Chapter One: Ambushed by the Enemy.

Winter shrouded the earth like a pale winter moon clinging to the gray sky, and turned the mountain into icy beauty, with a white sheen as thin as crystal. Yet, at the summit of the towering mountain, a woman is pushing herself to the limit through extreme training in the dead of winter. Because of the river of sweat dripping down her body, the freezing breeze couldn't even make her shiver. Her body ached, and veins bulge out as if she's gonna collapse, but she is still unhappy. She wanted more, but her body couldn't handle it anymore.

The woman is Blade, a promising female warrior in the Greenstone and captain of a squad. She's an omega, but she managed to rise through the ranks with her exceptional talent. However, being one of the strongest still couldn't satisfy her. She's only a big fish in the well, and many are stronger than her outside.

She have two main objectives; first is to be able to join the Alpha King's main soldier, called Phantom, and second is to utterly subjugate the rebellion group, Parasite, led by the infamous Rouge Alpha, Lorcán. As far as she knows, her parents died because of the rouges. She wants to avenge her parents' death—that's why she's aiming to be stronger.

And now, she's training while they are on their journey to the palace, after the Alpha appoints her to be the one to company his daughter, Colleen Greenstone, as she is chosen to be one of Luna's candidates.

Blade wanted to question her alpha about why he agreed to send her only daughter despite knowing the danger she would face, but Blade kept her mouth shut. She has no right to complain as Colleen's friend, since her father, who loves her, has no complaint. The Alpha King has been looking for a bride after his mate died after giving birth to his successor. He wants someone to fill the duty of Luna, despite not being his mate. 

Due to this, many regarded it as a once in a blue moon opportunity to increase their status, influence, and political standing. Since then, the Alpha King is the highest position in the werewolf race.

However, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity turned into every lady's worst nightmare. Due to the fact that only one lady would survive and become a Luna, the King declared a hellish competition between candidates. In a nutshell, they need to eliminate each other until one of them survives.

At 5 a.m., Blade descended to the mountain where they were camping the night before.She massaged her sore body after she was extremely trained. As a captain, she shouldn't let her guard down and aim to be strong all the time, since enemies are just lurking anywhere. Before ascending to the mount, she secured a room for her colleagues and her lady Colleen.

But after Blade descended from the mountain, she was welcomed by her anxious members. Their complexions were pale and problematic. Blade's heart was racing in curiosity and worry. She asked her vice captain, and that wad when she discovered that her Lady Colleen fled with her mate. She was furious after learning of it. She never thought it would happen.

"What?! Fuck! Move, and find her no matter what!"

She immediately ran toward the direction where Colleen had runaway and transformed into her wolf form. Her blood was boiling as her claw left a deep claw mark every way she passed. But in the end, she cannot find Colleen.

"Damn it!

She was already late to chase them as Colleen never left any traces. Blade was infuriated at the fact that it seemed planned carefully. It's planned for her, so they could fled from her.

Blade couldn't stop cursing as she punched the tree in front of her. She's damn regretful of the fact that she let her guard down. She couldn't believe that Colleen would flee with her mate, who she was never aware of.

"I should never have left her. Damn that brat!"

"Captain, we couldn't really find any traces. Lady Colleen appeared to have purposefully erased all of their traces, making it impossible for us to track them... " Her vice captain, Jones, reported with disappointment and fear to his mad captain.

"Sh*t. Who's the bastard she ran off with? " Blade's anger never ceased. It's already afternoon, and yet they were still searching non-stop for 11 hours straight. They were all tired, but they couldn't rest since their lives were at stake.

"It's Atlas Smith, the cousin of the beta. They disappeared at the same time. We thought that someone had abducted them, but there are no traces of unfamiliar wolf scents or suspicious things. We will also be alarmed if someone entered within our scope. We assumed that Atlas fled with Lady Colleen since he already mentioned that he had already found his mate and was secretly in a relationship with her. We assumed that two might be mates." Jones explained.

