6. Cascades River

"What the heck is this thing?!" I stood and tried to push him to prove a point but it was like pushing a huge granite.

"A werewolf's band. That is the proof that you are under a contract with me."

"You told me nothing about this!" I fired, very ready to attack him.

"I didn't tell you because I was under the assumption that you already knew since I thought you probably gathered some informations about me and my kind before you went through this mission. Why, did you not?"

Yes, I gathered informations about him but I didn't go in details. I never had any idea about this stupid contract thing. I thought our deal is just purely verbal!

"Explain to me how this thing works, you mongrel," I said sharply. I was close to reaching for his neck and twisting it. Or maybe I could just make his eyes pop out since I don't have the strength to twist his neck.

"As what I've said, it is the proof that we both agreed to in a deal, like a contract. However, you cannot do something that is against the contract terms, which means you can do nothing to me while we are in the deal. I can't also run from my obligation to you. It binds us that way."

And I was completely unaware of this! What the hell did I put myself into? If that's the case, then how can I execute an ambush attack? This is a dead end!

"This is insane," I said against my gritted teeth. I was about to attack him without minding that my aggressiveness might kill me, but before I could reach for him, a potent pain from my wrist stopped me.

"Please. Don't try again, Elena. You would only hurt yourself."

"You really planned this, didn't you? You want me to be your puppet! You want to control over me!"

"That's not it, Elena. This would benefit the both of us. I could do nothing to you as well, and our deal will remain as it is."

"Shut up! If you have clean intention to make a deal with me, you should have told me about this before you asked for my decision!"

Now he looked problematic. Well, he should be!

"I apologize if you see it that way, but I mean no harm. My intent is clean. I didn't intend to make you feel trapped or what."

"Clean, really? Why? Can you tell me what is your real reason why you know me and why you requested for to do this job? I am not as dumb as you think, mongrel. I know there is something else behind your facade."

He didn't say anything.

"You are speechless because I hit it right."

My eyes drifted to the door at once when I heard several footsteps. There are three persons coming.

"I know you are very confused now. You may leave and think. Go through the window," Rage pointed the window with a jerk of his head.

"Meet me tomorrow midnight, at the cascades river. I would be waiting."

I was still very mad to say anything. I just turned away and leaped out of the window before those other mongrels arrive. I'm not escaping. How could I finish my mission at this point, anyway? I am not allowed to hurt my victim. The damn contract is forbidding me. So why would I waste my time there. I should think of this situation thoroughly first before I decide on what I should do next.

That damn Alpha is so wicked.

* * *

I didn't go through the main entrance of the manor and just climbed my way to my chamber. I don't want to see anyone as of the moment, especially Henry. He would surely have a lot of questions and I don't want to end up losing my patience.

I sighed and sat on my bed. I looked at my wrist and saw the golden band. How fool I am to make such a deal with my supposed to be victim. That was a careless move. Now I am left with no choice but to deal with him. The next time I will have an opportunity, I swear I won't miss killing him.

The next day, Henry called for a meeting. It was about the guild that attacked us the other day.

"Mistress is out of the town and she had given us a task to do. We should know what guild attacked us the last time and who is their mastermind before she is back," Henry said.

"How would we know? They left no traces aside from those dead bodies," it was Gideon.

"I agree. Though we can investigate, that would surely take time," another opinion.

"Why don't we just parade those dead bodies somewhere?" They all looked at me. "For sure, that would provoke their fellow members. It would not be long before some would show up. And since they won't see it coming, they would likely forget to take some precautionary measures this time."

Gideon smirked at me. "I really like the way you think, Elena. So ruthless."

"You think we should do that?" Henry asked in a suggestive tone.

"Why not?" Gideon replied. The others also agreed.

"Yeah. I think Elena's idea is good."

"We should try that."

"But don't you think it's just too... you know, unethical to show to the public those dead bodies?" Henry asked.

"That is the purpose. To show it to the public so their fellow members would be provoked. Why do we need to care if it's ethical or not?"

"Right. Why would we care." Gideon whistled.

* * *

Looking out my window that night, I couldn't decide whether I should go see Rage or not. He told me to see him at the Cascades River at midnight but I'm torn if I should do as he said. I looked down at the golden band in my wrist. I cursed under my breath. If I don't see him tonight, it would look like I'm afraid to take the challenge. I don't want him to think that I'm scared or what. I am a strong and independent woman. Why would I refuse this challenge he made? 

