Cedar was sitting underneath a tree as he read his book peacefully. He might as well enjoy the rest of his freedom without responsibility; he has to get ready for his coronation at midnight by the goddess of the hunt, Artemis, their main deity. He suddenly felt someone sitting down next to him, and he turned his head to meet his mother's eyes.

"Are you ready for the ceremony tonight, son?" she asked, a small smile on her face. Cedar smiled back, feeling a bittersweet mix of emotions. "As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose. I've been practicing my speech. Do you think I'll make a good leader?"

"Yes, you would make a wonderful leader," she said with a soft smile. "You have always been clever, strong, and caring. Your father and I are very proud of you." She paused for a moment, her expression turning serious. "There is something I need to tell you, though, something I've been meaning to say for a long time. You have always been so focused on pleasing your father—on being the perfect son and heir—that you've forgotten to be true to yourself. You've ignored your own wants and needs, and sometimes that's not the best way to be a good leader. From now on, I want you to remember that you are your own person, with your own dreams and desires. You don't have to live your life the way everyone else expects you to. Just be true to yourself, and everything will fall into place."

Cedar had always loved Mom, ever since he was a pup. He listened intently as she spoke, her words echoing in his ears. She was right; he had always tried to live up to his father's expectations, to be the perfect successor to the throne. But now, as he sat there with his mother, he felt a newfound sense of freedom. He could be himself, pursue his own dreams and desires, and still be a good leader. He was scared enough that Solar, his father, and Alpha would choose Jett over him, due to the fact that Jett is robust and sadistically cruel. He's one of the many pups that Solar bore over the years and claimed as his son, with Jett's dazzling green eyes and slick black fur rivaling his.

"Thank you, Mother," Cedar said softly, his heart swelling with gratitude. He knew that what she said wasn't easy for her to say, especially since she knew how much he looked up to his father and how much he wanted to please him. But her words meant the world to him. "I'm just worried about my father choosing Jett over me. "Cedar," his mother cooed gently, placing a paw on his shoulder. "Your father loves you just as much as he loves Jett. He's just...he's not always the best at showing it. And sometimes, he gets caught up in his own ideas of what the pack needs. But you know that deep down, he's proud of you too. You just have to trust that he'll see the real you, the leader you're meant to be."

Cedar's ears perked up at the sound of a booming laugh down near the creek. He spotted some of his pack members playing in the cool water; they looked so carefree and happy. He wished he could feel that way too. "Maybe I'm worrying too much," he said to his mother. "Maybe my father will be proud of me after all," she smiled as she nuzzled her son. her soft silver fur brushing against his skin. He sighed softly. "I hope so."

He loved moments such as these, just him and his mother. It was so rare that they got to spend time alone, and he treasured every second of it. As they sat there, Cedar couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over him. He knew that things were about to change and that his life was about to take a drastic turn, but for now, he could just enjoy this time with her.

he could only hope that his father would see the real him, the leader he knew he could be. He glanced back at the creek, where his pack members were still playing, their laughter filling the air. They were his family, and despite all their flaws, he loved them dearly. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the forest, Cedar felt a mixture of anticipation and anxiety building within him. The ceremony was about to begin, and soon enough, his fate would be decided.

He could only hope that his father would see the real him—the leader he knew he could be. He glanced back at the creek, where his pack members were still playing, their laughter filling the air. They were his family, and despite all their flaws, he loved them dearly. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the forest, Cedar felt a mixture of anticipation and anxiety building within him. The ceremony was about to begin, and soon enough, his fate would be decided.

"I'm not looking forward to this." Cedar muttered under his breath, causing his mother to chuckle lightly and changing the subject. "I know you're nervous, dear, but you've prepared for this day your whole life. You've trained, you've studied, and you've honed your skills. You're ready for this." She placed a reassuring paw on his shoulder, her amber eyes filled with confidence.

Cedar nodded his head, taking in his mother's words. They were true; he had prepared for this day for years. He had trained with the best warriors in the pack, honing his skills and learning from their wisdom. He had studied ancient scrolls and texts, uncovering secrets about his people's past that had been lost to time. And he had worked tirelessly to understand the inner workings of the pack, striving to become the leader that his people needed.

"I could only hope he would either pick me or Shadow, anybody but Jett. The brute is arrogant and full of himself. He doesn't deserve to be the alpha." Cedar muttered to himself as he continued to watch his packmates play, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he saw one of them dunk their companion into the creek, sending up a spray of water.

If only he could trust that his father would see that. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor, Cedar forced himself to stand up, his muscles tensing with anticipation and nerves. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart, before following the sound of his father's booming voice towards the clearing where the ceremony would take place.