"Damn it! How dare she leave us in this kind of situation? If she really didn't want to be married to the king, she should have fled without fucking involving us!"

Blade knew that they will be held accountable. But what made her more worried was the fact that it might anger the King, and if so, the whole pack will be punished. She loves her pack more than her life!

"Damn Colleen! Have you ever thought of the consequences of the actions you've taken?" She shouted loudly and frustratedly, which made the birds fluttered away from their area. "You're so selfish!"

"Captain, what should we do?" One of her members asked in a low and concerned tone. They all wore their anxious and worried expressions. That makes Blade's blood boil even more. Her shoulders fell in disappointment. She wanted to complain and drag Colleen with her, but she doesn't know where she would start and where she would find her.

"Fuck!"

Blade remained tacit and speechless. They were all thinking about the punishment they might face after this misfortune. They ignore their rumbling stomach and tired body. Blade was also thinking deeply about what she would do. Her feet are trembling in anxiety. She's trying all her best to seek any possible solution to this.

"C-captain."

"What?"

"W-we have a suggestion."

"Spill it." Blade's expression has lightened.

"Why don't you try to be in her place? I mean, lady Colleen, why don't you act like her?" Jones suggested while stuttering and unable to look straight in her eyes.

Blades' eyes bulge out of their sockets. "What? "Are you insane?"

"N-no, but w-we don't have any choices now."

Blade rushed to Jones and held him in the collar. The other member tried to stop her. "The fuck are you spouting? Do you want me to rip off that mouth of yours? "

"I am serious, Captain. I know you're aware of what consequences we will face if we disappoint the king. Our pack will be in danger, and the pack will blame us for not securing the lady. But if it's you that will replace her and act as her, you have a chance to survive that bloody competition. You are strong, Captain. And if you win, the king will grant you a wish aside from giving you the position of Luna. You can just wish to become a phantom member rather than Luna. I am sure the king will approve this." Jones spoke without fear and was determined.

"T-that's what I thought as well, Captain." Mark agreed with Jones along with her members.

Blade would never deny that what Jones said to her was very tempting. He had a point. But she still won't set aside her duties as a warrior for their pack to pursue her dream. She tightened her grip.

"Isn't it your dream, Captain? To become a member of the phantom? I am sure that this is an opportunity for you. We will support you. The Alpha won't be able to do anything since her daughter fled on her own accord."  He paused and held her hands, which were still on his collar. "No one will also doubt you if you're fake or real since you're wolf is bigger than average. They will easily think that you're the Alpha's daughter. "

Blade's teeth gritted and glared at him, but Jones just stared at her eyes directly without fear.

Blade let go of Jones' collar harshly. Her clenched fist as she understood her members' suggestions and is most likely their last option. She kept staring at the ground while thinking deeply. Her members are not wrong. She really wanted to become a Phantom member, but she really did not know how. And perhaps, their suggestion is an opportunity in disguise.

Blades' heart races at the thought of her being a phantom member. It is thudding with excitement. She felt like she had experienced a sudden adrenaline rush. Blade turned her back, and she clenched her fist firmly.

"It's either we spend our time searching for Miss Colleen and face the consequences miserably, or you consider our suggestion."

"As if we have a choice..."  Blade clenched firmly.

"Then that means..."

"Yes! Now, prepare to depart!" She screamed.

"R-roger!"

Blades immediately transformed into her wolf, which is indeed bigger than anyone. Her members also transformed and howled in happiness. Blade was now determined to grab this opportunity. She will turn this misfortune into an opportunity.

I may be greedy, but what will I gain by being righteous all the time? 

They continued to run at the quickest pace as possible to arrive at the palace at the exact time. Their speed and strength were also surprising, despite being sleepless. Even the heavy rain and violent breeze cannot halt them. They have traveled four mountains successfully. When the nights got cold again, they searched a cave to rest in and spend their night there. They even drunk a small amount of alcohol to relax their minds. 

"Parasite?" She twitches as she mumbled the group she hates the most while looking at the newspaper she's been reading. "They are creating a ruckus again. Fuck these bugs. I'm really going to tear them apart if I meet them. "

"Chill, Master..." Jones chuckled.