Right! I will see him to prove that I can compete with him in any way. If he's up for the deal and would do as he promised, why can't I? After all, it's just a pretend thing for a week. After that, I will get what I want. He would provide me a fight and I could have my chance to defeat him. There is no way I could defeat him in hand to hand combat, though. I should think of something that would make me win over him. I will make sure that this time, I can execute my plan well.

So before midnight, I was already out of the manor with my horse and sword.

With four years of being an assassin, I could travel in night time without any effort. Darkness is part of an assassin's life since most of the time, we do our job in the dark.

I reigned my horse to a stop when I saw who was standing before the glistening river under the bright moon. His back was on me, calm and still as he stood there. He didn't move from where he is even though I'm sure he is already aware of my presence. I unmounted my horse at once and walked towards him.

I stopped a yard away. When I did, that was the time he faced me. I cussed inwardly when I saw that wicked smile on his lips again.

"I thought you would not arrive."

If I could only drown him to the river, it would be my pleasure to push him there. But I should be patient for now. I should wait until such time I could already touch him the way I want. I am even willing to bet all my fortune just to torture him in the most painful way. To make his death come true would be nothing but a pure bliss to me.

"Tell me how the pretend thing works," I demanded coldly.

"Hmm..." his smile grew wider. "So you have made up your mind, huh?"

"Do I have a choice?"

He chuckled and it honestly irritates me. 

"We will be leaving tomorrow."

I raised a brow. "What is the character I should portray? Because if you would tell me to be friendly with your relatives, someone who needs to smile all the time, I can't do that. I am not the friendly type as you see."

"Uh-huh. I can see that."

"So you should not push me to be that kind of person even it is just for a week."

"I won't, all right. You can be just the way you are. But the problem is, my relatives will surely interrogate us about how we met and about the other details of our love story. Our response should be consistent or else they would notice that we are just faking it."

"To be specific, you want me to know how to answer the possible questions that they would throw, am I correct?"

"Indeed," he said with a nod.

Damn. I am already hating this even though we haven't started yet.

Patience, Elena. Patience. You would eventually get through this hurdle and reach your goal. Think about the mission. Think about the death you promised him.

"Fine. Tell me," I said impatiently and unwillingly.

"First," he walked past me and went to sit on the huge stone. "We should think an appropriate story for our first meeting. Any suggestion?"

"Why do we need to waste time thinking of a good story? Let's just say we met in the market, tavern, or bordello."

He winced at the last word I mentioned.

"Bordello? Do you think I go to that kind of place? My relatives know me, Elena. They know I don't visit bordellos. And what would that make of you? They would surely think that you are a whore or entertainer in the bordello."

The hell I care what they think of me. But I did not voice that out because I'm sure he would just remind me of our damn deal.

"Let's remove bordello from the picture, then. How about the tavern?" I really have no idea since I don't have experience in relationship myself. Why would I need a man, anyway?

I would never forget how my parents despised me just simply because I was not a male. From then on, I promised to never let a man have control over my life. I promised to be a strong and fierce woman who would not need anything from a man, let alone be emotionally dependent to a man. That is a big no for me.

"Can you be a little bit romantic? Your idea is too plain and boring," Rage complained.

"Am I to blame if my idea is ridiculously boring? I have no experience in that area, mongrel. Why don't you just think of an idea yourself if you don't like mine?"

He only grinned cooly while I was on the verge of losing my temper. 

"Yeah. I think I should just think of an idea myself. You are losing your cool, again. Can you be a little patient? When we are already there, you should at least show a little mercy to me. You know, act like you are really my Luna, which means, you should stay closely to me, and..." he paused and then continued with a sly smile. "There are also certain instances that we need to show to them that we are mates."

"So, what you are trying to say exactly?"

"We need to touch sometimes, and we should act intimately to each other just like how a normal couple should be," he said with a lower voice. "Avoid glaring at me often like you usually do. Try to not look at me like you are killing me on your mind."

I looked at him with defiance. Now that is the real insanity. How would I even try to not look at him that way when all I could see everytime I look at him is a mission I should complete? How can I act like I am his real Luna when I don't have any idea about intimacy? I only know how to murder, all about blood and brutality. How can I execute what he wants me to do? He should have just killed me!

"Nah. You are doing it again."

"Doing what?" I sounded really pissed. I just really couldn't believe that this mongrel was able to lure me into this kind of set up. If I only knew this was what he was planning, I could have just asked for my death.

"The way you are looking at me now. You're obviously thinking of so many ways how to kill me."

Really an observant.

"Congratulations, then. You guessed it right."

"I wasn't guessing. I was stating the obvious," he corrected.

"Go straight to the point. I do not have the luxury of time for this."

"So impatient as always," he murmured before telling me his idea.