THE RUTHLESS ALPHA’S SECRET ASSASSIN

Chapter 3

Christopher’s POV

"Greetings to you, Alpha. The council is waiting for you in the inner courtyard," Richard said, stepping into the dim doorway of my study.

"Okay, I'll be there soon," I replied, my voice gravelly from hours of staring over territory maps and casualty reports.

I stood, adjusting the heavy belt at my waist, and picked up my silver-hilted sword. Ten days. It had been ten long, agonizing days since the attack on our home, and the scent of ash and blood still felt clung to the stone walls of Red Moon pack house.

I pushed open the heavy oak doors and stepped out into the grand hallway. The pack house was on high alert, the atmosphere thick with nervous tension. As I walked down the marble corridor, lower-ranking wolves and household servants scrambled to make way for their leader.

"Alpha," a young male servant murmured, dropping to one knee with his head bowed low to show deference. Beside him, a line of female servants carrying fresh linens pressed themselves against the stone wall, keeping their eyes glued firmly to the floor.

"Greetings, Alpha Christopher," they chorused in trembling, hushed whispers, bowing deeply as I passed.

I gave them a brief nod, my mind fixed entirely on the war council waiting outside. But as I took another step toward the archway leading to the courtyard, a sudden, sharp jolt shot through my chest.

Snip.

A scent hit my nostrils—faint, delicate, and entirely out of place amidst the smell of polish, sweat, and fear. It was a intoxicating blend of wild jasmine and rain-soaked earth.

My wolf, Ace, suddenly clawed at the back of my mind, raising his head and letting out a low, needy whine. Mate? he whispered, stirring with an intensity I hadn't felt in years.

I stopped dead in my tracks, my hand gripping the hilt of my sword so tightly my knuckles turned white. My head snapped toward the line of bowing female servants.

There, tucked away at the very end of the line, stood a frail girl with her head ducked low. Her hair was tied back in a messy knot, and her hands were trembling violently against the fabric of her worn servant dress. She was shrinking into the shadows, desperately trying to render herself invisible.

It’s coming from her, Ace growled, pushing to the surface. Look at her. Go to her.

My boots shifted toward her. I wanted to march over, grab her by the chin, and force her to look me in the eye. I wanted to inhale that scent until my head cleared.

Then, the heavy sound of murmuring voices from the courtyard echoed through the open archway, shattering the moment.

Not now, I told Ace sharply, forcing my heart rate to slow down. My sister is recovering from a poisoned arrow, our guards are dead, and a traitor is walking our halls. I don't have time for distractions. Not even this.

I yanked my gaze away from the girl, steeling my expression back into an unreadable mask of ice. I shoved the intoxicating scent to the very back of my mind, though my wolf snarled in protest at being denied. Whatever—or whoever—that girl was, she would have to wait. My pack was under siege.

I cleared my throat, lengthened my stride, and swept through the archway into the bright sunlight of the inner courtyard. But my wolf was becoming aggressive, it wasn't in support of me not moving closer to her, but I still didn't yield

On getting there, all the elders stood up from the long wooden table, greeting me in unison.

"Greetings to the greatest Alpha,” they said, their voices echoing off the tall stone walls surrounding the courtyard.

"Greetings to you all. You may take your seats,” I said, walking with heavy, deliberate steps to the head of the courtyard table.

It was no longer news that we were attacked ten days ago by one of our own.

A heavy silence fell over the gathered elders the moment I sat. Some exchanged anxious glances; others sat with grim, rigid expressions, waiting for me to set the tone.

"Salman’s Pack believes they have cornered us," I began, resting both hands on the hilt of my sword. "They used a rogue element—a spy planted right under our noses—to poison Vanessa and weaken our front lines. They struck when my back was turned, believing that slaughtering innocent families and targeting my inner circle would break our resolve. But if Alpha Salman thinks a cowardly ambush is enough to bring down Red Moon Pack, he has severely underestimated us."