"Those vermin! I'll make sure to hunt them!"

Blades has been targeting and keeping track of the parasite. But no matter how much she does, she cannot even catch one of the members, nor can she find their hiding place. But Blade had already set her eyes on them, especially on Lorcán's head. 

"Lorcán, you will die by my hands someday. " Her hands clenched firmly as her heart raced in excitement.

They continued to drink booze as everyone thought that no misfortune would befall them, including Blade, but it's not until her other members fell down unconsciously and began convulsing. Blade became alarmed when Jones screamed, and came running with injuries.

"Captain! We're under attack!" Jones notified.

Blade quickly stood up but felt extreme dizziness. She could not even stand properly as her eyes got blurry and dim.

"Fuck! Damn it! " Blade kept cursing herself as she forcibly stood up and wandered her eyes around.

Screams of her colleagues and slashes of flesh resounded through the night. Blade's heart was racing with anger and nervousness at the same time. She wanted to help her members, but she couldn't do anything. She stared at the booze they've been drinking and realized that the enemies might have secretly put a poison in it. But it's too late for her to regret since she has already consumed it.

"Damn it! We're ambushed!" 

Blade fell on her knee, but she instantly got up and transformed into her wolf. She endured the dizziness she felt and attacked her enemies. Due to the poison, she could not move with all her strength as her breath got tighter. She questioned herself why she did not even notice their presence.

They are no ordinary enemies.

Blade managed to take down a few enemies, which mostly shocked her enemies. She also suffered major injuries, which made her harder to fight. She transformed back into human form and held her bleeding shoulder.

"You're quite good, but you're still no match for me." The woman who approached her said it while wearing an insulting grin. "Well, that's not surprising for an Alpha's daughter. You're Coleen right?"

Her enemies seemed to have mistaken her. Blade grinned mockingly. "Quite good? Nah... I am better than you if just you hadn't used underhanded tactics." Blade was pertaining the poison.

Blade already knew how strong the girl in front of her was. She also knew that she could not do much for herself because of the injuries and the poison spreading through her body. But there's no way she would bow and lower her pride as a warrior. Even if they died, they would still protect their honor. It is just a shame that their journey would end up easily like this.

"Why don't we try?" The girl laughed but seemed furious and transformed into her wolf. She growled at her.

Blade laughed. "Are you a pup? Damn it. You're all talk. " She mocked her as she transformed into her big black wolf.

Watching the enemies easily kill her team made her doubt their skill. Their expressions are blank, as if they are just mere ants being stamped by their feet. They are bored while slashing their flesh. They haven't even begun to transform into their beast wolf. Blade realized that even though they were in good condition, they were no match for her. But she would not die without putting up a fight.

Her enemy was slightly shocked at her transformation, but Blade grabbed that moment to attack her with her claw. Unfortunately, her enemy's reflexes were sharp but not too fast, and they immediately suffered a small wound from her rapid attack.

"Damn it, she's fast! Suzaine, are you okay?"

So, she's Suzaine? 

Blade growled and sharpened her senses as she noticed her enemy getting ready, brushing her claws to the ground. She then attacked her, aiming for her neck, so Blade attacked her as well. They rolled on the ground, trying to bite each other's neck. But Blade had an advantage because of her large figure and used her weight to pin her. Her enemy quickly bit her on her legs and kicked her. She immediately lost her balance and her vision blurred due to the poison's effect.

Her enemy managed to bite her lower neck. Blade groaned and moved violently to escape. She sharpened her nails and scratched Suzaine. When her enemy growled in pain, she quickly bite her neck as hard as she can.

"Suzaine? Suzaine!"

Unfortunately, Blade got dizzy a bit due to the poison, and Suzaine still managed to kick her as her last resort. She immediately flew and bumped into a tree. That's when Blade started to feel the poison effects even more. She was starting to get delirium in pain.

"Damn it!"

