Chapter one

CHAPTER ONE

DIANE

After everything, I lived.

I exhaled a breath of fresh air, peeling my eyes open to the view of green nature before me, before my eyes shifted to the task of the day.

I survived but I can't guarantee the same for our captives, currently under my watch. 

They'd been tortured for months, and today, I'll finally let them decide their fates.

Survival of the fastest.

That's the hunting game I'm willing to play with them today.

With calculative eyes, I took in the massive forest I was standing in front of, getting ready to take on the challenge of the day.

Before nodding, to the warrior who proceeded to set free our human prisoners instructing them to run for their lives with everything in them.

I watched them run into the forest, with their tails between their legs, and just smirked.

No one can run from the new Diane Russell.

Not that they know.

Also, with their snail speed, I would catch them in no time.

This would be too easy.

The cheering of our watching pack warriors accompanied me as I delved into the forest, legs alternating between ground and trees, as I speedily raced through the evergreen chasing after my prey.

They were humans, with familiar scents, the whole process was like a walk in the park.

In mere seconds, I hunted down the first one.

I descended upon him from the tree, toppling him to the floor, where we wrestled for dominance, and I eventually won.

The fear in his eyes reflected in my shiny blade as I wasted no time, bringing it in contact with his neck.

Thus, granting him his last breath.

One down, two more to go.

The second target seemed to be within reach as I smelt him near, I immediately cornered him at the west corner of this massive forest, his eyes shined in terror, and he ran back but I was before him in mere seconds.

“Run, I'll always catch you…” I grinned maliciously at him. He took fearful backward steps, staggering away, but with one flick of my blade, I dived my knife into his heart, securing his instant demise.

I passed a knife through the shoulder of my last target, from the tree branch I spotted him from, thus stopping his movement.

Then, I jumped down in front of him, as he clung to his shoulder, crying out in pain.

Like his other partners, he tried to form words, even as he was writhing in pain, “Your kind is evil and has only brought harm to humans…”

I didn't let him finish as I pushed another knife through his other shoulder, making him groan in pain. I took predatory steps towards him, as he stumbled to the ground.

Squatting before him, I fisted his hair roughly, with a hard stare, “Tell me who your leader is. Who do you take orders from?”

He gulped, even as his face turned red from pain, “never…” he sneered.

“Answer me..” I urged, my hands flew to his neck, where I choked mercilessly until his resolve finally broke.

“I…I will tell you.” he croaked.

“His…his name is ...” I squeezed harder and he eventually choked out.

“Gregory…..” he gasped.

“He is Gregory…”

That was all I needed to hear before I finished the job, ending him with a quick snap of his head.

Gregory is next, but for now, I reveled in his demise.

In just five minutes, I had brought an end to the existence of the hunters who had evaded the pack territory, willing to harm our wolves.

I emerged from the woods, bathed in blood yet again, savoring another one of numerous victories, as the pack warriors erupted in loud applause, cheering for the wonderful hunt.

“Pack Fidelis, once again,victory is ours….” I announced raising my bloodied knife, resulting in an uproar of cheers.

“Once again, You Aced it Diane. I'm proud…” I turned to my side to find David, taking a confident warrior stance, offering me a proud smile, and at the sight of him, a surge of emotions overtook me, as I pulled him into a squashing hug, almost toppling him over, but he only chuckled as he reciprocated.

I don't care how tough I let on recently , whenever I'm beside David, I'm nothing but a puddle of emotions.

“Thank you….” I gasped in his ear, hugging him harder, and he rumbled in approval, as his hand patted my head.

I wouldn't be here today without David.

He was the one who had saved my life on that fateful night…..

And now, looking back, I can't be grateful enough for him.

After he rescued me from the turbulent waves of the waters, he brought me back home to Orlandia, the land of my pack, where I was accepted back with open arms.

It was nostalgic, and I couldn't believe how easily mother forgave me for my mistake and let me back in, but it happened, and I'm grateful to David for that.

From then, Orlandia became a place where I had refreshed and healed from the trauma and thus discovered a new strength in me.

In the past one and a half years of me being back here, I had evolved.

After months of intense training and focus, my physical strength had become almost unmatched.

My blade had slit more throats than I can count and I had wrestled even the strongest of warriors to their graves. 

And now, overlooking my weak wolf, I'd turned into an Amazonian warrior in the making.

Bringing pride to my pack…..

It took a lot of determination and effort transforming myself into becoming the best version of myself.

A version that would one day, secure vengeance for the betrayal I had suffered at the hands of Axel and his pack.

“The beta calls for you…” a guard appeared by my side, once I disentangled from the hug with David.

David gave me a nod before I weaved out of there to answer the beta’s call, in his chambers.

He was not only beta, he was also my mother’s elder brother, one who had also been my personal trainer in the past year.

He turned, once I entered his office, with hands clasped behind his back, he regarded me with a nod.

“Great hunt out there ..” he approved, he had watched everything from his window, it was clear.

I took pride in exulting my master, it brought me relief, “Thank you.. “ I offered a firm nod.

