TWO YEARS LATER, NIGHTSHADE FOREST; THE BURIAL MOUNDS

A silver-haired woman stood at the Valley of the Forgotten Kings. She had an hourglass figure, dressed in leather trousers and a jacket, with multiple daggers strapped to her body.

At the far right was the famous Hill of Bones, the ancient battleground where the greatest battle in history happened. On this spot, the most powerful immortals, dragons, elves, wolves, and witches all fell.

A black mask covered the right side of her face, marred with terrifying scars, while the left showed a peerless beauty. Her wavy hair, long and untamed, was held back with a few braids, making her look like a rugged demon.

The woman's blue eyes were terrifying; the right had a slightly purple hue, while the left had a circle of orange, the color of flames, making her look half beast.

“Alpha, it's ready,” a young man called, walking to her with a large file.

He sighed and looked at her.

“Alpha, you need to prepare your mind. The Silver Fang Pack has totally accepted Ethan as the Alpha King. They hailed him that day after he ‘courageously’ beat back the rogues, crowning him a hero who did what their useless Alpha King couldn't.”

“He has gathered more supporters in the last two years, and the few stubborn ones were locked in the dungeons on one flimsy charge or another. They have totally forgotten the Frost family. Even if you reclaim the territories, it might be hard to regain your position in their hearts.”

Amaya pretended not to hear his warning. She already knew that Ethan and his crew had established their reputation by pouring dirt on her father's legacy and that they now supported him as the Alpha. The tiny few who refused to yield to manipulation and threats were disposed of to avoid trouble.

But she couldn't care less. Tonight, she must deliver their karma to them.

“Kyro, is the legion ready to move?” she asked, accepting the file from him.

“According to our investigation, Ethan is throwing a banquet tonight in celebration of Stacy's pregnancy. Erica and her fiancé, Dolion, will be there too, alongside some of their closest allies. Elder Lance, Elder Maverick, and Micha, who pushed for his enthronement, convincing the council and the pack to accept him, will also be in attendance, in addition to their other allies, which you already know. The rogues they paid back then were captured two days ago. However, we can't find the witch, no matter how much we dig.”

“It's alright, let's eat these ones first. Once they're gone, the witch won't dare to squeak. If she's stupid enough to show up, I will, of course, welcome her with open arms.”

She turned to leave. As she walked past the lake, it captured her reflection—an evil smirk, cold enough to send chills of terror down the bones.

Two years ago, after she was poisoned and left for dead, some of her father's loyal men secretly smuggled her out and swapped her body with that of a mutilated corpse. For a month, she battled the poison, with the healer and two of the men doing everything they could to wake her up while the rest remained in the pack for correspondence.

When she woke up, her wolf was gone, and her right eye couldn't see clearly. Who would have expected that she would accidentally awaken her new bloodline and wolf a month later?

She had awakened the Royal Ice Flame Wolf, an ancient bloodline that was thought to be lost after the Great War of Immortals. Her new wolf was a giant white one, whose left eye was the color of flames, the right blue like the sea.

The poison they injected her with, rather than killing her, squeezed out her potential, letting her awaken an ancient celestial.

But Ethan still wouldn't let them breathe. He discovered that two of her men were missing and sent out a hunt order, fearing retaliation from the loyal duo.

Left with no other option, she led her men, alongside the little band of lone wolves she gathered, into the Nightshade Forest, where no one had ever returned alive.

According to legends, ever since the Great War, the death energy in the Nightshade Forest killed people instantly. But with Amaya's lead, they made it as far as the burial mounds, with her decimating both beasts and spirits that stood in her way.

That was where they established their settlement, in the Valley of the Forgotten Kings. Like the ghosts they were, they hid in the silence of the Nightshade Forest, a viper waiting to strike.

****

“Alpha, the security is tight, and most of our men in the Silver Fang Pack have been locked in the dungeons. We may not be able to avoid casualties,” her beta, Kyro, said, returning to her on a black wolf.

“I never intended to avoid casualties.”

Alex, Kyro, and Kane went silent at her words. She had become heartless after her ordeal, turning into a bloodthirsty killing machine.

Her bitterness fueled her rage, pushing her to the height of power. But killing their former pack members still felt wrong to them.

“There could be innocent children around…”

“My parents and I were innocent too. What did we do to deserve all that pain?” she snapped, making them step back in fear.

Her aura was oppressive and terrifying, unlike other Alphas they had met.

Amaya took a deep breath with her eyes closed and sighed.

“Fine, I won't hurt anyone who is not involved. No matter how wicked I have become, I will never hurt a child. We will only kill the targets. As for the rest, to prevent mistakenly killing someone not related to them, we will keep them chained while we decide what to do.”

“Kane will lead Batch A and C in through the secret tunnel and lie in wait inside the pack. I will lead the elite special forces team in making a frontal breakthrough. Kyro will remain at the border with Batch B to provide reconnaissance and reinforcement in case we encounter a surprise.”

“As for Alex, you will lead your special forces team to take control of the barracks and ensure there will be no deployment or rescue mission. Lyra will remain with her team in Nightshade to watch the camp.”

“Yes, Alpha. Congratulations on your impending victory.”

Amaya chuckled and looked at her gloved hands, her eyes filled with hate and a thirst for vengeance.

“Just like that day, I will recreate history tonight and turn their celebration into a funeral.” Her eyes were as unforgiving as steel, reflecting a hint of the resentment beneath.