The Alpha King And His Chosen Luna novel Chapter 148

A position declared–1

(Caius)

+25 Points

The suspicion only grew stronger when we reached the reception room. He looked around once before choosing a chair near the window instead of the head of the table. Most Alphas preferred seats that announced authority. Cedric had never needed that.

Isla sat beside me while Cedric settled into his chair. The wolves who’d arrived with him remained outside, leaving the three of us alone. That wasn’t unusual. When Cedric wanted a conversation, he preferred having it directly.

For a few moments nobody spoke.

Cedric’s attention moved around the room before settling on us. lknew that look. He wasn’t studying the furniture or the walls. He was studying the people sitting in front of him.

“You’ve already decided why you’re here,” I said.

A faint smile touched his face..

“I usually do.”

“I assumed.”

His eyes shifted briefly toward Isla.

“Good. That saves us both time.”

One corner of Isla’s mouth lifted.

“Most Alphas don’t seem interested in saving time.”

Cedric looked at her.

“No. Most Alphas enjoy listening to themselves.”

A laugh escaped her before she could stop it.

୮

Cedric looked pleased by that. The reaction disappeared quickly, but I noticed it. He appreciated honesty more than most wolves did.

The room settled again.

Then Cedric folded his hands together.

“Coldmere hasn’t announced a position.”

Neither of us interrupted.

“There are reasons for that.”

I nodded once.

A position declared–1

expected there would be.”

Cedric glanced toward the window.

“When Coldmere moves, other territories pay attention. The same is true of Ironfield. That’s why I don’t make decisions lightly.”

That wasn’t arrogance.

It was fact.

Territories watched one another constantly. A public declaration from Coldmere would influence more wolves than most people realized.

“Caden moved first.”

“Yes.”

Something thoughtful appeared on Cedric’s face.

“Caden reaches decisions quickly once he’s convinced.”

That sounded accurate.

Cedric preferred taking longer. Not because he doubted himself. Because he preferred seeing things personally before making commitments.

His attention returned to Isla.

“What happens after the Council leaves?”

She looked at him.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean everyone is focused on the meeting.”

His voice remained calm.

“Everyone is focused on old laws, votes, and decisions. I’m interested in what comes after.”

The room grew quiet.

Cedric continued speaking.

“The Council arrives, asks its questions, argues among itself, and eventually leaves. Then what?”

Isla considered the question carefully.

“I don’t know.”

The answer didn’t seem to bother him.

If anything, it made him more interested.

“Why not?”

A position declared–1

“Because I’ve spent most of my life surviving one thing at a time.”

She looked down briefly before continuing

+25 Perus

“I know what I don’t want. I don’t want wolves treated the way Ashcrest treated people. I don’t want fear deciding everything.”

Cedric listened without interrupting.

The way he always did when something mattered.

“But beyond that,” Isla said, “I’m still figuring it out.”

For a few seconds nobody spoke.

Then Cedric nodded once.

“That’s a better answer than most leaders give.”

A faint smile appeared on her face.

“Because I admitted I don’t know?”

“Because you didn’t pretend you did.”

The room fell quiet again.

Cedric leaned back slightly in his chair.

“When I was younger, I thought leadership meant having answers.”

His gaze shifted between us.

“It doesn’t.”

Neither of us interrupted.

“It means deciding what to do when the answers don’t exist yet.”

Isla was quiet for a moment.

Then she nodded slowly.

“I think I’m still learning that.”

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