Several mornings later, Cerberus lay awake by the door. I often wondered if he ever slept. He assured me he did, but I had yet to see it myself.

Lycans rested with their hunting party, their closest and most trusted companions, often friends from cubs. However, Cerberus hunted alone. He slept alone, even before he’d become my nighttime guard.

Sometimes I wondered if he ever wanted the company. There were times I caught him looking my way and thought, possibly, there was something lonely in his expression.

Of course, that was ridiculous. He was a lycan, a monster, untroubled by pitiful weaknesses like loneliness. They were strong enough to take what they wanted. They didn't need companionship.

The Lady of the Lycan Mountains was a monster. It was the truth. So why did it hurt?

I sighed, rising from my bed and making my way over to the screen and wardrobe. It was necessary to dress in several layers in the mountains, as it rained more often than not, and we weren’t all that far from their snowy peaks. Wool under leather worked well. Tight pants for riding, a thick jacket for the wind.

The final piece, my mask, made me a beautiful white wolf. Pale blue designs indicated variations in the fur. A crimson ribbon held it in place. The padded inside rested on the bridge of my nose, raising the snout and giving my head a canine profile.

This was the face of the Lady of the Lycan Mountains. It was the face of a predator and hid the vulnerable girl beneath. The ruler of the mountains had no use for her.

When I stepped from behind the screen, Cerberus was gone and the door left open. I strode down the corridor to the main hall. Different shades of mortar bound together giant stones. Nearly all the plaster that had once covered the walls had crumbled away. My fortress consisted of castle ruins that had been partially rebuilt during the fall of the old world, then abandoned with the return of the lycans. Bones littered the corners and hallways of what I lovingly called my 'Evil Lair'. But the castle held more than fairy tale nostalgia. It was strategically placed, fortified, and had a view forof miles of the surrounding area. The steep slope and narrow path made it difficult to reach.

It was also filled with tripods supporting old world machines of varying sizes, the largest was nearly my arm’s length. They were mostly made of black metal with an assortment of buttons, wires and knobs, as well as glass panels I supposed were once screens. Three were intact, one in pieces scattered around its stand. One hallway sported a similar machine suspended from an arm hung from a track on the ceiling. The wires ran directly to a room with more of those glass panels, most spiderwebbed with cracks. Several sat on tables, the largest dominated an entire wall.

A pair of furry forms came barreling down the corridor. They noticed me just as I did them, scrambling to stop themselves with comically long legs. A third whipped around the corner, crashing into the others and sending the group tumbling at my feet. I let out a light laugh as the group worked to disentangle themselves.

"Lady! Lady!" they yipped as they righted themselves, tails wagging as they greeted me. "Morning, Lady!"

I knelt to eye level with the yearling cubs. Born last spring, the young lycans were at the stage where their paws and lanky limbs grew faster than the rest of their bodies. That would be remedied as they hunted with their mother this summer, though they would keep their soft, puppy-like features for a few more years.

"Good morning." I buried my gloved fingers behind one's ear, which seemed too large for his head. The sable male leaned into my touch as his brother and sister bumped my arms for attention.

Although barely more than pups, the cubs stood larger than any dog or wolf, more akin to a small bear. They may not have the musculature of an adult, but were plenty strong enough to take down a man, something they would doubtlessly be taught these next few months. Even still, there was a kind of innocence to them as they tackled one another, wrestling and yipping their version of a laugh as I stood to continue on my way. I wondered which male had sired them. They looked rather like Graniteback, but they could be his grandchildren as well. Or great-grandchildren.

The main hall had a raised pedestal where I imagined the king once sat. The high-backed chair from Estil had been placed on it. Everyone intent on sovereignty needed a throne, and although plain, it suited me just fine. It also allowed me to see over the lycans, who were quite the obstacle when standing.

Wild boar was served by Thorn. An excellent hunter and tracker, he often led the morning hunts. Two dozen lycans paced between the hall's twin hearths as the pack paraded around their kills. Thorn catered to me in his usual style, ripping a chunk from the animal's flank and tossing it. Although I caught it, blood spattered over my chest, but one of the many reasons I wore black leather. I bit into the flesh, signaling the others could eat in order of dominance. This involved a lot of snarling and clawing on the lower pack members' part. Breakfasts, and all meals for that matter, were noisy ordeals.

I wasn't particularly fond of raw meat, but was quite used to the squishy texture and sharp taste from years lived among lycans. I was well aware of the risks presented by undercooked meals, but paid it little mind. Besides, I wasn't about to tell the lycans I was afraid of a danger I couldn't even see.

Cerberus entered a while later, his fur again dyed black with soot. We were quite alike, the alpha lycan and I, both born outcasts. Now we dressed ourselves in black to hide pale skin beneath. My conservative clothing had taken its toll on my complexion, erasing all traces of the sun from my skin until it was possible to mistake me for an albino as well, were it not for my dark hair and eyes.

The lycan leapt onto the pedestal and knelt at my feet. The blood on his teeth told me he had already found some unfortunate animal.

"You have company, my lady."

I frowned. "Company? Of what nature?"

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"A group of Asken men, twenty strong."

I nearly jumped from my seat. That was surely a negotiations party. Once I met Lord Perimone, Askance was as good as mine; it was only a matter of time. I hurriedly composed myself. "Prepare for departure. I’ll take you, Thorn, Graniteback," I glanced around the hall, eyes eventually falling on an auburn coat, "and Red."

"As my lady wishes."

"Let's not waste time."

After all these months of bloodshed, the ones who cast me into the wilderness to die would taste my fear. My morning meal fell to the floor, forgotten. It would be snatched as soon as I left.

