Chapter 5 : The First Move
1214 Words
Luna’s POV
They were listening now.
Not completely.
Not blindly.
But enough.
I could see it in their eyes—the shift, subtle but undeniable. Doubt was still there, lingering like a shadow… but curiosity had taken its place at the front.
Good.
That’s how it starts.
Not with trust.
But with interest.
“And how exactly do you plan to do that?” one of the commanders finally asked, leaning forward, his gaze sharp. “You speak of bringing down the Alpha King as if it’s simple.”
Simple?
Nothing about him is simple.
Nothing about what I’m about to do is.
But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
“I never said it would be easy,” I replied calmly. “But it is predictable.”
A few of them frowned.
Predictable was not a word people used for a king like him.
But they didn’t know him the way I did.
“He’s prideful,” I continued, my fingers lightly resting against the cold stone table. “He doesn’t tolerate defiance. Especially not from someone he considers his.”
A pause.
Heavy.
Understanding.
“And right now,” I added, meeting their eyes one by one, “I am exactly that.”
Silence followed.
This time, not dismissive—
But thinking.
“He won’t ignore what happened,” I said. “He’ll come after me. Not immediately with full force… but soon.”
The warlord, seated at the head, watched me closely but said nothing.
Letting me lead.
Letting me prove it.
Good.
“Then we prepare,” another commander said. “Strengthen the borders. Increase patrol—”
“No.”
The word slipped out before he could finish.
Firm.
Certain.
Every head turned toward me again.
“You don’t prepare,” I said. “You provoke.”
That caught them off guard.
“Explain,” the warlord finally spoke.
I straightened slightly.
“This isn’t just a war of strength,” I said. “It’s a war of control. And right now… he thinks he has it.”
A faint smile touched my lips.
“We take that away.”
“How?” someone challenged.
“By making him act first.”
Their expressions darkened.
Confused.
Suspicious.
Interested.
“If we fortify everything, we confirm his expectations,” I explained. “We show fear. Defense. Reaction.”
I shook my head slightly.
“That’s not how you win against someone like him.”
I leaned forward just enough for my voice to carry clearly across the table.
“You make him impatient.”
Silence.
“He’ll want to prove a point,” I continued. “To show everyone that no one defies him and walks away.”
My gaze hardened.
“So we give him that chance.”
“You’re suggesting we leave ourselves open?” one of them snapped.
“I’m suggesting we control where he strikes.”
That made them pause.
Finally.
“We choose the battlefield,” I said. “We feed him just enough weakness to lure him in… and when he takes it—”
I let the sentence hang.
They understood the rest.
A trap.
A calculated one.
Warlord’s POV
She’s not just thinking ahead.
She’s thinking like me.
No—
That’s not right.
She’s thinking like someone who has already seen the outcome.
The room was silent, every man processing her words, weighing the risks, the possibilities.
Dangerous.
Effective.
Bold.
I leaned back slightly, studying her.
“High risk,” one of the commanders muttered.
“High reward,” another countered.
“And if it fails?” a third asked.
All eyes returned to her.
Waiting.
Testing.
She didn’t hesitate.
“It won’t.”
Confidence.
Absolute.
Not arrogance.
Certainty.
Interesting.
“And if it does?” I pressed.
This time, her gaze shifted to me.
Sharp.
Unwavering.
“Then I’ll be the one who pays for it,” she said.
No fear.
No doubt.
Just acceptance.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then slowly…
I smiled.
“That’s enough.”
The tension broke slightly as I stood, my voice cutting through the room.
“We move forward with her plan.”
A few looked surprised.
Others… thoughtful.
None argued.
Not directly.
Good.
That means they’re starting to believe.
Even if they won’t admit it yet.
“Prepare a decoy outpost near the eastern ridge,” I ordered. “Make it look vulnerable—but not abandoned.”
Understanding flickered across their faces.
Now they see it.
“We bait him,” I added.
“And we end this properly.”
Luna’s POV
It’s beginning.
Faster than I expected.
Better than I hoped.
As the council dispersed, I remained where I stood, watching them leave one by one.
This is how it starts.
Not with blood.
Not yet.
But with decisions.
Choices that will decide who survives… and who doesn’t.
“You’re dangerous.”
His voice came from behind me.
Calm.
Almost amused.
I turned slightly, meeting the warlord’s gaze.
“So are you,” I replied.
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
“That’s why this works.”
Maybe.
Or maybe we’re both just waiting to see who breaks first.
“Why trust me?” I asked suddenly.
He stepped closer, his presence steady but never overwhelming.
“I don’t,” he said simply.
Honest.
I like that.
“But I trust results,” he continued. “And so far… you’re delivering.”
Fair.
Very fair.
“And you?” he asked. “Do you trust me?”
I held his gaze for a moment.
Then answered truthfully.
“No.”
His smirk widened slightly.
“Good.”
No false promises.
No illusions.
Just mutual understanding.
That’s all we need.
For now.
Alpha King’s POV
“She’s setting something up.”
I could feel it.
Even without proof.
Even without confirmation.
Luna was never reckless.
Not like this.
Not unless—
It’s intentional.
My fingers tightened against the armrest of my throne.
“She’s in the North, surrounded by enemies… yet she’s not hiding.”
A slow, dangerous smile formed on my lips.
“So she wants me to come to her.”
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The advisor beside me shifted slightly. “Your Majesty, it could be a trap.”
Of course it is.
That’s the point.
“But you’ll go anyway,” he added carefully.
I didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, I stood, my presence filling the hall instantly.
“She thinks she knows me,” I said quietly.
“She thinks she can predict me.”
My gaze darkened.
“Let her.”
Because whether it’s a trap or not…
I’ll walk into it.
And when I do—
I won’t just break it.
I’ll break her.
Luna’s POV
The night felt colder than before.
But not uncomfortable.
Not anymore.
I stood alone on the balcony, watching the snow fall in silence, each flake disappearing the moment it touched the ground.
Just like people.
Just like power.
Just like everything.
“Are you ready?” I whispered softly to the empty air.
Not to anyone.
Not really.
Just…
To myself.
Because once this starts—
There’s no turning back.
No second chances.
No mercy.
Only the end.
And this time…
I won’t be the one left in the cold.
- Writer
