Chapter 4

Lila POV 

I stayed hidden in the shadows for a while, patiently waiting. The distant crash of waves hitting rocks filled the silence, accompanied by the rustling sounds of the forest around me. 

This part of the Danielss was dense and difficult to reach, which made it the perfect spot for my secret meetings. It felt right to claim this area as my own.

Suddenly, I heard a faint noise nearby. I perked up, alert, with my wolf instincts kicking in. I listened carefully to identify who it might be.

I didn’t step out from the cover of the trees until a familiar figure appeared in the clearing, walking toward the cliff’s edge. Even then, I waited, observing him.

Recently, something had been unsettling me, clouding my usually sharp instincts. The figure scanned the area, failing to spot me, though I was partially visible.

I smirked to myself. The person was Alex, one of the deadliest assassins around, yet he didn’t notice me even though I wasn’t fully hidden. I guess all my practice with blending in was finally paying off.

"I’m here," Alex called out when I still didn’t emerge. For a moment, I considered teasing him, which would have been amusing, but I quickly dismissed the idea since I had somewhere else to be after this meeting.

Maybe next time.

I stepped out casually, hands in my pockets, my mask and voice modulator on, my gaze fixed on Alex. His body immediately tensed up when he saw me, which amused me greatly.

The fact that he feared me delighted me. I enjoyed watching his reaction as I approached.

“You’re late,” I said, noticing him gulp nervously. I grinned beneath my mask.

"I got held up," he replied quickly. “Your job is done perfectly. The payment should be completed tonight,” he said, tilting his head in a way that tried to appear confident, though I could sense his nervousness.

I chuckled softly.

"Show me proof," I demanded, stepping closer and seeing him grow even more tense. With a sigh, he pulled an envelope from his coat. I grabbed it and opened it, examining the pictures of a man with a fatal headshot.

“What do you think?” he asked, a trace of pride in his voice. I glanced at him.

"Ten thousand dollars off," I said sharply. "It would’ve been flawless if the shot had been right between his eyebrows."

"Oh, come on! You wanted him dead, and he is dead,” he argued, throwing his hands up in frustration. I gave him a harsh look, and he quickly composed himself. Though he couldn’t see my eyes, he could feel the intense glare under my mask.

“Twenty thousand dollars off.”

“What?”

“Total reduction: thirty thousand.”

“Wait, no.” He quickly backtracked, "Fine. I’ll remember next time."

I nodded, took a lighter from my pocket, and burned the pictures.

“I have some news,” he said, trying to catch my interest before I walked away. I tilted my head, my hand on my gun, ready in case he was wasting my time. “But I’ll need those thirty thousand if you want to hear it.”

“How about you tell me, and I let you live?” I suggested, making him straighten up instantly.

“One day, this attitude will get you killed,” he muttered under his breath. I debated showing him my new weapon, but he spoke again before I could. “But I’ll give you a freebie today. Florence is dead.”

“That’s old news.”

“And so is Jeremy,” he added quickly, making me freeze. He smirked, seeing that he had finally caught me off guard. I clenched my fists as he continued, “And I bet you know who did it.”

The King brothers.

Those two pests.

Not that I was sad about Jeremy’s death. Honestly, I was glad; he had been snooping into my business. His death removed one worry from my list, but it also sent a clear message from those brothers.

They were on the hunt. For me.

I realized I’d be their next target after Jeremy. Instead of feeling fear, I laughed aloud, confusing Alex. He looked at me with surprise.

“You shouldn’t be laughing,” he warned, his expression growing serious. “They’re coming for you, Riley. If I were you, I’d wish to disappear before the brothers got to me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Alex,” I laughed, amused rather than scared by his warning. “You’re not me. You’ll never be me. I have my own methods. Stick to your role and do as I say,” I told him.

He shook his head, disapproving.

“You should be afraid, Riley,” he cautioned. “The King brothers aren’t like Simone. They’re far more ruthless, and they’ll stop at nothing to find you.”

“And why does that matter to you?” I chuckled, refusing to take his warning seriously. I’d stopped fearing long ago—not even the brothers could intimidate me. They’d never get close enough.

“You pay me well. I wouldn’t want to lose that income; plus, they’re the Alpha brothers. Everyone fears them. You should, too.”

