The Shadow Alpha's deadline came and went without response.
Reign didn't bend the knee. Didn't send messengers. Didn't acknowledge his ultimatum at all. She just kept building, kept training, kept preparing for the inevitable.
Three days after the deadline passed, his army appeared on the horizon.
Not two thousand this time. Five thousand. Every wolf who'd sworn loyalty to his new regime, marching north in perfect formation. Banners flying. War drums beating. An overwhelming display of power meant to crush any thought of resistance.
Reign watched from the walls with the direwolf at her side.
"They'll hit us from three sides," Tarek said, studying the approaching force. "We can't hold that many."
"We don't need to hold them." Reign pointed to the narrow approaches. "We need to make th