I reached into my tunic, pulled out the rolled paper containing Vanessa’s detailed drawing of the spy maid, and flattened it onto the wooden table for every elder to see.

"This is the female who slipped the poison into Vanessa's drink," I said, my voice dropping an octave as Ace growled near the surface. "Richard is currently tracking her down. No one leaves or enters the territory without explicit authorization until she is captured alive. Anyone caught harboring her will face the same execution as a traitor."

Elder Jonas slammed his fist on the table, the wood groaning under his strength. “A maid? In our kitchens? Who has the audacity to spy on us in our own home?”

“Yes, it was a maid sent to spy on us, and it seems we’ve been far too trusting,” I said coldly.

Elder Thomas, one of the oldest members of the council, leaned forward, his brow furrowed with deep lines of concern. "Alpha... if Salman has spies inside our walls, a direct assault on his territory could put us at a severe disadvantage. What is our plan?"

"We fight on our terms, not theirs," I replied smoothly, a dark smirk playing at the edge of my lips. “Through an inside source, I’ve secured the exact layout of Salman's territory. They have ten thousand guards and heavy surveillance, but their active shifts are lax around midnight."

I deliberately kept Berney's name out of it. I kept that information to myself. In a pack where a maid could easily slip poison into the Alpha's sister's water without anyone noticing, no one could be trusted blindly. Not yet.

Murmurs of approval rippled through the elders. The heavy tension in the courtyard shifted from anxiety to fierce, bloodthirsty anticipation.

"We will not wait for another strike," I declared, standing up and looking each elder directly in the eye. "We strike first, dismantle their network, and bring Alpha Salman to his knees."

I turned toward the shadows of the courtyard pillar. “Eric,” I called.

He stepped forward into the sunlight. Dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes; he looked like he hadn’t slept in days, but his posture was rigid and ready.

“Prepare our elite vanguard—the best warriors we have. We move soon."

“Yes, Alpha,” he said, bowing his head.

Elder Marta finally spoke, her voice laced with motherly hesitation. “What of the civilians, Alpha? If this turns into open, bloody war….”

“Then their Alpha will answer for every single life lost,” I cut in sharply. "He started this when he put an arrow in my sister. He started this when he slaughtered my guards, when he instilled fear in innocent civilians, and when he turned my pack into chaos. But I won’t let innocent people suffer needlessly. We’ll find a way around the civilians when the time comes."

I picked up Vanessa’s drawing again, staring at the sketch of the maid's face as anger burned through my veins.

“Richard,” I said without looking up.

“Move all the female servants to the open field and check every single one thoroughly against this drawing.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Richard said, turning and exiting the courtyard immediately.

The council table was dead silent now. No more questions, no more hesitations—just the quiet, lethal hum of wolves ready for war.

"The council is dismissed," I commanded. "Double the perimeter patrols, lock down the kitchens, and search every servant's quarter. If anyone looks suspicious, bring them directly to me.”

As the elders filed out, whispering among themselves, Eric lingered behind and approached my side.

“Alpha,” he said quietly, keeping his voice low so the departing elders wouldn't hear. “Vanessa is asking for you. She’s awake.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. “And Ruth?”

“Still unconscious, but the healers say she is stable.”

“Okay. Thanks for the update," I said, putting a hand on my Beta's shoulder. "Make sure you get enough rest and prepare yourself for whatever comes next. And I also have something to tell, but that will be later."

“Thank you, Alpha Christopher, but hope it's nothing serious,” he asked.

"No, it's not that serious. We'll talk about it later, just prepare yourself for the plan."

"Okay," he said bowing before turning to leave.

I stood alone in the courtyard for a moment, the faint memory of that jasmine-and-rain scent briefly floating through my mind again but why will a mere servant with no wolf scent be my mate. I'll need to check again. She can't be my mate

I turned on my heel and walked out. War was coming, and I was done waiting.