Chapter 2

Journey to Ice Fang Palace

The next morning arrived far too quickly.

Summit Angel Warm barely slept. The moment she closed her eyes, she saw her father’s face.

“You are to become the mate of Froz White Fang.”

The words haunted her throughout the night.

Now, as dawn painted the sky with shades of gold and pink, she stood in the middle of the courtyard with her travel bag hanging over one shoulder.

The entire Warm Clan seemed to have gathered.

Servants.

Warriors.

Elders.

Even children.

Everyone was there.

Everyone except her mother.

The familiar ache tightened inside her chest.

If her mother were still alive…

Would any of this be happening?

Would she be standing here like some offering being sent to another clan?

Sam clenched her fists.

The answer would never come.

Near the front of the crowd stood Alpha Apo Warm.

His posture was straight.

His expression unreadable.

As if today’s events meant nothing.

As if he wasn’t sending his own daughter away.

Sam looked away first.

She couldn’t bear looking at him.

“Still angry?” Lucifer’s voice came from beside her.

Sam snorted. “What do you think?”

The older brother chuckled softly. “You’ve been glaring at Father for ten minutes.”

“He deserves worse.”

Lucifer sighed.

He couldn’t argue with that.

Not today.

A few feet away, Fuji stood elegantly beside the elders.

She wore a beautiful pink dress and a smile that looked sympathetic.

To everyone else.

To Sam, it looked fake.

Very fake.

When their eyes met, Fuji tilted her head.

Almost as if she was enjoying this.

That irritated Sam even more.

“Don’t start a fight before leaving.” Lucifer warned.

“I’m considering it.”

“Sam.”

She sighed dramatically. “Fine.”

A horn suddenly echoed through the courtyard.

Everyone turned.

A large black carriage rolled through the gates.

The symbol of the White Fang Clan was carved into its silver doors.

A wolf surrounded by ice.

Powerful.

Majestic.

Terrifying.

The moment it stopped moving, silence fell.

No one dared speak.

The carriage door opened.

A man stepped out.

He appeared to be around thirty.

Tall.

Well-dressed.

Serious.

His black uniform carried the White Fang crest.

His sharp eyes immediately scanned the crowd.

The atmosphere around him felt calm.

Disciplined.

Unlike Froz, whose reputation alone could terrify people.

The man bowed respectfully.

“I am Metro Store.”

The name instantly caught Sam’s attention.

So this was Froz’s infamous right-hand man.

The servant who rarely spoke.

The one who managed almost everything in the White Fang territory.

Metro’s gaze landed on Alpha Apo.

“The future Luna is ready?”

Future Luna.

Sam nearly choked.

She hated how that sounded.

Apo nodded.

“She is.”

Metro finally looked at Sam.

Unlike the others, his expression carried no judgment.

No mockery.

No pity.

Just observation.

Interesting.

He approached calmly.

Then bowed.

“Lady Summit.”

Sam blinked.

That was unexpected.

Most people treated her like a problem.

This stranger was treating her like royalty.

“We should leave before noon.” Metro continued. “The journey is long.”

Sam crossed her arms. “What if I refuse?”

Metro considered the question.

Then answered honestly.

“Then Alpha Froz will likely be pleased.”

Several nearby warriors immediately lowered their heads to hide their laughter.

Even Lucifer smiled.

Sam stared.

Then laughed.

For the first time since yesterday.

“Okay.”

Metro looked surprised.

“You’re funny.”

“I wasn’t trying to be.”

That made her laugh harder.

Perhaps this trip wouldn’t be completely unbearable.

Perhaps.

Before she could climb into the carriage, a hand grabbed her shoulder.

Lucifer.

His warm eyes were unusually serious.

“You’ll be okay.”

Sam forced a smile.

“I know.”

“You can always come home.”

Her smile faltered.

For a brief moment, she wanted to believe him.

But something told her things would never be the same after today.

