The news hit before sunrise.
My tablet wouldn’t stop buzzing with alerts, notifications stacking like falling debris. Even half-awake, I could see the headlines screaming Richard’s name in every possible permutation:
“Alpha King Detached and Dangerous?”
“Richard’s Empire of Silence”
“Where’s the Transparency? Allies Demand Answers.”
The articles were slickly produced, peppered with cherry-picked quotes that made Richard sound like a tyrant, or worse, an incompetent child playing at war. The Crosthorn Pack had clearly worked with David’s team to get their message unified, with their Betas and advisors dropping sly, cutting comments in interviews:
“We want leadership that listens, not someone who hides behind closed doors and flirts with staff.” “Our Pack will always back truth, not