When he inched closer, he stared into my eyes with such intensity. Sucking in a harsh breath, he declared,

“I think you are ready to face him….”

A moment passed before the meaning of his words sank in.

When I had returned to Orlandia, a broken woman, and requested of him, Beta Agasha to train me, I'd done it with the sole intention of vengeance.

He was the only one who knew of my intention to retaliate against the galaxy pack for what they did to me.

And yes, 

I've waited for the day, I’ll end Axel’s existence with my own hands but now I found myself doubting.

I frowned, casting my gaze to the sight of nature, outside the windows.

“I don't know if I'm truly ready yet…” 

I feel like I've not attained that supreme strength yet.

He shook his head at me, instead and with a simple gesture of his fingers, he instructed me to follow him. 

“I want to show you something.” Was all he said as he led me to a secret passage behind the shelf of his chambers.

Grabbing the fire stick from its holder, he led me through the narrow passage that held portraits of my ancestors.

He began in a chill voice, as we walked side by side, 

“It seems you have forgotten who you are, and the lineage you come from.”

He stopped, and waved around, “Take a look at all the portraits of these great women on the wall. Tell me what you see Diane. 

My brows knitted in reply, as I observed my ancestors, “What I see is a strong lineage of Amazons who have emerged as Alpha females and great rulers of our packs.”

“Exactly. You are absolutely correct, and you, Diane, you're the next Alpha female of our pack. For that, I expect you to be one who sits on vengeance.”

The reflection of fire sparkled in his eyes, as he continued.

“Axel, that devil son of Jackson played his way with you, and I refuse to let the mistake of my past hunt any of you. The tragedy that happened between Irene Ivankov and I, you had no hand in it….” He trailed off.

He always seemed to feel guilty whenever he tried to bring it up. She was his one time lover. Their cruel separation when Beta Agasha found his fated mate caused the death of their baby which led to the feud our packs were having now.

I simply shook my head, “Don't blame yourself..”

He shook his head, “All I want is vengeance for the wronged. Vengeance for you…..”

“You are Alpha Giselle’s daughter. The blue blood of an Alpha runs through your veins. I expect you to tread in your mother’s footsteps. Giselle has always been a strong woman even when her fool of a human husband abandoned her…..” he hissed at that.

And his eyes fell on my mother’s portrait, as he continued, “He chose life over love. When the attack from the hunters kick-started twenty-two years ago, he chose to run away from Giselle, like a coward, only for his safety.” His face twisted in hate as he bashed my birth father.

I couldn't say a word as my uncle expressed his distaste for my human father, who abandoned us, even before David, my younger brother, came into the world.

His hard glare refocused on me, “But Giselle proved she didn't need a man to complete her. Even though she was pregnant, she went to war for Orlandia and proved herself an able Alpha. Pack Fidelis is great today because of her. 

Now it's time you prove you are great Alpha Giselle’s daughter, her own flesh and blood.”

The fire burned brightly between us as he continued, “You are more than ready. You were born ready to defeat. I want you to show the world that you cannot be trampled by just any man, especially not Ivankov.”

A burning desire coursed through me, just by listening to him as he went on and on.

“I have trained you well enough to know. And I know your skills now, Diane, you are one with focus, great strength and you have achieved power. Therefore, we cannot afford any more procrastination. You need to act fast and bold if you want to take down Axel Ivankov.”

His words made sense, I personally have been thinking of my own revenge but hearing him say it, fueled me.

I nodded, “I’ll think about what you’ve told me. But be rest assured uncle, I crave this vengeance just as much as you do….”

He reached forward to place a firm hand on my shoulder, “That's the spirit and I believe in you.”

“When you are ready to take that bold step, I have something for you. I've been orchestrating it for you since the betrayal….” He finalized.

I closed my bedroom door leaning on it and eventually exhaled a sigh.

Beta Agasha’s words had pumped up my spirit of vengeance.

And now, a treasure I had placed under my bed almost two years ago came to mind.

I grabbed the dusty box I hadn't touched in months and delicately snapped it open.

A sob cracked through me as my eyes fell on the treasures within.

They were pictures and memories of my son….

The joy whom Axel had stolen from me….

My hand skinned over his baby pictures, as my heart clenched.

“Saviour…” I gasped.

“I miss you Saviour….mummy misses you so much…” I shut my eyes, closing in the tears as I hugged his picture to my chest.

That fateful night, flashed before my eyes.

The betrayal….

The pain…

“And I haven’t forgotten, nor have I forgiven the man, who took you away from me.” 

I found a single picture of him, Axel, lying in the box and hatred filled me as I regarded it.

I've only been counting days till I meet him once again.

To take my revenge, to hurt him for hurting me, and lastly, to take back my son, whom his pack forcely took away from me.

I squeezed his picture in my hold and set them on fire. I set all of his memories on fire.

Beta Agasha was right.

The flames danced around in the fire, transforming the whole paper to ashes and a new kind of determination coursed through me, as my glare never wavered at the sight.

Finally, with heavy venom in my tone, I spoke.

“I'm coming for you Axel and then, I’ll make sure the player gets played this time around….”