Chapter 259
Thorne’s POV
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“Are we ready to go, Thorne?” Judith’s voice cut through the air, his eyes practically gleaming with excitement. He wasn’t a kid to shy away from things; when he set his mind on something, it was as good as done.
I shot him a smile, chuckling at his eagerness. “You’re really set on this, aren’t you? Not playing around with your friends?”
He nodded, his little face serious. “I want to go. I want to meet Lady Alara. And I want you to interview her
now.”
I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. The kid was insistent, relentless, and definitely had his own mind made up. “Well, I can’t drop everything just for that, Judith. I’ve got a few meetings to run first.”
“But when can I come? Can I sit in? I promise I won’t be bored,” Judith asked, his voice sincere. There was no denying the curiosity in his eyes.
“Meetings?” I raised an eyebrow, unsure if he really knew what he was asking. “It’s a bunch of adults talking about boring things. You sure you’re ready for that?”
“I already know about meetings! My dad lets me sit in all the time. I get to see him tell people off when they mess up. It’s funny,” he said with a grin, remembering the times he’d watched Dorian put people in their place.
“Your dad lets you sit in on his meetings?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. Dorian was a king, and as much as I knew about him, I had a hard time picturing a child in that environment.
“Yeah. He’s not just a boss or a CEO,” Judith said, shaking his head, his tone full of the most serious conviction. “He’s a king.”
I smirked, not really buying it. “Right. A king,” I said, brushing my hand through his hair. “You want to come along then? Come see how ‘boring‘ adult things are?”
Judith’s face lit up. “YES!” he cried, almost jumping out of his seat. “I’ll tell Leira I’m going with you!”
The girls didn’t seem too thrilled at the idea of missing him in their game.
“Are you insane?” Leira called out. “A room full of grown–ups talking forever? That’s like signing up for
torture!”
One of the other girls added, “You could be playing outside, Judith. Why waste your time inside with them?”
Judith shook his head, his determination unwavering. “No thanks. I’ve had enough fun for today. Time for learning now,” he said, his little bow to them made me grin.
As I turned to walk away, he caught up to me, offering me his tiny hand with a sense of purpose. “Let’s go.”
“You sure about this?” I asked, lifting him up in my arms, the question more teasing than serious. “You’re going to be sitting in a big room full of adults.”
9:57 Sun, Sep 21
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Chapter 259
He just shrugged, “I can sit on your lap, or a stool. Let’s go. Let’s rule.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Alright, my little prince. We’ll go do some ruling then.”
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As I carried him into the meeting room, the sight of the alphas and elders all standing in respect to the king was nothing new. But the way they stared at Judith as I walked in, holding him with such ease, was. He wasn’t just the king’s guest; he was a part of this world in a way most would never understand.
Judith didn’t flinch under their scrutiny. His chest puffed out, a small but confident smile on his face. He returned their gazes, unfazed, like he owned the room.
I walked to my seat, sitting at the head of the table as everyone followed suit. I could feel their eyes still on Judith, but I didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, I simply nodded. “Everyone, sit.”
The room fell into place, and the whispering stopped.
One of the elders leaned forward. “My King,” he said, his voice laced with curiosity, “Who is this young one with you?”
I glanced down at Judith, who gave the elder a quiet smile before I answered, “My child.”
There was a collective gasp. A few exchanged looks, but no one dared speak out. One Alpha finally found his voice. “Your child, my King? How is it none of us knew about this before?”
I turned to him, my eyes cold and sharp. “Are you asking me to keep you updated on every detail of my life?”
The Alpha stiffened, clearly realizing he had stepped too far. “No, of course not, my King.”
I leaned back in my chair, coolly brushing off the tension. “Let’s focus on business, shall we? What’s first on today’s agenda?”
Silence spread across the room as people hurriedly flipped open notebooks and readied their papers. Still, I could sense their lingering questions about Judith, but none had the nerve to ask.
Judith, meanwhile, was all business. Sitting on my lap, he folded his arms, the little smirk on his face growing
as the meeting went on. He’d clearly taken in more than most expected. He didn’t look bored; he was listening, truly engaged in what was being said. Maybe, just maybe, he was a natural–born ruler.
Two hours passed before I finally called it to a close. My focus had remained sharp, and though I expected Judith to be half–asleep by now, he remained alert. He hadn’t made a sound for the last hour, but his wide eyes never strayed from the discussion.
I closed the file in front of me, scanning the room. “Is there anything else?”
The room shifted, and an elder from Direstone Pack cleared his throat, his tone almost cautious. “Actually, my King, there is something more we need to discuss
My patience was wearing thin, but I forced myself to stay calm. “What is it?”
The elder sighed. “We’ve been discussing this among ourselves for some time now. It’s about your future… you need to choose a Luna.”
9:57 Sun, Sep 21
Chapter 259
80
55 vouchers
A heavy silence fell over the room, and Judith shifted slightly on my lap. His eyes widened, but there was no fear in them, only curiosity.
I could feel the storm rising in my chest, and I glared at the elder. “What are you implying?” I demanded, my voice sharp and low.
One of the Alphas swallowed hard before speaking. “Forgive us, my King, but this is getting more urgent than ever. You’re at the prime of your years, but what if something… tragic happens? Who will take the throne?”
“Yeah, it takes years to train a ruler,” another elder added. “We need someone to secure the future, to ease the kingdom’s fears.”
I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening.
“No. I’ve made my stance clear,” I snapped, my words cutting through the room. No one dared challenge me, though I could feel their discomfort hanging thick in the air.
A brave Alpha spoke up, his voice trembling. “You can choose anyone, my King. Even the birth mother of this child.”
I froze, an icy chill running through my veins. “No,” I ground out through clenched teeth. “That is not an option.”
The elder didn’t flinch. Instead, he slid a piece of paper toward me. “Here’s a list of the top ten candidates. They’ve been vetted and are ready to meet with you.”
I took the paper, my eyes dark. This wasn’t over. But for now, I had to play along.
“Then I’ll choose my Luna. But not today. Let’s wrap this up.”
I set the paper aside, my gaze drifting back to Judith, who looked at me with a knowing glint in his eyes. He had no idea the storm that was brewing. But I’d deal with it. All in due time.
田
