Chapter 409: Deception

Astrid's POV

The tension in the council chamber clung to my skin like a second layer of sweat.

Every time I closed my eyes, I could still see Alpha Cedric's smug expression from the last meeting, his words twisting the air with doubt and discontent.

Killian and I walked side by side through the dimly lit hall, his golden eyes sharp and focused.

Neither of us spoke as we headed toward the war room, our minds occupied by the same burning question: could Cedric truly be working with the rogue king?

The war room door creaked open, revealing Ryder standing at the center of the table, maps and documents scattered before him.

He looked up as we entered, his expression grim but composed.

"Alpha. Luna," Ryder greeted, bowing slightly.

"What did you find?" Killian asked, his voice steady but clipped.

Ryder straightened, his gaze meeting Killian's. "We've been discreetly monitoring Alpha Cedric's movements as you requested. There's nothing concrete yet, but... there's something off."

I frowned, stepping closer to the table. "What do you mean, 'off'?”

Ryder tapped a finger on the map spread before him. "Cedric's patrols have been irregular. His warriors are reporting gaps in his territory's defenses-places rogues could easily exploit. Yet, there's no indication he's bolstering those areas or even addressing the issue."

Killian's jaw tightened. "You think he's leaving those gaps intentionally?"

Ryder hesitated before nodding. "It's a possibility. More concerning, we intercepted a message sent from one of Cedric's scouts. The message was encrypted, but its destination wasn't one of the packs."

My heart sank. "Then where was it sent?"

Ryder met my gaze, his voice steady. "It was heading east-toward rogue territory."

The room seemed to shrink around me, the weight of the revelation pressing down on my chest.

Killian, whose golden eyes burned

is true..." I

his voice cold and unyielding. "If it's true, then Cedric has

in the war room

walked through the halls, my mind raced with possibilities, each one

it's him?" I asked softly, my voice barely above

answer immediately,

him," he said finally. "Not until

the knot in my

behavior had always been abrasive, but

it went far

we turned a corner, a messenger appeared, his

Astrid," he gasped,

Killian demanded, his

said, his voice trembling. "He's left his

his jaw

Alpha," the messenger

was heading toward rogue territory, it could only mean one thing: he was going to meet

to move," Killian

me, his

"If Cedric is

we

without answers."

my resolve hardening.

edge of Cedric's territory, the moon casting an eerie

trusted group of warriors, their expressions

steps

not long ago," he reported. "We tracked him heading east. If we move quickly, we can intercept

Cedric is meeting with the rogue king, we need to

tension was palpable as we moved through the

pounded in my chest, the weight of what we were about to do pressing heavily

of rogue territory, the sound of voices reached my ears. Killian held up a hand, signaling for us to

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