“I’m not ‘everyone,’ Alex. I appreciate your concern, but you’re underestimating me,” I replied. “Maybe it’s time I find a new hitman,” I added, watching him shake his head again. I could tell he wanted to say more, but I walked away before he could.

I had bigger things to handle than those troublesome brothers.

_________________

After my meeting with Alex, I returned to my place and hopped in the shower. It was a bright, sunny day, and although I had a lot to handle, I decided to give myself a break. I couldn’t even remember the last time I took a day off.

For once, I wanted to pretend to be just a regular girl—enjoying time alone by the shore, feeling the warmth of the sun before winter set in.

This summer had been incredibly busy, and I hadn’t treated myself much. I should’ve taken the chance to unwind sooner; after all, how else would I ever cross paths with my mate? The moon goddess promised that my desires would come true, yet something about it felt strange, like there was a hidden condition I had overlooked.

Even though I looked forward to meeting my mate, there was a touch of nervousness. What if he wasn’t anything like what I’d imagined? I’d be crushed. But for now, I chose to stay positive—after all, worrying endlessly wouldn’t help.

After my second love left, I had already spent a year mourning the sudden end. Now, I was determined to move on, looking forward with hope. Today, I wanted to relax and enjoy one of the last warm days of the season. Though I normally kept myself busy, I decided that all my tasks could wait until tomorrow.

The world could wait.

I put on some light makeup, layered on sunscreen, and got dressed for the beach. Grabbing my surfboard, I drove about twenty minutes to reach the coast. I couldn’t stop smiling as I parked and made my way down to the shore with my board and beach bag.

The beach was almost empty, which made it even better. I picked a secluded spot, spread out my towel, and stretched out to bask in the sunlight. It was the perfect day—not too hot, with a gentle breeze. Honestly, it couldn’t have been more ideal.

As I relaxed, I sipped on a beer, gazing out at the waves. Although there weren’t many waves for surfing, I didn’t mind. My spot was too perfect to leave, so I stayed put, watching others around me, slowly drifting into a nap.

I awoke suddenly, sensing someone’s shadow over me. Opening my eyes, I found a pair of gray eyes staring down at me.

“Hey,” the man greeted me with a smile. I frowned and reached for my bag, but his flirty smile gave me an idea. “Are you from around here?” he asked. Ignoring his question, I looked him over. He had a fit build and looked pretty good, so I decided to entertain his presence.

“You’re not from around here,” I observed. His smile widened, forming a dimple on his left cheek, reminding me of someone famous, like Kent Clark. He was easy on the eyes, making me forgive him for interrupting my rest.

Maybe I could have some fun while waiting for my mate.

“Yes, I’m only here for a few days. What about you?” he replied.

“I’m here for work,” I said, once again ignoring his question. He shifted slightly, looking a bit frustrated. “Where are you from?” I asked.

“The North,” he replied, his eyes wandering over me. “Are you a local?”

“Yes,” I finally answered.

“Would you like a tour around town?” I offered. I could take a break for the whole weekend, and maybe this stranger could make it worth it if his charm matched his looks.

“That’s exactly what I was hoping for,” he replied, smiling playfully. “I’m Fidel,” he introduced himself, extending his hand. I glanced at it, then took it, standing up from my towel. I knew he was a complete stranger and might be risky, but sometimes you have to live a little. If things went south, I could always handle it. Strangers often bring the best surprises. Still, I mentally noted to dig up information on him later.

“My name’s Lila,” I replied.

“You’re stunning, Lila,” he said, his gaze sweeping over me. I chuckled, “Thanks. I hear that a lot. So, what would you like to do?” I asked, testing him. He shrugged.

“I’m open to anything,” he replied.

“I have a meeting at seven tonight,” he mentioned. I tilted my head, giving him a closer look.

“Who do you work for?” I asked casually. His playful expression faded for a moment, a shadow crossing his eyes before he quickly put on a smile again.

“Let’s go, beautiful. I want to make every second count with you,” he replied, stepping closer and lightly brushing his knuckles against my jaw. I laughed.

“I’m excited to see what you’ve got planned, Fidel,” I whispered, letting my hand run over his toned chest. He took a sharp breath, and I couldn’t help but grin wider.

So far, so good.

“Then let’s get going,” he almost growled, gathering my things as we headed off the beach together.