Betrayal

“Do I have to?” Alexis buckled her secondary firearm around her ankle before ensuring her array of blades were clipped around her belt. “I’ve watched this clan for quite some time, and they don’t seem to be posing any danger to the Board.” She’d never questioned the Master before. The task had been clearly laid before her. Eliminate them all.

The Master snarled and snapped at Alexis before answering her through her mind. “Yes, do as you have been commanded. I have spoken.”

It was only with great practice that Alexis kept from flinching when the Master expressed her displeasure at the assassin. She was young, new, and still trying to prove herself to be admitted into the Board, an elite group of shapeshifters who controlled the Eastern region.

“Alexis, you must,” said Liza, who was the Master’s second. “Why do you seem resistant to completing the mission?”

“I... I just... I’ve watched them for months, Liza. They’re only kids, going to college and trying to have fun,” Alexis mumbled.

“Lest I remind you that the Rogers clan are the same age as you, a werecat about to complete training to be a world-renown killer.”

Alexis stood ramrod straight. “It just doesn’t seem right. Choose another clan for my induction,” she demanded.

The other shapeshifters on the Board watched Alexis with some curiosity. Yayro, Tomra, the Master, and Liza who sat to his right as the Master's second.

“To save the Rogers region, this clan must go,” Tomra insisted exasperatedly. “This newling should not pick and choose her orders.”

“Let’s relax here; she’s not really going to save the world, Tomra,” Yayro cut in dryly. “But it is important that she must obey. The orders have been issued. All Board soldiers must follow their orders without question.”

Tomra, Liza, and the Master all nodded in agreement with what Yayro said.

“I…,” Alexis whined. “Fine.”

The Board nodded approvingly. “Thank you for your service,” they spoke in unison.

Alexis quickly shifted into her fastest form and leaped through the open window.

As a werecat, Alexis’ fur was transformed to dark brown, nearly black. Her eyes changed to silver, representing an agent of the Board. In her natural state, her eyes were her badge serving much like her uniform in her human form. She loped through the wooded forest she knew would lead her to the outskirts of Rogers. 

She stopped right on the edge as the trees thinned, feeling the soft, springy grass under her paws. She heard birds singing and watched the clouds above, searching for shapes in them like she used to do with her mother before remembering her task.

Alexis padded down a trail that followed the edge of the oak woods. She remembered what Liza had told her. The clan spent alternate Wednesdays in an oval clearing next to a small pond in their natural state. As she saw the water’s edge, she began to trot, sighing when Alexis saw it since she knew she was in the right place.

A werewolf with longer golden fur was sniffing along the corner of the den. She glanced up as soon as Alexis padded into the clearing. “Who are you,” the werewolf asked, eyes wide.

“I could ask you the same thing,” replied Alexis. The werecat smiled flirtatiously, remembering how sexy this particular shapeshifter was in her human form.

“I’m… Anna.” The werewolf looked around anxiously as if waiting for the rest of her clan to show. “Where did you come from? Do you go to Rogers University?”

Alexis’ grin faded to a smirk. “Nope,” she said. “I’m Alexis.”

“Oh.” The werewolf tentatively backed up a few paces.

“Are you nervous,” Alexis said, advancing, toying with the werewolf.

“N- n- no,” replied Anna. “It’s just that my friends were supposed to be here, and they are late.”

“I know.”

The sun was setting, leaving the oval clearing looking like it was on fire. All evening, the two beings had walked around the forest waiting for Anna’s clan who never showed up. “So, why are you here, Alexis?”

They stopped in front of Anna’s den, Alexis with a confused expression on her face. “What do you mean?” she asked.

Anna smiled playfully. “You just appeared in my clan’s part of the woods. Can’t I ask why you are here?”

“I…” Alexis paused. I was supposed to kill you and your friends, her mind screamed.

Anna’s playful smile didn’t fade despite Alexis avoiding her question. “Well, I’m glad you came because my clan must have stood me up tonight. That’s okay; I’m grateful.” She nuzzled Alexis’ neck. “Do you have a place for the night? You can stay in our den. But I have to go back to the campus. The others tend to… get out of hand without supervision.”

Alexis smiled back. “I’ll do that.”

Anna nodded. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.”

Alexis dipped her head and padded into the cave. She scratched a bed out of the hay and laid down, tucking her head into her paws. Alexis thought of the day and the time she spent with Anna. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep the tears from slipping out. Her heart battled with her mind.

The words of her Master echoed in her head. “Your assignment - kill the entirety of the Barden Bellas clan. Only then will you become a member of the Board.”

She tucked a paw over her muzzle to stifle a sob. Alexis couldn’t do it. Even after just one day with Anna, she knew she wouldn’t be able to do it. She would be betraying the Board, but who cared about the Board if it meant sparing Anna’s life?

