1: RESURRECTION

UNA gasped for air. She opened her eyes and studied the place around her. Was this the deepest part of the crater? Why was she still alive after her fall?

It appeared she was inside a cave; her body lay on a large, flat stone. There was a weird black smoke formation moving in circles above her.

Una got up, ignoring the severe head and joint pain. She immediately held her chest. There was no wound present there. Una noticed her clothing—a white robe, clean as snow.

She observed a glittering red magic circle around her. What was happening? Did she reach Zurga? Or maybe this was Elduri because she pleaded with a demon deity.

Until an amusing laugh echoed around the cave, it came from the circulating black smoke.

“You called for me… my child,” said a voice with a thick accent of an ancient fae language she clearly understood.

“Lord… Luxus?” Una’s eyes broadened. It was just a wild guess, but her instinct was never wrong.

The black smoke rapidly moved until it formed a shape. And with just a blink of an eye, an ethereal-looking fae with a long sharp ear had materialized. He had long golden hair, fair skin, and a flame mark on his forehead. He wore an orange and black robe with intricate gold embroidery.

“I will give you a chance to be resurrected. But it will come with a hefty price….”

Una could not find the right words to say. She was mesmerized by the beauty of the creature in front of her. She had seen a lot of faeries and immortals, but none of them could compare to his ethereality.

Memories came in a flash.

Fang’s deceit…

Hevian’s disloyalty and betrayal…

The cursed wedding night…

Una was suddenly filled with fury. Lord Luxus was staring intently at her as if enjoying her agony.

“I will bargain anything, my lord. I’ll take my revenge on everyone who has wronged me. I will eradicate them all!” The hammering in her chest grew. The pain caused by the betrayals of her kind was unforgivable.

“Very well… you will live only with the hate in your heart. You will not be capable of feeling love and affection since it caused you so much pain. But I will grant you immortality as my child… Una.”

She nodded. “I’ll forever be indebted to your blessings, Lord Luxus.”

“Remember, if you love… you will die.” The words of the Demon King were carved in her mind. It was a small sacrifice compared to his gift.

Lord Luxus smirked. He motioned his hand, and a scarlet orb formed in his palm. The cave was filled with bright crimson lights.

“Rise, my child! Show your wrath and avenge your unlawful death.” The orb penetrated her chest. And then suddenly, her wavy hair turned all white.

The pain seeped into her entire body as she was slowly consumed by the power being transferred to her. She cried and shrieked, but she was determined to survive.

Hevian’s face was visible in her mind, and her rage flourished even more.

“I will kill you!” Una cursed again and again until her blue eyes turned crimson. She endured everything until the orb finally became one in her body.

Una lost consciousness after that. Her body remained still as she lay flat on the stone.

It is time… a familiar voice whispered.

Una opened her eyes again. But this time, she was lying motionless in the heart of a familiar forest.

“HEY, wake up! Why are you here? Are you lost?” A gentle voice asked and tapped Una’s cheek. She blinked hard to grasp the situation but ended up closing her eyes again. “Did you encounter a beast and fight with it that you lost consciousness?” the voice added.

She suddenly gaped, and her forehead creased. “W-what happened?”

Una raised her hand to cover her eyes and not be blinded by the rays of the sun. Her mouth fell open when the owner of the voice came clearly into her sight. A male fae with long black hair neatly tucked in a ponytail, as if showcasing his pointed ears with a few silver piercings.

Una thought he looked familiar, but she could not name him. The fae was still studying her like a rare creature.

Although she didn’t give him much attention, Una focused on her quivering hands. They appeared paler than usual, and her fingernails were black.

“Where… am I?” She tried to get up but felt like her body was heavy. The fae did not hesitate to assist her to sit on the grassy ground. A thick fog was visible around their location. Una could feel the cold temperature of the morning mist.

“You are here in the thickest part of Qalin Forest—”

“Qalin Forest? What am I doing here?”

“You’re the only one who can answer that. I only pass by here to check the area for the coming Equinox Hunt.”

Equinox Hunt? If she remembered it correctly, the wolf nation had celebrated it recently. Una was confused but didn’t say a word.

Una couldn’t understand what was going on. She never went back to Qalin Forest after the bloody incident with her family. All the commoner shifters used to reside in this part of Nacht territory. The so-called Wolfless Zone.

She met the stranger’s scrutinizing gaze. “H-how do I look? Why do you keep staring at me like that?”