***

It didn't take long for the lycans to climb down the mountain, easily leaping from ledge to ledge, even on the steepest of paths. Despite my added weight, Cerberus had no more trouble than the others. Once we reached the smoother slopes near the base, it was only a short run through the pine forests. Orange needles stuck to their paws’ wet pads, drawing the scent of damp soil from beneath. Finding the men was simple enough with the lycan's excellent sense of smell.

Throughout the journey, I trembled with excitement. Even the insistent aching of the joints in my hand couldn't distract me from my joy. This was the beginning, the true start of my regime, and soon my revenge. Those who had made my life miserable would soon be living under my rule. Cerberus would enjoy the treatment I had in mind for a choice few.

The soldiers, the majority of the party, lifted their pikes at the lycan's appearance from between thick trunks. Cerberus leapt from the road embankment and landed on the dirt path below, closely followed by Red. An alarmed cry from the back of the group announced Thorn and Graniteback. We had them surrounded.

"Don't worry," I purred, releasing my grip on Cerberus's fur to roll my shoulders. "They won't attack until I tell them." There weren't enough men to call this a troop, just a guard for a messenger in the hostile mountains. I slid from the lycan's back, allowing him to stand to his full height as I strolled to the party and casually pushed the soldiers' pikes aside. "Unless you happen to strike first."

Never show fear when facing an animal. Humans were often the same. Stare them down, make them tremble. The Lady of the Lycan Mountains wasn't afraid of mere weapons anyway.

I gave a dramatic sigh, purely for the theatrics, and grinned at the youngest of the travelers. They were dressed in a more flowing, vivid version of the soldier's red and gold uniform. Upon closer inspection, I found they were a girl just entering womanhood. Such wasn't immediately apparent due to her short hair and boyish build. I took delight in watching the color drain from her face. She must be the messenger. She certainly wasn't a soldier and carried no apparent weapons, an unwise choice in lycan territory.

"I-I have come to deliver an invitation... from Lord Perimone..."

"Indeed, it would be foolish of you to try anything with a mere... what, nineteen men?" I laughed and looked to my black-dyed companion. "Cerberus, how many lycans could take nineteen men?"

Crimson eyes narrowed, examining the trembling forms of the soldiers. He let out a low growl. "These cowards... one..."

I snorted. It was an arrogant answer and we both knew it. Nineteen men could hold at least three lycans, perhaps more, were they experienced. I would worry we were outnumbered, had Cerberus and Thorn not been among our company.

"Well, let's see it then," I said to the messenger. "Unless this invitation is simply verbal."

"No no, it's right here!" She fumbled with the bag slung over her shoulder. From the corner of my eye I saw Thorn tense, watching her hand. However, the envelope she pulled out was hardly threatening. Her fingers shook as she tore open the top and pulled a folded note from within. I could somewhat see the words through the paper as she spoke them aloud.

"To the leader of the Lycan Mountains: It would please me greatly if you would meet with me in the Palace of Obria to discuss a treaty between our lands as soon as is most convenient for you. Signed, Lord Perimone, eighth elected leader of Askance." The girl bit her lip. Cautiously, she held the letter out for me.

I stepped forward, reaching for the crisp paper. No sooner had I come within range than the girl dropped the letter, hand flying to her pack. The lycans roared. A small dagger, just long enough to kill, swung at me. I instinctively threw my gloved hand up, catching her wrist mid swing. This was why I left one hand uncovered. She struggled for a moment in my grip before striking with her other hand. I was quicker.

My bare hand found her face. The girl stiffened. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Mere seconds were enough for her to pass out. I lowered her to the ground, careful to keep my skin pressed to hers. The men were too occupied with the lycans to pay me much mind as I concentrated on my own victim. My fingers slipped into her relaxed jaw, seeking out the delicate skin beneath the tongue. Her body released its last breath and the air around my hand stilled.

When I looked up, Graniteback was finishing off the last of the men alive. It was little wonder why the mottled gray male had once been an alpha himself. Although he was the eldest of the lycans, his strength was still apparent as he tore at the human pinned beneath him.

Thorn held another corpse by the neck. Red stood, huffing and surrounded by a fallen group of four. Her breath misted in the cool morning air. My eyes continued onward in their search for the current alpha. As soon as I spotted him, I quickly turned away, trying to ignore the sickening crunching sounds his meal was making.

I allowed them to revel in the thrill of their violence as I focused on slowing my pounding heart. During the skirmish, I was consumed by a deadly focus, riding my own high of adrenaline. But now the rush of the attempted assassination had faded from my veins, I found it hard not to think.

Four lycans had easily decimated nearly twenty men. I killed a girl, ended her life with just my touch... it certainly wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.

I grit my teeth. The Lady of the Lycan Mountains didn't care. I was grateful Graniteback spoke before I could start doubting myself.

"How do we proceed, Lady Desire?"

I plucked the slightly soiled invitation from the ground. Brushing the dirt from it, my eyes scanned over the golden lettering . "Red is injured." Blood matted the fur of the female lycan's side. As tough as her kind was, she wasn't fit for traveling. She had been stabbed several times, I hoped she would heal without issue. "Run to the castle and tell the others we're going to Obria," I turned to Cerberus, who had thankfully finished, and held up the paper. "We received an invitation, it would be rude to ignore."

The alpha's eyes followed Red as she bounded up the mountain slope. "If it pleases my lady..." His gaze shifted to meet mine as the younger lycan disappeared from sight. Crimson liquid clung to the fur of his jaws.

A rumble of anticipation echoed from within Thorn's chest. "It's a trap."

I took a deep breath, forcing a small smile. "Undoubtedly."

Once I took over, I wouldn't need to do this anymore. No one would dare oppose the Lady of the Lycan Mountains. Then there would only be vengeance on those who created her. Until then, anyone foolish enough to get in my way deserved their fate.