Chapter 2 Deceived, rejected, lost.!

Dead.

My father was dead.

The alpha of the pack I belonged to. And I was a hostage of the psychopathic male who killed him and the bastard son who ended me in ways I couldn't even measure.

My mother fell to her knees on the ground, emitting a hollow, deep sound of pain. She raised her face and looked at Francis, her expression twisted with rage. Her eyes glowed emerald green, her wolf taking shape. In a surge, she stood up and ran towards the alpha, her hand deformed with elongated nails from the transformation, hitting Francis's arm, tearing through skin and muscle, injuring him.

Zarek released me, growling loudly, and ran towards his father.

Francis held his arm, baring his elongated teeth and eyes shining dark brown. "I'm going to kill her," he hissed.

"Not so," Zarek cut in. "I'll have that pleasure."

My mother's face was disfigured. She was in the midst of transformation. Shiny eyes, elongated canines, enhanced nails, and some fur scattered over her body.

Zarek stared at her, growling, exhaling his fear pheromone, trying to make her kneel before him, before an alpha.

I felt a cold hand grasp my arm. I looked to the side and found my sister Summer with wide eyes and lips white as paper.

My mother gave in, kneeling before Zarek, although every muscle in her body showed the effort, she made not to submit to him. Her eyes were dull, pupils dilated and lifeless.

"I would have left you alive so you could see your daughters become the pack's whores. But I won't forgive your offense against my father."

"You betrayed my husband, our pack, my daughter. You're nothing but traitorous dogs who refused to honor the agreement you made."

Zarek laughed.

"And you, an unworthy she-wolf. You couldn't give an alpha to your husband, nor please him in bed, since he had to go after others."

I felt Summer's tug on my arm, urging me to take a few steps back. They were light steps, so light that Zarek and Francis didn't notice them.

Mom smiled at him, lifting her lips in a sharp smile.

"At least my husband died knowing he was never dishonored, since he was my only male, while your father was the greatest of cucks."

Exhaling a loud scream of fury, Zarek thrust his arm forward, ripping her neck with his claws. Blood sprayed onto me, joining the mess that was already my dress.

I looked down, watching the fabric splattered with red. The dress I wore on what should have been the happiest day of my life, completely ruined, stained with the blood of my parents, whose lives were taken by the male I loved.

Zarek set me into his revenge plan, even though I had nothing to do with what had happened. He was crucifying me for sins committed by my father.

She gurgled, choking on her own blood before falling backward to the ground. Dead.

I heard the murmurs around us, footsteps echoing from all sides.

"He killed our alpha; now he deserves to die!" someone shouted.

"I'm waiting," Zarek taunted, inviting the wolves for a challenge.

I took a few more steps back, increasing the distance between us. My gaze met the old wolf patriarch's, Ralph's, who looked desolate with the situation. With a single almost imperceptible nod, I received his command.

Run!

Staying wasn't an option. Zarek had already stated his plans for me and my sister. And he had already taken so much from me.

My home; my family; my honor.

I wouldn't let him take the little or almost nothing I had left. My name is Valeria, and from now on, there was only one word on my mind: Revenge. I had to flee to save myself, but not to hide.

I grabbed one of the lanterns, pulling it from one of the branches, and threw it to the ground with all my strength. The glass shattered and the candle's fire spread quickly through the dry leaves, creating a barrier between us.

Zarek's eyes scanned me, momentarily diverting his attention from the wolves of our former pack, who were advancing against him, challenging him.

"Don't even think about running, Vale," he growled in threat. "I will hunt you wherever you are and bring you back home, no matter the circumstances."

"I'll. Never. Hide, I Will Come Back for Your Head!"

"Don't do that, my love. Things will be much worse for you and your dear sister when I get my hands on you again."

I held the hem of my dress, pulling it with force and tearing it, thus reducing the weight and length. It would be much easier to run without a long piece of fabric getting in the way.

"We will be free, Zarek, or we will die trying."

"You son of a bitch!" Summer cursed, pointing a finger at him. "You will still pay for everything you did to my sister and our pack." She threw another lantern to the ground, further increasing the fire that was spreading rapidly.

"If you run through this forest, you will be treated as traitors. You know it's forbidden to flee from the pack. Everyone will hunt you, and death will be the least of your problems." He looked directly at me, filled with rage. "And you, my lovely bride, will suffer all the consequences."

"Fuck you!" I hissed.

I was nothing anymore. Thanks to him.

The first wolf jumped at Zarek, and I hoped with all my strength that he would hit the vein pulsating at the side of his neck. But as a superior alpha, he was much faster and stronger. He quickly dodged the blow and broke the wolf's neck.

I didn't wait to see if the others would have any success. Summer pulled me by the arm. I spun on my heels and started running into the forest.

I had no idea where we would go or how long we could keep him away, but... it was our last hope.

Deceived, rejected, lost.

I ran away from the chaos, away from Zarek, with Summer by my side, her hair disheveled, face stained with tears, wedding dress torn, and skin splattered with my parents' blood.

I wanted to cry until there were no tears left, but I had no time for that. I just needed... to run. Nonstop, without looking back. To put as much distance as possible between Zarek and me.

All I had left was my sister and a fragile hope that we might possess some power. But as omegas, we were weak.

***

But Valeria had no idea that an extraordinary legacy was hidden deep within her blood-an ancient power waiting to be awakened. A power that, once unleashed, would ensure she never had to bow her head to anyone again.

Yet such power does not come freely. It demands certain conditions be met. The most critical of them all? She needs the help of a powerful Winter Alpha to unlock it.

She is the last living descendant of Ravager-the rightful heiress to the most powerful clan of them all: the Tamers of the Wild Fire Wolves.