Chapter 1: Her Revenge

He was born and killed my mate… and I was born to take his life. I pierced him with the silver knife that I held as I sat on his lifeless body. His face was hidden from view, but I could see his bloody body. I gave him too many stabs that he wouldn’t be able to breathe again or heal. I did the right thing since he murdered the person who was supposed to be my mate. He put an end to that wolf's existence who should have remained my lifelong companion. He didn't deserve to live!

“Agh!” I growled and pulled the dagger out of his chest with the intent to stab it with more vigor and bury it too deeply in his heart…However—

"Heather!" 

I snapped back from my sleep. My neck and brow were covered in sweat as I caught my breath. I blinked three times before settling my eyes to the Alpha leader of the Shadow pack, Hugo Estes.

“Did you have the same dream again?” he asked with a worried look on his face.

I exhaled deeply and tapped my chest. Of course, that dream all over again. I doubt I would have a restful night's sleep free from that horror. My adversary’s face appeared to be blank, so I couldn't see it at all. I had no idea how he looked, but I grew to harbor hatred towards him. No one could blame me for feeling this way, after all, I was entitled. I put my foot on the ground and shot Alpha Hugo a saber-like stare. Even though I was aware that it was against the rules to be inebriated in front of Alpha, I was nonetheless annoyed by his impromptu visit to my room.

“What are you doing here, Alpha?” I stepped closer to the table to fetch some water. I took it in one gulp before I turned back to him.

"Everything you have requested is now ready. You only need to depart.” What Alpha Hugo said caused my body to straighten, repeatedly swallow, and made my hands shake. It felt like someone had pointed a silver knife at me. 

I unhooked my palms from the clasp because of the perspiration that gathered on it. I couldn’t count how many times I had taken a shallow hot breath before I reacted. "Don't let anyone follow me. You owe me nothing because Archer is no longer alive and I will be the one who will exact revenge on behalf of him." The only feeling other than wrath was audible in my forceful voice.

Archer Poer was Alpha Hugo's cousin— my dead mate. As I reminisced, I remembered what ground I stood up on— I was only a Beta and not his true mate but he embraced our non-had-been-written-fate.

My thought was interrupted by the voice again, “I made a promise to my cousin in front of his grave that I will watch over and protect you.”

"I am competent to manage myself. I am the Beta of Shadow pack, Heather Windsor!"

His amazement could be seen in his eyes. He could have killed me in these moments if he had wanted to, but I could see he wasn't planning to. I didn't understand why he felt obligated to be here with me when he no longer needed to fulfill that duty. He could take advantage of this chance to chase down his Luna so that he had a partner with whom to lead the Shadow pack— because as soon as I exact the retribution I desire, I intend to leave the pack.

“Heather, are you hearing yourself?” The moment his canine teeth finally dropped out, I was able to collect myself. I stood still and wasn't terrified anymore; since Archer's death, the word "death" had gotten accustomed to my ears and eyes. I was prepared for anything coming my way.

“Yes, since that day I have had a thirst for vengeance.” I coldly returned his gazes. “My purpose for living is to kill him with my own hands.”

“I hope you won’t regret this revenge you’re seeking!” He growled and stormed out of my room without waiting to hear what I had to say next. I wasn’t shocked by that because I didn't expect him to do anything or put up with what I was doing. 

I made the decision to put the incident behind me and focus on getting ready. I went to my clothing cabinet and had a look at the outfit I would be wearing. I even paid for this and the mask I required for the masquerade hosted by the royal of the Darkmoon pack, using some of my own money and bronze. If I didn't spend some, I wouldn’t have a decent chance of accessing their territory. 

I held the "moon mask," which could only be seen through my eyes, and looked at the black dress in front of me. We were going to cross paths, therefore I intended to put him in the silver cell so I could slowly torture him till he died.

When I got out, the carriage was waiting for me. On the other hand, I had never seen Hugo again when I looked around. The others who were waiting for my departure were my military. I may have had the confidence to face my arch-enemy, the Lycan King, who killed my beloved, since I was confident that I could defeat him in combat. 

A few hours of journey, as I had requested that this be the only spot they take me to, the carriage came to a complete halt when it reached the end of the territory governed by the Shadow pack.

I asked them to leave me since I didn’t want them to cope with this war I was making. 

They too went shortly after, and I worried that someone could have learned about them. In an effort to conceal the fact that I wasn't a member of their pack, I changed my attire. I was not sure if I could get away with it without getting caught. I had a unique ability to conceal my scent, which only Luna and Alpha had or some royals, which allowed me to blend in. I didn't tell anyone about it because I didn't want them to become weary of my presence.

Now, I would only rely on my abilities, but I was worried that, since it would be the Lycan King I would be against, he would be able to determine who I was.

However, when I tried to move—

I couldn't…

Someone was gripping my shoulder and preventing me from taking a step forward.

