Chapter 26: Assassination – 1

Thea’s POV

When I opened my eyes, I found myself tied to a chair in my living room. My head throbbed where I’d been struck, and the room spun slightly as I tried to focus.

“Finally awake. I’ve been waiting. I prefer my prey conscious when they die.” The same voice from earlier sent chills down my spine.

From the shadows behind my table emerged a man dressed entirely in black athletic wear, his face mostly covered. Only his eyes were visible, blazing with savage intensity. His build was massive; those arms alone looked capable of crushing skulls. He radiated a bone-chilling kind of danger that went beyond my current status as his prey.

He settled into the chair across from me, casually sipping from one of my wine glasses as if he owned the place.

I tested the ropes binding me, but they were expertly tied. “You can try, but you won’t escape this time,” he chuckled. “You’ve caused me too much trouble, and I hate trouble.”

“Who are you? What do you want from me?” I asked, trying to buy time. Surely someone would notice an intruder in my house?

“Let’s just say I’m someone who wants you dead.”

I nearly rolled my eyes. No shit. Why else would I be tied to a chair in my own house?

“Are you with the organization that sent those rogues after my father? If you think killing me will impact my family, you’ve picked the wrong target.”

He burst out laughing as if I’d just told the world’s funniest joke.

Fuck. I’d hoped he was with my father’s killers. That would have been easier to negotiate—to make him understand I meant nothing to Sebastian or the pack. If it wasn’t them hunting me, I was in deeper trouble than I’d thought.

“No, darling, I don’t belong to any organization. Someone just promised me a lot of money to ensure your death.”

I stared at him, stunned. “Someone paid you to kill me?”

“Can’t collect until the job’s done, so you’ll have to understand, darling.”

“Don’t call me darling!” I snarled through clenched teeth.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I couldn’t process that someone wanted me dead badly enough to pay for it. I wasn’t important enough to warrant assassination. I had no enemies, except Aurora…but she wouldn’t go this far, would she? We were blood. Despite everything, she wouldn’t actually want me dead.

Shit, I was suspecting my own sister. This was insane.

The sound of shattering glass jolted me from my thoughts. He’d deliberately smashed the wine glass and started pacing.

“How should I kill you? So many options,” he turned to me, “Any preferences?”

I trembled inside. I had to escape. This guy was clearly unhinged, and I couldn’t count on rescue. If neighbors had noticed anything, the police would have arrived by now.

“No preference? Throat-slitting it is then. Nothing quite as satisfying as watching the life drain from prey.” His eyes glinted with malice as he toyed with a knife.

I had one shot at this. Throwing my weight backward, I slammed the chair into the floor. My head cracked against the hardwood, intensifying my existing headache. If I got a wolf, I could easily break these ropes or shift and tear this bastard apart instead of this desperate gambit.

“Fuck!” he cursed in surprise.

Thank the Goddess, the chair splintered on impact. I scrambled up, working the ropes off my hands while stumbling toward the door.

I barely made it a few steps before he tackled me. I hit the floor hard as he flipped me to face him.

“Think you’d get away that easily?” he sneered.

I slammed my knee straight into his balls, making him howl in pain. I felt his rage spike instantly. His eyes turned red, claws tearing through his gloves, but strangely, he didn’t fully shift. I guessed he was worried about revealing his appearance. The thought made me realize he might come back.

I wrenched free and ran, not caring where, just away from him.

But he recovered fast. A hand seized my ankle, yanking hard. I crashed down again, my chin smacking the floor. Before I could react, his weight pinned me down.

“Bitch!” He backhanded me across the face.

I saw stars, vision blurring. Getting hit by a male really fucking hurt.

“Since you’re being difficult, I think I’ll have some fun before killing you.” His tone turned vicious.

No explanation needed, I understood perfectly. I felt his hands grabbing my pajama waistband, trying to pull them down. I could smell his sweat and excitement, but oddly, I couldn’t detect his personal scent – every wolf had one.

No time to think about that. Fear froze my marrow. Was I really going to be raped and murdered in my own home?

I fought wildly, but he had my hands pinned. I kept struggling anyway.

“Please stop. If you want money, I can pay you.” I begged.

His hand slid into my pants, the sensation making me want to vomit. Like slimy insects crawling on my skin.

He laughed softly. “Don’t pretend. I know you don’t have money. At least compared to what I’m being paid.”

He continued his assault. Just when I thought all hope was lost, I spotted the fallen lamp.

I stretched my fingers toward it, grabbed it, and smashed it against his head with everything I had.

He roared and fell back, the knife meant to kill me falling from his pocket.

I grabbed it without hesitation and stabbed toward his thigh, but at that moment my front door burst open…

We both froze. He scrambled up, cursed, and fled through the back door.

Kestrel charged in with two warriors. His head was bleeding.

“You two, after him! Catch him at any cost!” he ordered. The warriors immediately gave chase.

Police sirens wailed as Kestrel helped me to the living room. Cops rushed in, followed by Sebastian and Kane.

“Search the entire house!” the police chief barked.

My head pounded, jaw ached, face already swelling.

“How the fuck did you let this happen, Kestrel?” Sebastian roared, reaching my side as Kane took up position on my other side.

“I’m sorry, Alpha. He ambushed me…” Kestrel hung his head.

“What’s going on?” I asked softly.

“Kestrel was assigned to protect you.” Sebastian ground out.

“What?”

If I hadn’t just been attacked, I’d have demanded to know why he had me followed without telling me. But I was too exhausted. I just wanted to sleep.

“Are you okay?” Kane asked gently, taking my hand. His concern was obvious.

The gesture caught Sebastian’s attention. His gaze fixed on our tightly clasped hands, his expression darkening.

“My head hurts,” I whispered wearily, fighting back the emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

I’d nearly been raped and murdered. The reality hadn’t fully sunk in yet.

I wanted someone to lean on, to rest my head on their shoulder. But I didn’t know who – Sebastian, who I’d known forever but had never truly loved me, or Kane, who was starting to mean something?

Instead, I leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes. Only now was I beginning to realize that someone really wanted me dead. Wanted it enough to pay good money for it.

The question was who wanted me dead that badly?