Peace lasted six months.
Six months of building, trading, establishing the northern territories as a legitimate power. Six months of relative quiet that made Reign increasingly nervous.
The Shadow Alpha kept his word. No attacks. No provocations. Just regular diplomatic correspondence about border disputes and trade agreements. It was almost normal.
That's why she knew something was wrong.
The first sign came from an unexpected source. A messenger from the eastern territories, bearing news that one of the Alphas from the summit had been assassinated. Clean kill, no witnesses, no clear motive.
"Probably internal politics," Tarek said when she shared the news. "Eastern packs are always killing each other."
"Maybe." But Reign's instincts disagreed.
Two weeks later, another Alpha died.
