Path of Ruin by Erica Myers

In the brutal realm of Lyca, everyone’s hands are stained red.

Centuries ago, the people across the land bowed in worship to the gods of old, to the rulers who sat atop Olympus watching as the world deteriorated before their eyes. Following years of prayers gone unanswered, the common people turned their devotion elsewhere. The early rulers decided to embrace the spirit of the wolf, embedding its legends into their culture, and renaming their dominion in honor of the fallen wolf king, Lycaon. The empire was then divided up into five Pack territories: four ruled by Betas, the fifth reigned over by the Alpha of the Realm. The unfaithful were hunted down and slaughtered, until only those willing to bow down to Pack Law remained.
In a world where survival hinders on the ability to kill, nineteen-year-old Hypatia “Peia” Madaeus is as fierce as they come. Viper tongued and unapologetic in regard to her actions, Peia is willing to carry out the unspeakable to protect those she cares for.
Having lost her family during a vicious raid by one of the rivaling Pack territories, the fallen Beta’s daughter must make the ultimate sacrifice in exchange for her life and the life of her sister. She agrees to serve as one of The Dire, the brutal butchers and enforcers that serve the vicious Beta Marxus Jakobian. These soldiers are the work of nightmares, marking their kills with ink tattoos etched along their skin. Setting out to become as indispensable as possible, it isn’t long before Peia bears more ink stains than any other Dire.
When presented with a task that could guarantee freedom for her sister, it’s up to Peia to decide how much farther she’s willing to go to save the one she loves most. With the aid of her Commanding Officer and fiercest ally Roman Jakobian, son to the vicious Beta, she’ll have to weave her way through Lycan politics and new potential threats to accomplish her task.

Meanwhile, while facing off against the wolves of Lyca, could there be a more sinister threat lurking about?