Fiona, a fierce war orphan raised in the mud of mercenary camps, serves as the proud Vanguard Commander of the Southern Lycan Pack. She is completely devoted to her commander and lover, Julian, who promises her a future as his mate on the eve of a massive battle against a rogue coalition. To "protect" her, Julian places a heavy obsidian amulet around her neck. However, the battle is a calculated trap. Julian orders his main force to retreat, leaving Fiona and her vanguard to be slaughtered. The amulet is actually a magic-dampener that locks away her latent, ancient primordial magic, rendering her defenseless. Julian traded her life to secure a political marriage and an alliance with a rival High Alpha. Left for dead and bleeding into the snow, Fiona vows a blood-oath of vengeance against the man she once loved.