50

Planning an invasion and possible war was a feat deserving of a few weeks’ worth of work, sometimes multiple months on end, at worst a year or two. Hadrius would know for he once led the Alpha’s army into battle, claiming territory, staking lives, leaving Novus’ blood mark on darkened hallways as a symbol of his seizure.

The Shadow Pack’s claim.

For three centuries, he had built the kingdom from the ashes to its final grace.

And in three weeks, he would take it all back.

Cain sighs beside him, drawing Hadrius’ attention from the innumerable maps sprawled out before them in the study room. The table is flanked with items: compasses, ink markings and miniature structures of what would become their army.

The past week had been spent in the same room from dawn to dusk, plotting and planning, restructuring and debating until finally, the foundation had been underpinned.

“He will be expecting us,” Hadrius