She hugged him tightly.

Lucifer froze.

Then hugged her back.

“I’ll miss you, troublemaker.”

Sam swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Miss you too.”

When they separated, neither mentioned the tears threatening to appear.

Some things were better left unsaid.

Then came the hardest part.

Her eyes drifted toward her father.

Apo remained standing where he was.

Silent.

Watching.

Waiting.

For several seconds neither moved.

Neither spoke.

Finally, Sam broke the silence.

“You really won’t change your mind?”

The question carried far more hurt than anger.

Apo looked away briefly.

Then back at her.

“No.”

Something shattered inside her.

Not completely.

But enough.

Enough to hurt.

Enough to leave a scar.

Sam nodded slowly.

“Then goodbye, Alpha.”

The title struck harder than any weapon.

Apo’s eyes widened slightly.

For the first time.

He looked regretful.

But it was already too late.

Sam climbed into the carriage.

The door closed.

And the journey began.

⸻

Hours passed.

The Warm Clan disappeared behind mountains.

Then forests.

Then rivers.

The farther they traveled, the colder the world became.

Snow eventually appeared.

Covering the landscape in white.

Sam sat beside the window.

Watching.

Thinking.

Overthinking.

The carriage was surprisingly luxurious.

Soft seats.

Warm blankets.

Silver lanterns.

Expensive decorations.

Far better than she’d expected.

Metro sat across from her reading documents.

For almost two hours.

Without speaking.

Finally, Sam couldn’t take it anymore.

“Do you ever smile?”

Metro looked up.

“…Sometimes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“You look uncertain.”

Metro blinked.

Then returned to his papers.

Sam laughed.

Interesting man.

Very interesting.

After another hour, curiosity won.

“Tell me about Froz.”

Metro immediately stiffened.

The reaction didn’t escape her notice.

“Oh?”

His expression became cautious.

“What would you like to know?”

“Everything.”

The servant looked out the window.

Almost as if searching for an escape.

Unfortunately for him—

There wasn’t one.

Sam leaned forward eagerly.

“Come on.”

Metro sighed.

“What you’ve heard is probably accurate.”

That wasn’t comforting.

“Meaning?”

“Alpha Froz is powerful.”

“Everyone says that.”

“He defeated three Alphas before reaching adulthood.”

Sam nearly choked.

“What?”

Metro nodded.

“Two challenged him.”

“And the third?”

“He challenged him.”

Sam sat back.

Maybe the rumors weren’t exaggerated after all.

Metro continued.

“He expanded White Fang territory.”

“He strengthened alliances.”

“He eliminated corruption.”

“He protects his people.”

That sounded surprisingly noble.

“Then why is everyone afraid of him?”

Metro became silent.

For a long moment.

Then he answered.

“Because he stopped trusting people.”

Something about his tone felt different.

Sad.

Almost.

Sam remembered the rumors.

The former mate.

The betrayal.

“What happened?”

Metro immediately shook his head.

“I cannot discuss that.”

“Why?”

“Because it isn’t my story to tell.”

That answer only made her more curious.

Before she could continue, Metro added:

“But I will give you advice.”

Sam raised an eyebrow.

“What advice?”

His expression turned serious.

“When you meet him…”

The carriage suddenly hit a bump.

Snow flew past the window.

Metro’s voice lowered.

“Don’t mistake silence for weakness.”

That wasn’t the advice she expected.

“He isn’t cruel because he enjoys it.”

Metro continued.

“He’s cruel because he believes it protects him.”

Sam stared thoughtfully.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Maybe there was more to this Alpha than she realized.

⸻

As evening approached, they stopped at a village.

The moment people recognized the White Fang crest, reactions changed instantly.

Villagers moved aside.

Shopkeepers bowed.

Guards straightened.

Fear.

Respect.

Or both.

Sam noticed all of it.

“Your clan is popular.”

Metro looked unconvinced.

