pulling a bag out from under tree roots, rummaging around in it until clothes are being taken out. I take a deep breath. It’s now or never. My hand finds the axe on my hip, unsheathing it carefully. I pull my arm back, steady my breathing as I take aim. Muscles are pulled tight, summoning every ounce of strength to ensure a successful break through the thick skull. Just as I’m about to release, another wolf come trotting into view.

“s**t,” I mutter and quickly lower my arm. The second wolf shifts into human form as well and begins conversing with Wilder, though I’m just out of hearing range. I groan to myself, frustrated. If I kill outside of Silas’ specific orders again who the hell knows what my punishment would be this time, then again could it be any worse then going back empty handed? f**k. Uncertainty and indecision ignites the beginnings of panic. In a split second decision, tomahawks are in my hands, knuckles turning white under the tight grip. The shots are lined up and I take a steadying breath.

A deep guttural howl sends ice rushing through my veins. Another group of wolves approaches the first two, three of them, one considerably larger than all the others. It’s blonde fur ripples as he changes forms and I’m met with vaguely familiar blonde curls. The larger male turns just enough to catch a glimpse of unmistakable blue eyes and I feel my stomach drop. They're a pack. The pack that visited the club a few weeks ago. This is pack territory and he was walking in f*****g circles because he was on patrol. f**k, f**k, f**k! Fear grips my heart at the realization. I could be executed just for trespassing if I’m caught.

A frustrated growl escapes my throat, causing the larger male to perk up, turning an ear in my direction. I quickly cast a camouflage spell just as the blonde whips his head towards me. Blue eyes pierce into mine, my heart thunders in my chest. I’m unable to move, frozen in place, certain he saw me before I could cast the spell but can’t convince my body to move. Time stops, ears ring with a shrill pitch and my heart beats so fast it feels like it going to break out of my chest... And then he turns back to his pack mates, continuing on like nothing happened. Shock lingers in my system, keeping muscles locked up and holding me in place.

When the scent of more wolves approaching touches my nose I'm shaken from the daze. I can't be here, I need to leave before I'm completely swarmed. Magic hums under my skin and teleport several hundred feet away, as far as I could manage. The sudden large consumption of magic leaves me dizzy, but ignore it to continue through the dense forest as quickly and quietly as possible.

"You didn't f*****g tell me he was part of a pack," I'm seething as I stare down Silas, a smug grin on his face.

"It's not important. Who they are and who they are affiliated with is none of your concern. All you need to know is how much they owe me, then you go make an example of them and collect the debt," the contempt in his voice is infuriating and let a growl slip from my throat.

"You can't be f*****g serious? Killing a rogue is one thing, no one will notice, but a pack member? People WILL notice, and how the hell am I suppose to get into pack territory to kill him without being noticed? I was almost caught tonight for f***s sake," frustration loosens my tongue, my usual filter completely offline

"So you didn't complete the assignment?" Silas' smirk falls and his eyes darken. My stomach drops.

"No sir," my tone softens and avert my gaze.

"You know that means punishment," a dangerous edge to his voice makes me shiver. I don't dare answer with words but nod my head, "Escort duty. Indefinitely."

"What?!" I screech, "You can't be f*****g serious." Silas abruptly stands form his desk, rounding it in only a few steps. His over powering presence towers over me.

"It seems I've been too complacent with you and need to be reminded of your place," His dark eyes narrow and pulls out the dreaded pink pill. "Open," he commands but I lock my jaw, glaring at him in defiance. Cold slender fingers grip my jaw, pressing hard over the joints. Pain forces the hinges to open and the pill is forced into my mouth. When I refuse to swallow hands cover my nose and mouth, cutting off air supply.

"Swallow," his voice is deadly and tightens his grip as I begin to struggle. My lungs scream for air, darkness begins to creep into the edges of my vision. I'm just about to pass out when I cave and finally swallow. He releases me and I gasp for air, the room spinning around me. It doesn't take long for the magically enhanced drug to enter my system. A warm haze blankets my mind and leaves me limbs feeling wobbly like jello.

“There, isn’t that better?” Silas coos into my ear. I shiver and nod my head absentmindedly. The last embers of defiance flicker out, settling into the comfortable fog of pliancy.

“Be a good girl and go to your assigned room. Customers are waiting,” he chuckles as I stagger out of his office obediently. I begin to lose myself in the haze as everything becomes fuzzy. The last thing I can remember are hands groping my body but not having the mental capacity to know I should be fighting it.