She saw Suzaine running toward her while her neck was bleeding and about to attack her. But Blade's body is getting paralyzed. Her body won't cooperate with her mind. Blade cursed herself. Suzaine grunts sagely as her sharp fangs are getting closer. Before Suzaine could snap her head, she transformed into a human and forced her body to move with excruciating pain. Suzaine's wolf fangs bared into her flesh, while her other hands grabbed a silver knife and stabbed Suzaine in the stomach. Both of them growled in pain. Blade immediately kicked Suzaine away and held her injured arms to stop the bleeding.

"Stop! Suzaine! You are already injured! "

Blade watched how Suzaine transformed again, and it was obvious how much she had suffered greatly from her. Blade smiled to mock her when their gaze met.

"We're not done!" Suzaine shouted while glaring at her angrily.

"You are already done, if I am not just poisoned. So, better luck next time, doggie. "

"You!" Suzaine tried to stand up and attack her, but her co-member stopped her.

Blade just rolled her eyes and averted her attention to her bleeding arms, and then turned into her colleague's unconscious body. Despite her advantage in the fight, Blade was unsatisfied by the result. How could she be satisfied if her men were lying on the ground wounded?

She still thought that she was just a big fish in a well. She's just arrogant just because she's one of the strongest in a pack that is regarded as one of the weakest in the world. She's boastful that she can ascend to the top and protect others with her strength. She thought too highly of herself that she always let her guard down because she thought she could handle everything, and yet... her arrogance paid off.

"What have I been doing all this time?" Blade mumbled regretfully, despite having little control over her consciousness. She's loathing herself.

The enemies' attention fixated on her and their menacing eyes almost pierced her bone. Blade sensed their powerful aura. She tried to move her body as she heard their footsteps toward her. But Blade, despite being slightly afraid, managed to glare at them. She thought that she would meet her own demise soon and her pride was the last thing she have. It won't be bad to give a little fight to the people she loathes the most.

One of the enemies said, "She's a fierce one."

"She endured the effect of the viper."

Blade vomited blood as her heart tightened as if it were being crumpled. She groaned and struggled in excruciating pain. But Blade's body slightly stiffened up as she felt a very powerful presence that joined them. The remaining strength in her body seemed to be sucked in by it. She could feel nothing but blind terror. It was his total domineering aura that conquered the entire jungle. Blade had never thought that she would encounter someone as powerful as this man.

 It was beyond her Alpha. It's 10 times stronger than her. Her body shuddered unconsciously.

"Is she Coleen Greenstone?"

"Yes, master. Should we kill her? She still has the pride of a warrior. And no warrior will love to die from poison. What do you think, master?"

"It will hurt my wolf pride to kill someone without putting up a fight." A deep, menacing voice echoed through Blade's ear despite her senses getting weak.

"Should we ask her?"

She stopped convulsing as her heart started beating slowly. Tears fell from her eyes due to immense pain. It's shameful for her to die in a situation like this. But what would she do? It's her fault for letting her guard down due to her arrogance.

Blades heard a heavy footstep coming toward her. She still felt chill despite her body being numb. Blade already knew that it's the one she loathes the most. Her longtime target—Lorcán.

A calloused hand held her chin. She couldn't rest since her body seemed to be paralyzed, not because of poison, but because of the man's aura. His hand slipped down on her lips and down to her neck. The man's claw tore the flesh on her neck and seemed ready to break her, but Blade, with all her might, grabbed the man's hair and bit him on his neck—like a wild and mad wolf starving for flesh. She also stabbed him with her dagger made of silver in the chest.

"Master!"

Blade never thought that their paths would collide in such an unfortunate way like this. Even if she dies, she will have put up a small fight against her nemesis, which will allow her to accept her death with fewer regrets.

I will drag you with me, Lorcán!

Blade was expecting that she would be killed immediately, but a loud laugh resounded in her ear. And it infuriates her inside.

"My... did you just... mark me?"

Blade quickly realized what she'd done, but she was unable to react because her breath stopped beating and she gradually lost consciousness.

Damn, Lorcán!