“That’s one word for it.”

They entered an inn.

Within seconds, whispers erupted.

“White Fang.”

“Look at their uniforms.”

“Do you think the Ice Alpha is nearby?”

“Moon Goddess help us.”

Sam almost laughed.

The man wasn’t even present and people were terrified.

That was impressive.

Or concerning.

Maybe both.

While eating dinner, she overheard several travelers discussing Froz.

Naturally, she listened.

“He froze an entire battlefield.”

One man whispered.

Another nodded.

“My cousin saw it.”

“No way.”

“I swear.”

A third leaned forward.

“I heard he killed twenty rogues by himself.”

Sam nearly spit out her drink.

Twenty?

That sounded impossible.

Then again…

The stories about Froz rarely sounded normal.

An elderly woman suddenly joined the conversation.

“You young fools know nothing.”

Everyone looked at her.

The woman lowered her voice dramatically.

“I once saw the Ice Alpha.”

The table became silent.

“What was he like?”

The old woman shivered.

“As beautiful as winter.”

A pause.

“And just as deadly.”

The entire room went quiet.

Even Sam.

For some reason, those words lingered.

Beautiful as winter.

Deadly as winter.

A strange description.

Yet somehow fitting.

⸻

The next morning they continued north.

The weather became harsher.

The roads became rougher.

The mountains became larger.

Everything changed.

Even the air felt different.

Colder.

Sharper.

Stronger.

Wolf territory.

Powerful wolf territory.

Near sunset, Metro finally spoke.

“We’re close.”

Sam immediately sat up.

Excitement and anxiety collided inside her chest.

Close?

Already?

The carriage climbed a snowy ridge.

Then reached the top.

And Sam saw it.

Her breath disappeared.

A massive palace stood beyond the mountains.

Built entirely from white stone and ice.

Towers reached toward the sky.

Frozen waterfalls surrounded its walls.

Silver banners danced in the wind.

The structure looked less like a palace and more like something from a legend.

A kingdom carved from winter itself.

“Holy…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

Metro smiled faintly.

The first smile she’d seen from him.

“Welcome to White Fang.”

Sam stared.

Mesmerized.

Terrified.

Excited.

Everything at once.

Then she noticed something.

The closer they got—

The quieter people became.

Warriors stood straighter.

Servants lowered their heads.

Even Metro’s expression grew serious.

An invisible pressure settled over the area.

Powerful.

Heavy.

Ancient.

Sam felt her wolf stir uneasily.

A warning.

A primal instinct.

Predators recognized stronger predators.

And somewhere inside those icy walls…

The strongest predator was waiting.

The carriage rolled through enormous gates.

Past hundreds of guards.

Past frozen gardens.

Past statues of legendary wolves.

Until finally—

It stopped.

The palace entrance stood before them.

Massive.

Beautiful.

Intimidating.

Sam swallowed hard.

For the first time since leaving home…

She felt nervous.

Metro stepped out first.

Then offered his hand.

“Ready?”

“No.”

“Good.”

“What?”

“The people who meet Alpha Froz confidently usually regret it.”

Sam stared.

Metro remained completely serious.

That somehow made it worse.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped from the carriage.

Snow crunched beneath her boots.

The palace doors slowly opened.

Cold air rushed outward.

And from somewhere deep within the palace…

A powerful aura emerged.

Ancient.

Dominant.

Merciless.

Sam froze.

Her wolf froze.

Every instinct screamed the same thing.

Danger.

At the top of a grand staircase inside the palace stood a tall figure dressed in black.

His face remained hidden beneath shadows.

But his eyes—

Those piercing blue eyes—

Locked directly onto hers.

Cold.

Emotionless.

Unforgiving.

The stories hadn’t prepared her.

Not even close.

The future Alpha of White Fang had arrived.

And the first thing Summit Angel Warm realized was terrifying.

Froz White Fang looked at her as if she were a mistake.