News of the Council's destruction spread like wildfire.
Within days, messengers arrived from every corner of the territories. Some brought congratulations. Others brought threats. Most brought fear wrapped in careful diplomacy.
Reign stood in what had been the Council's war room, now hers. Maps covered the walls showing every pack, every territory, every power structure that had existed under Council rule.
All of it was fracturing.
"Seventeen territories have declared independence," Tarek reported. "No Council means no central authority. Everyone's grabbing what they can."
"Let them." Reign traced lines on the map. "The ones smart enough to ally with us will survive. The rest will tear each other apart."
"And when they come for us?"
"Then we remind them what happened to the Council.
