The Alpha's Assassin Mate: BOOK 1

6. DRUMOND

TWO NIGHTS AGO

The eerie feeling this city always have served as a constant reminder that I was never alone. I had just arrived at St Christopher's for the prime Alpha's gathering and even as I stand on the rooftop of this abandoned hotel, gazing at every car, every person walking on this sad lonely night, I continue to feel a very familiar tingling I have felt almost everyday since I turned; A sudden rush of adrenaline that courses through my body, an increase in the anger I always carried around and the sudden desire to draw blood. That was my werewolf part telling me that danger was always close by. Whether among my fellow werewolves or in the form of our mortal enemies, vampires. I looked down the rooftop and I see an all too familiar movement, shadows following the path the creature took. A vampire had walked that road, and as my killer instincts kicked in, I jumped down from the rooftop. As I jumped, I felt my body heat up . My muscles became more tensed, my legs suddenly became stronger and my spine thickened. So when my feet touched the ground, I felt no pain even after jumping from such a height. Now I wanted to answer the call of nature, the animal instinct that lives in me and all other werewolves. And in like manner, another version of the same instinct that lives in the vampires.

The streets of St Christopher's city beamed with lights and even on a dark night, one would think it was still day time. It held an unbreakable record of being the most developed city in the world, attracting hundreds of tourists, business people, romantics who could afford it's luxury and other caliber of persons. Ofcourse, it was also the home for the elite werewolves to whom I belonged. This was marked as a no vampire territory, and any vampire that tries to get in always gets torn apart. And tonight, I was going to execute that judgement.

I followed the scent the vampire had left behind. It reeked of death, a living corpse. Werewolves have a heightened sense of smell like vampires. But more powerful werewolves such as myself could even catch a scent better than regular ones or even alphas. Becoming prime alpha was not also a choice I had made. Like everything else, it suddenly came to me. And till this very moment, I have not accepted what I am.

***

I walked into a street where the lighting was fewer. The scent of the vampire had led me there. As I walked, I saw a young girl holding hands with a little boy who I presumed was her brother. That suddenly made me remember by sister Alma, the very one I still held close to my heart every day. I remembered her smiles as she would tease me whenever she came home from the University. She was a couple years older than I was and she protected me from bullies when I was younger. Alma was a tomboy, she didn't take crap from anybody and she wouldn't hesitate to pick a fight if it got to that. But she was loving and kind and she loved me for what I was. She was the first person I told when I turned, and that led me to discover her own secrets.

Twenty Three years ago, I was walking home from the high school I attended. It was dark and like this night, it was eerie. I stayed behind with a couple of friends to play basketball inside the school court and we lost track of time. We lived in Haresgate, a Town that was not too far from St Christopher's. My mother worked as a nurse in Haresgate and most of the money she earned went into my education and that of my Alma. Our father died when I was still young and she had to care for us on her own. Before transferring to the high school in the city, I assured mother It would be fine. She was wary of the fact that I had to school in the city. She said it was too far from home and since school offered no boarding facilities, it was not a good idea. But I told her it was alright. I saw the city as a place of opportunities. I was good with art and if I could somehow school there, it will increase my chances of having a better life. Naive little me. If only I'd knew better, I wouldn't have made such a terrible decision. Mother should have stopped me. She should have.

I always took the express bus to school every morning and in the evenings when I was coming back. Since I was a student, I always paid half the fare. That was the law the governor made and it applied only to that bus. But on that day, I missed the bus that was supposed to take me home. I thought it wasn't so dark. I decided to hike home. What could possibly go wrong?

From the view of St Christopher's, Haresgate was located on a hill. I wanted to take the infamous dark forest the whole kids at school were buzzing about. And since it kind of led to Haresgate, I was killing two birds with a single stone. So I began my journey. Mother was working an afternoon shift at the hospital and since she did not call to check if I had gotten home, I assumed she was busy at work.

The walk through the dark forest took longer than I had expected. I was tired already. I felt my bag for a piece of cake but I remembered I had eaten all of it back at school. I checked my phone but there was no reception. It was really a dark forest. But I was convinced I was getting closer to Haresgate. I just needed to walk a few more minutes and I'd get to town. Then I would quickly get a bus home. I was too tired to walk all the way home. For a sixteen years old, I did not like to be stressed.

