FLAWED

RISING FROM ASHES

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 jacket, multiple daggers strapped to her body.

At the far right was the famous hill of bones, the ancient battle ground where the greatest battle of history happened, where immortals, dragons, elves, wolves and witches alike 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 beast. The woman's blue eyes were terrifying, the right had a slight purple hue, while the left had a circle of orange, the color of flames, making her look like half a 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 had 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 had 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 s**t 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 quickly disposed of to avoid troubles. But she couldn't care less. Tonight, she must deliver their karma to them.

“Kyro, is the legion ready to move?” She asked coldly, 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. But if she's stupid enough to show up, I will of course welcome her with open arms.” She said, turning to leave.

As she walked past the lake, it captured her reflection; a wicked 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 clear. 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 forgotten 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 kill her actually squeezed out her potential, letting her awaken an ancient beast as her wolf.

But Ethan still won'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 from alive. According to legends, ever since the great war, the death energy in the nightshade forest kills people instantly. But with Amaya's lead, they made it as far as the burial mounds, with her decimating both beast and spirits that stood in her way. That was where they established their settlement, in the valley of the forgotten kings. Like the ghost they were, they hid in the silence of the nightshade forest, like 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 casualty.” 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 became heartless after her ordeal, turning into a bloodthirsty killing machine. Her bitterness fuelled her rage, pushed her to the height of power. However, killing their former pack members still felt wrong to them.

“But 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 oppressing 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. Kyros 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 would 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 to a funeral.” She said coldly, her eyes as cruel and unforgiving as steel.