Chapter One: Irredeemables

Kharys Clave awakened with a gasp, her breath coming out in short, frantic pants as her hand shot up to her neck but came away, wet with her own perspiration.

There was no blood to be seen like she had expected and her rapid breathing slowed down as the realization dawned that it had all been a dream... just another nightmare.

Nightmares... they had plagued Kharys every night since she was a child, she was used to them already.

Glancing around her room, Kharys' gaze settled on the alarm clock by her bedside, the time read a little past 4am and a quiet sigh escaped her.

Forcing away the residual horror from her nightmare, Kharys got off her bed, feeling as numb as always.

There was no other feeling more familiar to her than numbness, even though it should rightly have felt different since today, she would be turning eighteen...but still, nothing had changed.

Heading into her bathroom, Kharys washed up quickly before throwing on a black leather combat suit with a large black hood attached.

Kharys then grabbed her black mask, the mask she always wore over her face to hide her scars.

Kharys was in her kitchen in the next few minutes, blending a smoothie for herself.

She pulled out the vial of wolfsbane from her pantry and emptied the contents into her smoothie.

A sizzling sound was heard from the cup but Kharys paid it no mind, lifting the cup to her lips and downing the contents.

While wolfsbane was a deadly poison to other wolf shifters, to Kharys, it would only build her immunity... Kharys was not like others you see, she was different.

Although today was Kharys' eighteenth birthday, her plans for the day remained unchanged, it was a daily routine.

Everyday, a mission was sent her way, containing a detailed description and a location of an irredeemable rogue and when a file came to Kharys Clave, it meant just one thing...a kill order.

Kharys was born a Slayer, naturally engineered as a killing machine, only it wasn't science...it was her gift granted by the moon goddess.

The Sacred Lycan Order had recruited her from childhood. Being a natural born executioner in a world filled with irredeemables, Kharys' abilities were rare and useful and she was willing to use them.

Kharys placed down her cup and in a flash, she was dashing through the woods, headed for the pack border.

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Kharys' claws dug into the flesh of the whimpering rogue while she stared down at it with a blank gaze, she knew her target sought for mercy but it would find none with her.

The Sacred Order had given a kill order, and so death it was.

Kharys thrusted her hand into its neck even deeper, her claws tearing in as she wrenched her hand out, pulling out the rogue's jugular.

It was dead before it could make another sound, its eyes rolling to the back of its head as Kharys cast it's body aside, feeling no remorse.

She had given it an easy death, it was already much more than it deserved

Kharys felt a tugging sensation in her mind and lowered her mind block.

"Kharys, report to the pack house, Alpha Regan calls a meeting." The voice of Nigel, Beta of Red Crescent Pack sounded in Kharys' mind.

As the Gamma and Third in command of the Red Crescent Pack, it was Kharys' place to be present at every decision making in the Red Crescent Pack.

She passed an uninterested glance at the body of the rogue knowing the Order would have people take care of it and after wiping the blood off her hands, she broke into a dash, heading back to the pack house.

It did not take Kharys too long to arrive, the rogue had been lurking around the borders of Red Crescent Pack and so it had been close by and that was precisely why the Sacred Order had sent Kharys.

Kharys strode into the pack house, her glance kept straight ahead as the pack wolves who met her moved to the side in a hurry, bowing their heads till she had moved past.

Alpha Regan's office was soon within sight and Kharys knocked once for propriety sake before striding in to see all the high ranked wolves of Red Crescent had already arrived.

Sitting around the table was Alpha Regan, Beta Nigel, Delta Theo, Head warrior Orion and Caspian, Alpha Regan's son and future alpha of Red Crescent.

"Kharys." Alpha Regan acknowledged and Kharys nodded in greeting.

Not many would be able to get away with making mere gestures to the Alpha of Red Crescent and not offering audible greetings, but she was an exception.

They all knew Kharys could not give an audible greeting even if she wanted to, the reason was simple, Kharys Clave was a mute... she could not speak.

Amongst the things the rogues had taken away from her, ripping out her tongue and leaving her incapable of speech for the rest of her life was but one of the least.

Heading over to her place at the table, right after the Beta, Kharys sat down and the meeting began.

The Moon Fang Pack had been trespassing on Red Crescent territory for months and Alpha Regan had decided the best course of action was to seek alliance from the Blood Howl Pack.

The Alpha of Blood Howl was to arrive in a week to discuss an alliance and Alpha Regan wanted to know what his subordinates thought of it.

Of course, everyone had their concerns but it seemed the majority were in support of the alliance...but Kharys was not.

"Blood Howl Pack... the most terrifying and ferocious pack ever known, an alliance with them is a dangerous venture, Alpha." Kharys aired her opinion through the mindlink which was her only means of communication.

"Indeed. But it would be a win for us if we can get the Moon Fang Pack to back down without a war."

"Intimidation allows us to win without bloodshed. I know you favor battles Kharys, but perhaps we can take a different route this time." Beta Nigel reasoned in agreement with Alpha Regan.

"I just do not believe we need external help to handle Moon Fang. Our packs are of equal size, why must we avoid them? If they want a war, let them come!" Kharys declared firmly.

"Gamma Kharys, just consider it for a moment. Gaining Blood Howl Pack as an ally will not only aid us now but in the long run as well." Head warrior Orion stated.

Kharys frowned slightly but she did see the wisdom in their arguments, they all wanted to take the safe path, it seemed she was the only one that did not consider Blood Howl Pack a safe option at all.

"If Alpha wishes for an alliance, I naturally will not stand against you, but should the Blood Howl seek something in return, what can be done then?" Kharys asked through the mindlink.

The hall fell quiet as they all knew Kharys' words were a possibility, the Blood Howl Pack had not earned their fearsome reputation by playing nice and being helpful.

If they were to go back on their word or betray the Red Crescent, Kharys knew her pack would be the one in a tight position and everyone else knew it too.

Kharys was never one to believe in relying on others, nor would she ever place her trust in outsiders, especially a pack as infamous as Blood Howl.

"If it is something we can give, we will give it. If it is beyond our reach, the alliance will not stand. I will not let Blood Howl intimidate us Kharys, rest assured." Alpha Regan assured and Kharys nodded.

"Very well, we shall wait to see what changes their arrival brings. Until next week." Kharys thought into the mind link,

Alpha Regan gave the order for the meeting to be dismissed and Kharys rose to her feet, heading out.