Chapter 52

The Price of Leadership

 Eric knew that they couldn't afford to rest on their laurels; the rogues would not be so easily deterred, especially with Richard's wrath still looming. There was a price to pay for leadership, and Eric was beginning to understand that cost.

A Shattered Peace

Eric sat alone in the Alpha's den, his eyes focused on the maps spread out before him. The pack's borders were marked in red, with key locations highlighted in blue, each one representing a weak point, a vulnerability. He had been pouring over them for hours, trying to find a way to anticipate the rogues' next move. But every plan he came up with felt incomplete—lacking something vital.