Suddenly, I heard wierd movements behind me. I stopped and turned but I did not see anyone. I shrugged my shoulders thinking my mind was probably playing tricks on me. Just when I attempted to move forward, I heard a loud growl that sent shivers down my spine. Then a sudden dash brought two creatures before my eyes. One was pinned down, with long fangs and red eyes and the one that did the pinning was a human like wolf. It had strong arms whose muscles bulged even beneath the hair that covered it's entire body. I have never seen a wolf look like this. It was too tall to even qualify as one. Then it opened it's large mouth which had large strong teeth and bit down the neck of the other creature. The wolf being tore the neck and I watched as the other creature turned to sand. I opened my eyes wide as I watched the entire scene. I was too shocked to move. Then the wolf being looked at me with it's green eyes. It growled angrily at me and I took to my heels. I ran as fast as my legs could carry but it wasn't enough. I soon felt a huge impact from behind and I blacked out immediately.

I felt a terrible migraine as I opened my eyes to the light. My chest was pounding and the enormous pain I felt in my head made it seem like I was being torn apart. I groaned but the pain continued. It didn't stop. Amidst the pain, I began to feel a sudden rush of adrenaline. My whole body tensed and I could hear my own breathing, it was erratic, it was fierce. I felt a sudden need to kill, to hurt someone. I felt a rush of my anger over things I've felt and refused to say or had addressed, I felt an anger over mother's constant reproach over my cake eating habits. I wanted to make her stop. I wanted to grab hold of her and rip her apart. I wanted to find all the kids that bullied me and rip their heads off their bodies. I did not want to hold back. My heart kept pounding, my head kept aching and the ocean of voices in my head made everything worse. Then I smelled something coming closer to me. I heard it's heartbeats and all I could think about was killing them. I just wanted to shed blood no matter what. It was like I was possessed by my own emotions. So when they touched my arm, I wasted no time in doing what my mind told me to. I dug my claws into his throat and ripped it out. He started at me with his green eyes, in shock. It was too sudden. He wasn't expecting that. That was when I came back to my senses. I looked at the dead man and at my own hand. The claws were still there and it was soaked in blood. How did I have claws? Then it dawned on me. I had just commited murder. I killed this man and the police would come for me. It didn't make any sense. Everything was too confusing for me to understand.

The last thing I remembered was blacking out in the forest. I had no memory whatsoever what had happened next. There was those creatures. I looked at my hand and at the long black claws that extended from my fingers and saw that it resembled that of the wolf creature. How was I even having claws in the first place? I decided to run away first and think of what I would do later. I just wanted to go home, to run back to my mother and sister. I just wanted the nightmare to end.

I stood up and took a look around the room I was in. It was grand, very grand. The lighting made it seem like it was still day time. Then I felt a burn in my arm. I winced in pain as I raised my sleeve. I saw a tattoo of wierd combinations drawn on my arm. It was still red and I wondered who had given me a tattoo. Mother would never allow this and I wasn't fond of tattoos either. But I suddenly remembered that the man I just killed had that same tattoo on his neck, the part where I riped out to be precise. I wanted to look back and confirm if it was still there but I couldn't stomach the sight of what I had done. I just wanted to run.

Suddenly I heard some persons dashing towards the room I was in. They all smelled like that man and I wondered how I could hear and smell so far away. I looked around for an escape route but my eyes caught the full moon whose reflections danced on a bowl of water kept beside the window. I felt myself drawing to the moon, I felt it's power surging through me. I had never noticed a moon like I did that day. It was like I was enchanted. Then the door burst open and a group of men hurled in. For some reason, they looked really familiar, like I knew them before. They all gasped when they saw the dead man and their eyes suddenly turned yellow. They looked at me with hate and also fear. I suddenly felt a mental connection to them. I felt their minds being connected to mine and I suddenly had the impulse to pull them down. I pulled with my mind and I saw them all wince and fall to their knees. They all bowed as I released my pull. I had no idea what I just did and why these men reacted the way they did. As I attempted to open my mouth and beg them not to kill me for killing that man, I felt the same rush of adrenaline as before. The headache returned and the heartache began. I felt a rush of anger and the only thing I could hear was;

"Kill them all!"

