The first crisis came within twelve hours of Vera's departure.
I was reviewing territorial reports in the pre-dawn quiet when Marcus burst into my study, his face pale with urgency.
"Alpha, we have a problem. Three of our allied packs have withdrawn from the coalition overnight. They're claiming they can no longer support leadership that operates through 'shadow manipulation and orchestrated violence.'"
The words hit me like cold water. "Which packs?"
"Thornfield, Ravencrest, and Ironwood. They've issued a joint statement calling for a full investigation into recent events, with particular emphasis on the mysterious deaths and disappearances of opposition leaders."
I set down the reports, my mind racing through the implications. Vera hadn't been bluffing about her contingency plans. E
