Chapter 1

Entering the mouth of a darkened cave a short young woman tentatively made her way along the cragged surface. Whispered instructions told her to stand in a distinctive circle of stones created on the ground. 

Her brown eyes squinted in the darkness of the cave, trying to ignore the drips of water landing on her head and the certainty there was animal faeces underfoot. Scrunching her nose, she silently weaved her way into the darkening void until with the very last of her vision she saw the circle of fist-sized stones.

Standing in it she quickly announced, “I’m here,” her heart racing. This man had been hard to track down, although repeatedly assured he was worth it by the shadowy figures she had already been forced to negotiate with.

“What do you want with me?” a deep, menacing voice replied. She spun around quickly seeking the voice’s face, but the cave rendered it impossible to catch the direction. “Well?” he snapped impatiently.

“On behalf of Alpha Francis of the Northern Territory, I have permission to offer you a...contract...to kill Alpha Alexander of the White Forest Pack." The words seem to tumble out with none of the poise and serious tone she had practised all the way there.

“And why should I accept your offer?” he barked back, his hostility barely concealed.

“You can name any price you wish,” she whispered back tentatively. The fear vibrating in her voice was enhanced by the echo of the cave. 

She tried not to contemplate just how easily he could kill her. She would be untraceable. To steady her nerves she clasped her hands in front of her and kept her eyes facing forward into the blackness. The silence as he weighed up her offer was excruciating. The circle of stones now felt like a trap and her breathing grew ragged.

“Why him?" came a gruff reply from the darkness.

“He killed three Alpha’s eight months ago. Alpha Caleb, Alpha Jack and their father Alpha Jones of Five Lakes.”

Waiting for the empty space to respond felt like negotiating with a vengeful spirit.

“Revisit this circle tomorrow and my price shall be there, I shall take my action when I see fit. If you try to find me and hurry me, it is cancelled.”

“But my Alpha wants it done before…”

“Those are the terms,” he snapped roughly, “take it or leave it.”

The girl exhaled deeply, there was a deadline to be met, not that this brute could know that.

“Of course, you are in charge.”

“Goodbye Azalea.”

“How did you know my…” but the sound of footsteps through the darkness told her he was already gone. Letting out a shaky sigh she tiptoed over the stone floor of the cave pleased she had achieved her master’s goal.

Ivan had been wondering why she kept vanishing on errands. Newly mated they should be inseparable, especially as this wasn't even a pack territory she was familiar with. As hard as she had tried to make sure these events took place during his Beta training and meetings it was impossible to avoid lying to him. 

As dedicated as she was to Alpha Francis and the prophecy, her heart ached and her wolf wailed internally every time she had to betray Ivan. His green eyes trusted her implicitly and she feared the day that trust could ever be broken.

He was a kind and gentle mate, his flaming red hair the only aggressive thing about his personality. Tall, strong and an open book of emotions, he was her complete opposite yet when he had grasped her hand during the White Forest ball three months ago everything had fallen into place. Her soul had felt as though a missing piece had found its way home as the warm rush of love enveloped her. It had almost sent the whole master plan awry, being swept up in all that blissful adoration. 

She had come to her senses just in time, the poison for Alpha Romanov during that ball was her duty and she delivered it perfectly. Winding her way back to town through the forest paths she smirked at the memory of Helena’s shocked face. She had not been able to resist telling her via mindlink she had been responsible. Not that she could say anything to anyone.

“Azalea how could you,” she had wailed silently. Foolish Helena. She could not see beyond her precious mate, she needed to consider the prophecy and how it will change the entire world. Part of that is Helena embracing her Fate powers and Alpha Francis has confirmed that won’t happen while Alpha Alexander is in her life. So he needs to go. And soon. It is for the best.

**          **          **

The man from the cave observed the small form of Azalea tripping down the woodland path. He rubbed his wide, muscular neck where livid red scars irritated. Grazes from a silver knife, he was destined to be permanently in pain from their inability to heal like any other wolf injury.

He was right to not let her see his face, that girl practically buzzed with otherworldly ability. He briefly considered rejecting the contract. Getting involved with those who dabbled in Fate and murdering a major Alpha was a step up from the usual rabble of debtors and criminals. 

However, the amount he was going to charge would allow him to stop for good. This would be the sack of gold he’d need for a motorbike, a small farmstead and independence by the southern lakes. Far away from White Forest, Five Lakes and any of the other faceless packs that dominated his life.

He was technically still part of another pack, not that the association gave him any pride or sense of loyalty. As long as he was never arrested he could carry on appearing as a worker drone. To be discovered would probably mean death, at the very least complete abandonment and the life of a wretched rogue. 

Stretching out his huge shoulders as he strode, he silently made his way in the opposite direction. Checking the coast was clear of suspicious scents he slung the hood of his jet-black cloak over his head and disappeared through the trees.