“Oh, your eyes are unique. I’m quite mesmerized. Probably you shared the same bloodline with the queen. And for your silky white hair, I assumed you have an Alsacheri ethnicity because faeries there somehow resembled your hair color. Am I wrong?”

Una averted her glance. What was wrong with her? Her memories were blurry. When she tried to remember all the details, she felt as if her head would crack.

“Can you bring me to the Nizu River?” Una had to remember everything. Even this Qalin Forest was different from the way she recalled. Once she saw the famous river stretching to the four territories of Erganiv, she’d probably know what had happened to her. The water there had healing properties that could help to clear her hazy memory.

“Perfect! I’m on my way there. But may I know your name? With your looks, I could not distinguish which domain you reside in. You resemble a face of a mortal, but I can feel the pulsating power inside you. I’m Drite, by the way.”

“My name is….” It took her a while before uttering her name. But since this fae had helped her, she didn’t want to lie.

“Una,” she said.

Drite tilted his head and stood up before he laid his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Una. Come, hold me. Let’s travel together.”

Una was still perplexed, but deep inside, she knew Drite was harmless. As soon as she held his hand, she almost puked in severe dizziness because, suddenly, the surroundings swirled fast. Una closed her eyes while clasping her hair. Was she wrong about trusting this stranger?

Old habits die hard. When will I ever learn? Even your mate betrayed you. Trust no one! Una reminded herself.

However, when she opened her eyes, Una found herself sitting on the side of a vast flowing river with crystal blue water, and she could see the colorful fishes swimming there.

“We’re finally here at the Nizu River,” Drite smiled as if showing off. He just used his transportation magic along with Una.

Una didn’t say a word upon realizing the magic he did. Now she was sure this fae was not ordinary. She knew about the teleportation called Vanire. Only royal faeries could wield it and other high-ranking warriors.

She stared at her reflection in the water for a long time. What she saw was a completely different being. Her usual soft blue eyes were gone. It was crimson-colored, full of malice. Even her long white hair was a sign that she was an outcast among her kind.

Una washed her face, convincing herself that everything was just an illusion. And then she drank to quench her thirst. Slowly, memories flooded Una’s mind that made her lose her sanity for a moment.

She wanted to drown herself in the water because of the excruciating pain. Her whole body went cold and shook involuntarily. Sweats formed on her forehead as she gasped for air.

Drite only watched her in amusement in spite of being aware of the abnormality inside Una’s mana spherule—the core inside their body and the main source of their ability to do magic. For the first time, he was fascinated by this bizarre creature. What could be her origin?

It hurts! It’s so painful! Una screamed like her heart seemed to be shattered into pieces.

She failed to notice the tears welling up in her eyes. It was not because she felt lonely but because she had now recollected what had happened to her.

Una remembered everything!

Hevian killed her without remorse, and the three families convinced her mate to sacrifice her to the Moon Goddess because of mere hearsay.

“I’m alive!” Una laughed hysterically, despite the tears falling from her eyes. “And I’m back!”

Every painful memory was played in her mind as if everything had occurred only yesterday. Those thoughts triggered the extreme rage that lay dormant for a while. She was indeed revived—the Demon King bestowed upon her this gift. Una felt something lurking inside her, waiting to be unleashed.

Power.

Una recognized it in an instant. She’d avenge her cruel death, and everyone who wronged her would face a horrible demise.

“I need to see the Alpha of the Sabre pack…” she uttered when the pain subsided. Her breathing came to normal.

The male fae seemed surprised by what she said. “Hevian?”

Una stared at the faerie in disbelief. Something was wrong. “Not him. I meant Fang.”

Drite chuckled. “Hold on. Fang was forced to retire twenty years ago because of the civil war among the three packs. Hevian is now the reigning Alpha King of the Nacht Territory.”

“Twenty years ago? Impossible!” Una shook her head, disregarding Hevian being the Alpha King. She had plenty of time to ask Drite about it. She had to know the discrepancy in her timeline.

Drite’s brow raised. “You don’t know, do you? Where have you been all these years?”

Twenty years… Una could not believe it. Had she been gone that long? She was even more baffled.

“When the civil war happened?”

“If I remember correctly… it started during Hevian’s wedding night. Let me tell you. It was bloody. So many wolf shifters died, and the battle lasted for a while. If the Lord of Gwiazda did not interfere, the wolf nation would cease to exist.”

No way!

Una’s jaw flexed upon the realization that she’d been resurrected after twenty years!