Elvira.
The sun was already out, warming my skin as I walked to my favorite spot near the river. As I inhaled deeply, my lungs filled with crisp morning air. Different scents entered my nose. Earthy ones, mixed with smells of various kinds of night critters who had been around during their nightly adventures. Once I had ensured I was alone, I started stripping my clothes and hung them on a thick branch. After another glance, I jumped into the river and let the cold water embrace me. With closed eyes, I let myself sink to the bottom. When my butt landed on the sand, I crossed my legs under me and focused on my inner self, clearing my head until my lungs started to protest. Pushing myself with my legs, I reached the surface and took a deep breath.
"Goddess, I needed this!" I mumbled while wiping droplets of water out of my eyes. For some seconds, I let myself float on top of the water and pretend I am alone and somewhere lovely, in a beautiful green valley with my little cottage near a stream. I was sitting outside while watching my husband playing with our children. As the pleasant images roamed around in my brain, I heard a soft noise coming from the busses close to the river bed, so I opened my eyes only to spot one of the recruits watching me.
"Mara, what is it?" I asked, a little annoyed that my fantasy had been disturbed.
"I am sorry to disturb you, Miss, but the lesson is about to start, and everyone is already outside on the training grounds," the shy little Omega said, her eyes downcast.
I sighed and rolled my eyes, watching her. Why the headmistress would choose this kind of soft Omega was beyond me, but I just nodded and went up to the spot where I had left my clothes. As I stepped out of the water, Mira gasped, turned around, and ran away toward the main building, making me chuckle.
"Soft Omega!" I smirked, remembering her flushed cheeks when she watched me coming out of the river naked.
Minutes later, I joined the other Omegas, who were already waiting. Some chattered and laughed while the newer recruits huddled in small groups or stood alone, watching the others.
"Omega's attention, please!" The voice I've heard many times since I was recruited echoed aloud. In unison, we all stood up straight in line and bowed our heads in respect.
"Today is special as a few of you will do their final test and hopefully pledge their lives and blood to us afterward. So, for all new ones, please step forward if I call your name."
I watch curiously as the recruits, one by one, walk up to the headmistress or Mother Omega, as we call affectionate, and pledge their lives to our society. Mira, one of the smallest omegas, is the last to go and trembles when she mumbles the rules out loud. I feel for her. The poor thing still has a lot to learn. She quickly moves back in line, her head hanging low when done.
"Now that is all done, let me hand out some new assignments; these will only be done by the elder Omegas; the younger ones can do some training since they will not get an assignment yet." Mother Omega explained, after which the new ones scurry away. I wait in suspense until she starts giving out the famous envelopes. One by one, the Omegas beside me disappear with an envelope in hand until I am the last one left. With a curt nod, I take my assignment and walk back to my room when I feel a hand on my arm stopping me.
"Yours is special, Elvira; I choose you because you are the best; I trust you will succeed!" Mother Omega whispered close to my ear.
"I will, and thank you!" I say, and then she walks away.
Back in my room, I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and sit at the window. After finishing the bottle, I opened the envelope and started to read.
Signet Omega: Elvira.
Target: Alpha Romeo Aurelius of the Northern Star pack.
"Dear Elvira, I will never explain to an Omega of the Secret Assassin Society the reason for their assignments, but I would like to make an exception for this one. You are the best I have, my price, Omega; nobody can do what you do, so I trust you with this important target. Your given target is personal to me and needs to be handled with care; otherwise, it might cause a war. I can not afford it now, so I trust you will do this swiftly and quietly. But let me warn you of the importance of this one; you can not come back unless you have dealt with him. I hope I have clarified, dear Elvira, that you will succeed. I wish you all the best and hope you come back home successful and healthy!" The letter of assignments ends.
"Alpha Romeo Aurelius, your last hours have started!" I whispered as I started packing my gear.
Two hours later, I drove towards my assigned destination as thoughts of my target swirled around my head. I know I shouldn't have thought more about why he was such a personal reason for Mother Omega, but still, a small part in the back of my mind stayed curious. But I pushed that thought back down and replaced it with thoughts of planning how to take him out while entering the highway in pursuit of the unknown.
Along the way, I passed some cities and some smaller towns, and in one of them, I decided to make a pitstop to refill my car and get something to snack on during the long trip north.
I stretched my tired muscles after parking my car at a glass station. The sun was now fully up and blistering hot. "Sunscreen!" I mumbled as a reminder, not wanting to look like a red tomato. When my car was complete, I walked inside the shop and browsed for snacks and water.
I walked up to the counter to pay when I got what I wanted.
"Excuse me, madam, do you also sell sunscreen?"
"Oh, sure, Love. Which one do you want? I hit medium or large ones?" the friendly lady asked while pointing towards the shelf on her left.
"I'll take the large one, please. Also, could I use your bathroom, which I saw on the right outside?"
"Yes, take this key and push the door a bit after turning it because sometimes the lock gets stuck," the lady explained with a sheepish grin.
"Ok, thanks," I answered. I walked back to my car and dropped off my shopping before I went to the toilet.
Inside the toilet, I took care of my business and then cleaned my face with a tissue I brought to remove the sweat. When done, I took a last look in the mirror and then opened the door, only to bump into a hard chest.
"Look where you are going, woman!" A low man's voice growled while the smell of alcohol smuttered my senses.
"You better stop drinking so you see where you are going!" I bite out while rolling my eyes at the drunk guy swaying on his feet in front of me.
"Sh…shut up, you…you…let me pass," the drunk spluttered while shoving me aside.
For a split second, I wondered if I would make him regret ever laying his paws on me, but then I shook my head and started walking towards the front of the shop.
"Here is the key. By the way, do you know some drunken guy is hanging around the toilets?" I asked the shop owner curiously.
"Drunken Tommy, yeah, he is famous around here, the poor sod; he's harmless as long as you do not threaten him; I hope he wasn't bothering you?" She replied with a frown.
"Besides being rude, pushing me aside, and smelling like he hasn't seen a shower for days, no," I answered, rolling my eyes.
"Ok, well, sorry anyways, thanks for stopping by at my shop," the lady says before I turn around and leave.
Once back in my car, I reset the navigation and checked how much longer I needed to travel, which, to my happiness, was not more than two hours. So, I started the car and took off again.
Exactly two hours later, I entered the border town up north. "Welcome to Silver Ridge!" I read the sign I just passed out loud and smirked. Let's see how welcome I would be at Alpha Romeo's pack; I thought while looking for a hotel alongside the main street.