That was my own voice speaking, but I didn't say anything. I lost control of my body and deep down, I apologized for what I was about to do.

***

I walked into the night club the vampire's scent had led me to. There were few people still outside, waiting on a long queue to go in. This was one of the biggest nightclubs in St Christopher's and I thought the vampire must have alot of guts coming there. Maybe it had a target,a mission it needed to fulfil. Or maybe I could find a ton of vampires inside this club. If that was the case, I was going to make an example of them. So when I pushed a thousand bucks into the hands of the bouncer, he quietly opened the door for me to go in. If he had refused, I wasn't sure of what I would have done to get in.

Vampires are strong, very strong infact. They were a foe that shouldn't be underestimated. An ordinary werewolf would have trouble beating a vampire without help from it's pack. An alpha can match their strength and overpower them but that still boils down to the overall experience of both parties. If it is a very experienced vampire, it may defeat the alpha, if not, the alpha may win. But prime alphas are far superior to both species. The only ones that can match out strength are other prime alphas and the council-three oldest vampires that led the entire vampire clans.

Other than the scent of the same vampire, I got no other. I used my powers and heard the vampire speaking with someone, a female. I tried to pay attention but at that state, I was hearing almost everything that was going on inside the club at the highest intensity. The loud music from the DJ made everything worse. I stopped and closed my eyes. I had to rely on my smell to catch the vampire. I wanted to move but I suddenly felt a presence behind me. I turned around and saw a dark skinned woman dressed in a silver dress. She wore simple jewelry, light make up and the smell from her perfume was intoxicating. She was standing there before me, in her silhouette dress that matched the colour of her jewelry and holding two glasses In her hands. She smiled and extended one to me. I had no time for this, for her. I wasn't in the mood for companionship and the wine would probably taste like urine. Since I turned, the only thing I consumed with blood and raw meat. Anything other than that tasted awful.

"Were those contacts?" She asked and nudged the cup towards my eyes. She still held it, the one meant for me in her hands. It took me a minute to process the question she had asked. f**k. She saw me when I was using my powers and ofcourse, my eyes had turned green.

"Sorry?" I asked and smiled, leaving now would arouse some sort of suspicion and humans CANNOT know we exist.

"Your eyes. I swear I saw them..."

"What was that?" I asked again, still smiling. I held her gaze, enchanting her with my good looks. She was looking into my eyes and I could see her trying to read me. But I maintained a cheerful gaze and after a while, she was convinced I meant no harm.

"I probably did not know what I saw. Just a glass and I'm already drunk." She said and I smiled again. I took the glass from her and tasted it. As expected, it was horrible. I tried to maintain an emotionless face but the horrid taste of the wine was just too much.

"You don't like the wine?" She asked me. I wondered how she figured that out so easily. I arched a brow and did my own study. She was definitely human, her smell was every indication. May e she's psychic, who knows?

"I don't like wine, or any drink for that matter." I said to her.

"Wow. That is very particular." She said, noticeably surprised. "I'm Lyra." She said and extended a hand. I took it.

"I'm Drumond." I said and still focused my smell on the vampire. It was still here and I had to leave this place immediately. But while I was at it, I realised I could not just walk up to the vampire and kill it while everyone watched. I needed to get it someone else. If it caught my scent, it would run and that would complicate things. I just needed to wait for the perfect opportunity and my distraction stood right there before me, and she was smiling.

"So, why did you come here tonight?" I asked her. I did not take another sip from the cup.

"For pleasure. You?" She asked.

"For duty." I replied and yet again, she was surprised. She laughed at my answer and I couldn't help but laugh as well.

"What duty?" She asked amidst the laughter.

"Sort of a private matter. I am actually waiting for someone." I said

"Oh, now I get it. You are actually not the outgoing type but your girlfriend forced you here and now you have to wait while she gets drinks."

"That is not correct. I came here on my own." I said and laughed.

"So you do not have a girlfriend as well?" She asked and took a sip from the glass. Her eyes never left mine. She was obviously flirting with me and I was starting to get deep into her game. But I did not let my smell betray me.

