Chapter 26 Celeste
Celeste's POV
“I'm joining the race tomorrow!” Liam burst out of the car, bouncing around like a kangaroo. “I'm totally winning it!”
“I believe you can win the race!” Levi copied Liam. They kept jumping as they headed into the house, chatting and laughing all the way.
“Hey, watch the stairs," I warned them, smiling and shaking my head. They were so adorable.
I carried Liam's backpack on my shoulder, turning around when I heard a boy shouting at me.
"Good afternoon, Alpha." Eliot took off running, his little legs moving fast as he held a plastic bag of snacks. I worried he might trip.
"Good afternoon, Eliot." I smiled at Delta Giana's little boy. He grinned broadly at me and slowly climbed the stairs that led to the main door of my house.
Every day, Eliot came to the house to play with my two sons. He knew when Liam came home from school, and sometimes he waited in front of his house, which was across from mine.
A feeling of tension crept into my chest as I entered the house. I leaned against the door, feeling the pounding of my heart.
I breathed in and out a few times, trying to calm my nerves.
I closed my eyes for a moment before going to Liam's room to put his backpack down.
I smiled as I watched the three boys causing chaos in the playroom. Liam changed clothes at the speed of light.
I stood in the middle of my study, nervous, with cold sweat gathering on my palms. I couldn’t calm down. Beta Dylan’s reminder text only made my panic worse.
I worked through some important emails, trying to shove the anxiety down and tell myself everything would be fine.
“Benedict is protecting me from heaven,” I murmured, touching my still-thumping chest.
I left the study and went to the warrior camp.
I wore a white shirt with a black blazer and black pants, tucking my hair into a bun under my beret. I left the top button of my shirt undone, buttoned up my blazer, and put on an eye mask.
I applied red lipstick and spritzed my clothes with scent-concealing perfume.
The white wedges weren’t very comfortable, and I didn’t like the little black purse.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. “It doesn’t look like me.” I snorted. “They didn’t let me choose my uniform.”
This is how I appear when meeting with our clients, other Alpha rogue assassins, or anyone outside the group who wishes to discuss work or other important matters.
My group members said this appearance perfectly hides my real identity. No one who sees me would ever think I’m Celeste.
“Wow. You look so cool.” Beta Dylan complimented my appearance with evident admiration in his eyes. “You really suit this look.”
I rolled my eyes. “My lipstick should be black, not red. I look like I’ve just drunk blood.”
Beta Dylan chuckled. “Your appearance is more than enough to fool anyone.” He smiled seductively. “In fact, I almost thought you were another woman who wanted to make me your partner-in-crime.”
“That only happens in your dreams,” I hissed. He laughed again.
“You don’t have to worry about anything.” Beta Dylan waved his hand. “If they do anything to you, we’ll make them regret ever living in this world.”
“I’ll leave that to you.” I smiled at him.
I walked to the car with fear in my stomach. Liam and Levi didn’t see me leave the base, but they had encouraged me earlier this morning.
I changed and got ready in the women’s bathroom at the warrior building, because if I’d done it at home, I would’ve ended up taking my boys with me, no matter what Beta Dylan said.
I sat in the car and stared out the window. I begged myself over and over not to do anything stupid. Whatever I did would determine how much money we would make.
Don't think dirty or evil thoughts about me. Please, put those thoughts away if you don't want to apologize to me.
The trip took hours, as we used routes known only to certain people.
We arrived at a luxury hotel on the outskirts of the rogue clan, near unclaimed forests, a favorite hunting ground for wolves, but rarely visited by the Alpha werewolf.
Only five of my men came with me, including my driver. When we entered the hotel, a bulky bodyguard was waiting in the lobby and guided us to his boss.
My heart rate increased with every step I took. Short breaths, cold, sweaty hands, and a stomach twisting in knots—that was all I felt. I was grateful my legs could still walk.
That night, I met with someone who had been our client for a long time. Whenever he wanted to hire us to eliminate a target, he always discussed it with Benedict. Now it was my responsibility, since I was the leader of the Black Birds Group.
When the door opened, I forced myself to steady my heartbeat and get my tight breaths under control.
I wouldn't be going in alone. Two of my men would be standing behind me. I would be safe as long as they were with me.
The bodyguard led me to the living room, where his boss was waiting for me.
“Hello. Nice to meet you, ma’am.” The portly man didn’t get up from his chair. He had knee problems. His custom-made wheelchair sat beside one of his bodyguards. “Please, have a seat.”
“Hello. Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Anderson.” I smiled at him as I made myself comfortable on the sofa across from him.
The room was brightly lit, two bodyguards in glasses stood behind him, and the coffee table held nothing but a bottle of wine and two glasses.
The atmosphere felt warm and nonthreatening, but not exactly comfortable.
I'm not really good at judging a place. I'd leave that to my two men, who had been assassins for twenty years. They knew what to do if negotiations didn't go well.
One of his bodyguards poured me some red wine. I thanked him and took a sip to wet my dry throat.
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me,” he said. “I know it takes guts to step out of our comfortable home.” He grinned widely, those two gold teeth glinting under the light.
“Yes, you’re right, sir.” I smiled broadly.
Mr. Anderson looked harmless—soft features, an easy smile, and a cheerful voice.
He would’ve fooled me completely if I didn’t know he had twice spent the equivalent of twenty luxury houses just to see five people he hated die horribly at the hands of my men.
He's a dangerous man, but since I've lived with assassins for years, he doesn't give me the creeps.
“My condolences on your mate’s passing.” He took the wine glass from his bodyguard. He gave me a brief glance. “I never thought you’d be the one taking his place.”
I just smiled. He didn’t stare for long, always looking away, but I could feel him sizing me up in silence. I was certain my appearance wouldn't change his mind.
“I have a lot of skilled killers, but for some reason, I prefer to leave these people’s deaths to your men.” Mr. Anderson pulled some photos from his shirt pocket and placed them on the table.
One picture made my eyes widen. I knew him. Even everyone in the world would know who he was, since Mr. Anderson and his family were known as wealthy members of the rogue clan.
“Thank you for entrusting their deaths to us, but as you know, we can’t decide right now whether we’ll kill them all,” I said firmly and politely.
"I hope you'll kill them all." Mr. Anderson’s eyes were full of expectation as he looked at me. "I won't negotiate the price. Whatever amount you ask, I'll pay."
He spoke casually, as if we were discussing a house sale.
I looked back down at the familiar face in the photo. My empathy had been stripped away the moment I joined the assassin group. Unfortunately, I was their Alpha now until Levi was ready to take over.