Another week passed with Anna visiting every day. Alexis simply knew she couldn’t kill Anna. Her heart flip flopped each time she saw the golden werewolf. Sometimes they visited for hours. Other days were spent with the two shapeshifters simply curled into each other’s bodies enjoying the warmth the other provided. Whenever Alexis thought of the Board, a shiver ran through her knowing that eventually Anna would have to die.

One night, Alexis jerked awake at a voice at the den’s opening. “Why haven’t you returned?” She immediately recognized Liza’s voice. Alexis relaxed when she saw the silver eyes of the Board member who sat at the right hand of her Master.

“The task has not yet been completed,” replied the werecat, her voice tense.

Liza stalked into sight with her eyebrows raised. “Why?” Her massive werebear natural state was intimidating.

Alexis met her with calm, silver eyes. “I love her, Liza. Too much.” There, she’d said it. She loved the werewolf and could not bear ending her life.

Liza sighed deeply. “Love always gets in the way in these situations. The Master will be angry you betrayed him.”

“You are his right hand,” Alexis said dourly as she hung her head. “The bounty will fall on my hide next the moment he knows. Yet I must accept the consequences of my inaction.” Strangely enough, Alexis’ heart felt lighter having made the decision to not end Anna’s life.

“Does Anna and her clan know of your reason for being here?” Alexis shook her head. “Reveal your purpose tomorrow, and then we shall talk.”

————

“Anna?”

“Mmm?” The golden werewolf was relaxed in the werecat’s presence. She yawned and stretched her legs as she got up.

Alexis stood before her on all fours, hesitant. She had only begun to love the werewolf and she was about to lose her. Alexis’ heart was breaking.

“What’s wrong, Alex?”

“I’d like to show you my human form, Anna. Promise you won’t run and give me a chance to explain?” The golden werewolf nodded. Alexis indicated she should turn around to let her shift.

“How about I shift, too?” Anna’s voice was sweet and innocent. “You’ve never seen my human form.” Alexis didn’t have the heart to tell her she’d seen her human form. She’d followed Anna and her clan for weeks planning their murders.

“Okay, let’s face away from each other.” Alexis transformed, making sure her Board trainee uniform was neat and tidy with her weapons in place. She took a deep breath and then asked, “ready?”

“Ready!”

“Okay, we can both turn around on three. One, two, three!” As they both turned, Anna gasped slightly and scrambled backward when she saw Alexis’ Board uniform and weapons, knowing immediately what it meant.

“Wait, wait, Anna. Let me explain. You said you wouldn’t run.” Anna nervously nodded, but Alexis could tell she was ready to shift and head back into Rogers.

“I was sent by the Board to exterminate your clan.”

Anna was shocked. “So, you’re betraying me?” She pleaded. “After all we’ve shared together these past days.”

“No.” Alexis’ face softened. “I could never kill you. Nor any of your friends.” Her head dropped in shame. “The Board came looking for me last night. I must report back on the mission status.”

A tear rolled down Anna’s cheek. “The Board sent you to kill me, but you can’t. So now you are going to just leave? Lead me along so you could leave me here?”

“Anna, I…" Alexis hadn’t thought that far ahead. Liza had only said to reveal herself. Alexis hadn’t considered what would happen after she did. An idea struck her. “Anna, run away with me. We can flee together; hide from the Board. I know of places that will take your whole clan. They are small and will assimilate well.”

“From the Board?” Anna scoffed. “You want to try to hide from the Board? You’ve got to be kidding.” 

“Why would I lie,” Alexis murmured. “I love you.”

Anna’s face sank. “I love you too,” she whispered.

They rushed to each other, pressing their noses and foreheads together, rubbing themselves with the scent of the other.

Suddenly a figure emerged from the forest, slowly clapping. It was Liza in her human form. “Well done, Alexis. Well done. I wasn’t sure you could reveal yourself and your true purpose.”

“I can’t kill her. I just can’t,” Alexis pleaded. She held tightly onto Anna’s hand then stepped in front of her to protect her love as if she could fend off a werebear at full strength.

“You don’t have to,” chuckled Liza. “I spoke with the Master and explained what I observed. The connection between the two of you is too strong. But I’m afraid your application to join the Board has been rejected.”

“I, I don’t want to be on the Board anymore.” Alexis stood up tall, pulling off the Board patch on her chest in defiance. “But what about the Rogers clan?” She was concerned. “Are you sending another assassin after them?”

“I have watched the clan with my own eyes since you arrived, Alexis. I admit we should have listened to you when you told us they were of no harm. No, the Board will not be pursuing the extermination of the clan. We will let them live in peace.”

Alexis released Anna’s hand and stepped up to embrace Liza. “Thank you, Liza. Your wiseness and guidance have been greatly appreciated.”

“Take care, Alexis. And for the record, I’m glad you didn’t kill Anna.”