‘Who the hell is this? How long has he been here?’

“Don't try to move,” a dead voice whispered. "I can smell you, woman.”

His voice was chilly and deep. It seemed like it could scratch your body down to your soul. It was difficult to explain why I felt afraid in the coldness and tension of his voice, given that I was Beta of the Alpha in my pack. 

‘You're a warrior, Heather! We shouldn’t feel this way!’ Even the wolf that lived inside of me appeared to be on the run. It’s White.

As sweat formed on my brow, I cautiously pulled the injection tube that I had inserted into my stockings. I swallowed one after another, and in a split second, I withdrew my body away from him…

I smirked, injecting it into his neck. “I asked the medical doctor from our pack about this needle injection.”

Slowly, his grasp on my neck began to ease, and when I turned to face him, his whole body was naked. 

The heat radiated from my face all the way to the back of my neck. I glanced him in the face, and his features were nothing to laugh at. Even when his eyes were closed, his visage attracted respect. His face was ablaze with pride. Thick brows, red lips, and lengthy eyelashes. He also had long hair in a half-bun and a thick and shaggy black beard, which he displayed with dignity.

If you look into his closed eyes, you would not feel any sympathy, but rather terror would take hold of you.

After shaking my head, I removed my views from my mind and covertly dragged the guy into a large number of trees. In the past I often carried bodies easily. However, I had no idea why I couldn’t do the same with this man, this was the first time I had ever had to deal with not being able to lift the body of an adult male wolf.

I was preventing myself from killing any wolves since I didn't want to create any conflict between the two packs. In order to avoid injuring innocent and having victims, it was only reasonable that I carried the injection with me that I had given to the man. He would be unconscious for two days as a result of the shot. Perhaps on the day he awoke, I had murdered their Lycan King and had managed to flee from this land.

I re-adjusted my posture and went on my trip to find myself a way to the masquerade ball.

I came upon a route where there were two guards stationed at the entrance of a massive gate. They were clad in royal platinum armor and armed with long firearms. Aside from that, Darkmoon was exceptional in that they could wield a silver bullet rifle without even a shudder. When it came to the Shadow pack, I was the only one with a gun that had a silver bullet in it.

I disguised my scent and walked slowly so that they wouldn't be able to detect my presence at the same time. I hurriedly slid out the two injections out of my stockings and implanted them into their necks as soon as I could. Although I was having difficulties moving due to the dress I was wearing, they dropped to the ground and I easily picked them up to take them into the dark woodland and conceal myself. It was just a minute before I got back to where they had been standing earlier.

The gate swung open, and the obnoxious werewolves emerged. Despite the fact that the sun was still up, a large number of guests arrived at the ball early. I approached them one by one, knowing that no one would identify me since, apart from the point that I was wearing a mask, they would not be able to smell me. 

I wandered my eyes and noticed the Darkmoon pack members and from the other packs, which were royal packs from the Lone Pack and Mystic Pack, or even the Hunter pack. They were aligned with Darkmoon, and as a corollary, commerce between their respective kingdoms was unhindered by restrictions.

I thought of going for a stroll first since I knew I'd be waiting a long time to meet their Lycan King, thus I decided to do so.

It was still unclear how I would identify him since I hadn't seen his face anywhere yet. Although he seemed to be nothing more than a myth that existed in history, interpreting the narrative of wolves, I had never even seen his eyes, and it had been stated that he was only seldom seen in masses. Nonetheless, I didn't believe that because, after all, what kind of Lycan king would refuse to appear in front of his disciple?

Pondering, I walked inside the palace and no one noticed me.

Once I opened the door and saw what was indoors, I realized how ravenous the Darkmoon pack had gotten. Because they had conquered enormous territories by combining forces, it was difficult for us to leave the tiny area we had occupied because we were afraid that if we ventured beyond, we would be slain by the royal guards who were stationed all over the place.

Darkmoon was obsessed with power, which was why the mate I hadn't been with for a long period of time perished as a result of the attacks. If I come across that Lycan King, I wanted to make him suffer the consequences of what he had done to me.

He took away my shot at a decent future.

I tried to come out from behind the palace, completely unaware of how many hours had gone. I raised my eyes to the dark space. Even though it was already night and just half moon light was obtainable from the single torch, I was taken aback by the beauty of the garden. 

However, as I heard crackles, I ran for cover. ‘Did they discover that someone had infiltrated their territory? Making sure no one could see me, I also took great care to conceal the wolves that I had injected earlier.’

Just as I was about to step out the door, someone spoke in my ear, which caused my body hair to leapt on up and my wolf within roared in wrath. 

“I found you again,” a voice that made me breathless brushed my ear. “It is because of your treachery that I will not allow you to go. I will make certain that you always growl my name. How dare you..." He breathed.

"...not to recognize the Lycan king."