Reclaiming My Broken Luna (Astrid and Killian) novel Chapter 410

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.

I turned to Killian, whose golden eyes burned with restrained fury.

“If this is true…” I began, my voice faltering.

Killian finished for me, his voice cold and unyielding. “If it’s true, then Cedric has been feeding the rogue king information all along.”

We left Ryder in the war room with instructions to continue his surveillance.

As we walked through the halls, my mind raced with possibilities, each one darker than the last.

“Do you think it’s him?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Killian didn’t answer immediately, his gaze fixed ahead.

“I think we can’t afford to trust him,” he said finally. “Not until we have undeniable proof.”

I nodded, the knot in my stomach tightening.

Cedric’s behavior had always been abrasive, but if Ryder’s findings were accurate, it went far beyond mere arrogance.

As we turned a corner, a messenger appeared, his face pale and his breathing labored.

“Alpha Killian, Luna Astrid,” he gasped, bowing quickly.

“What is it?” Killian demanded, his tone sharp.

“It’s Alpha Cedric,” the messenger said, his voice trembling. “He’s left his territory. And he’s heading east.”

Killian’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. “Rogue territory.”