"I do not." I said again

"Well, lucky me. But why if I may ask?"

"I just haven't found the one for me yet. It's really complicated." Yeah, it was. Because trying to explain to this human that I needed to find my mate to whom I will love and cherish and bind my soul to would totally devastate her. She's human and like all humans, she would probably think I was nuts.

"Aren't all relationships complicated?" She said again and took the last drop from her cup. Suddenly, I sensed the vampire moving. I closed my eyes for a moment and took In all the sounds. It was so loud in there but I found that of the vampire. It seemed to be leaving with a female. That was the sign I had been waiting for.

"I really have to go. Time's up." I said to Lyra, handed her a cup and hugged her. She was taken aback by the action and as I pulled away, she bit her lower lip.

"I will call you." I said to her.

"But you don't have my number."

"I do now." I said and then showed her the card I took from her purse. She didn't even notice I'd done that. She chuckled as I walked away.

I followed the scent of the vampire and it led me outside. The vampire had taken a back door, leading it's prey with it. I followed closely and soon, I was standing before a man and a girl kissing hungrily. The vampire, the male kissed the girl's neck and she moaned from the pleasure it gave her. Then the vampire opened it's mouth wide, revealing fangs. As he was about biting her, I dashed to them, grabbed the vampire and smacked him on the ground. Then I knocked the girl out before she could process what was happening. The vampire stood quickly and hissed at me. His eyes were red now and his fangs clearly distended. He knew he couldn't beat me and as he tried to run, I grabbed him and bit his neck. His blood sipped into my mouth and as I tore his neck with my teeth, he immediately disintegrated into ash. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and walked away into the darkness.

***

My heart was racing as I walked down the staircase. It seemed to last forever. I coughed out blood and felt my vision failing. My head was heavy, the smell of blood following me around almost made me fall, but yet, I loved the smell. What is wrong with me?I asked myself. I looked at my hands, they were soiled with blood. My clothes were soaked with the crimson liquid that dripped after me as I walked. I tried to remember what had happened with those men that came inside the room. It was blurry and I couldn't make out much. But then I heard someone from my memory scream. It was so loud that I could hear it. What did I do?

Just then, I caught the scent of another person. I stopped walking as a man suddenly appeared into the spotlight. Behind him were three other much younger boys and a girl. They all looked at me with piercing eyes and I saw the man scrutinizing me. He had green eyes, as opposed to the others with yellow. I remembered my eyes turned green also. As he approached, I jerked back with fear and that seemed to make him stop. I suddenly realized it wasn't my motion, but my eyes that had changed. I saw the shock on his face and on the faces of others. The man kept on looking at me.

"I need you to come down here lad." He said and I slowly walked up to him. He had a strange energy around him but I felt like his equal as we stood closer.

"Where are the others?" He asked

"Who?"

"Your pack. And how do you have a prime alpha's eyes?" He asked again but I couldn't grasp anything. I just kept silent. He then walked pass me and climbed the stairs, heading for the room. I stood where I was, confused and not knowing what I would do. After a few moments, he walked out of the room with an obvious sorrow written all over his face.

"You have a prime alpha in your midst. Show your respects." He said to the others and they bowed briefly to me. He then walked down the staircase and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"What happened boy?" He asked.

"I don't know. I was in the woods, going home from school and I saw this wolf-like creature killing this person and it came for me. I woke up here and I do not know where I am. I don't know what I have done. I just want to go home." That was what I said shakily.

"Well boy, you will not go home anytime soon. Infact, you will be leaving this country this instant to start a new life. You will have a new identity and you will never see your family again. Tonight, you died to them." He said calmly

"No. My mother is waiting for me. My sister..."

"You are now a werewolf. Not just an ordinary one, but a prime alpha. One of the strongest of your kind. I think you were consumed by the moon curse when you woke and somehow you managed to catch your prime alpha unaware. You killed him and since you were the strongest person around at that moment, his powers passed down to you. But yet again, the curse took over and you killed every last member of your pack."

"Werewolf?" I scoffed when I heard the man speak. It was obvious I was dreaming. Somehow, I needed to wake up. As if my own body heard me, I suddenly lost consciousness. Maybe when I wake up, this would all be over.