Chapter 157

Logan

The morning air is crisp, carrying a faint scent of grass and concrete as we wait behind the stage. The press conference is forming outside, a sea of cameras, microphones, and flashing lights. They’re all pointed at the stage where I’m about to give my acceptance speech. I can feel the vibrations of the crowd through the ground, the murmur of voices growing into a roar of anticipation.

Emily stands beside me, her arm wrapped around Peter, who is swaddled in a soft blanket. The sight of them steadies me in ways nothing else can. She glances up at me, eyes bright with a mixture of pride, reassurance, and the quiet joy of a new mother. Her presence is grounding, a tether to everything that matters.

“You ready for this?” I ask quietly, my voice just for her. She smiles, a small, confident tilt of her lips that carries more strength than words could ever express.

“With you, all things are possible,” she replies softly. Her words are both a promise and a vow, and I feel my chest tighten as I absorb the weight of them.

Peter stirs slightly in her arms, his tiny fingers brushing against Emily’s hand. I reach out instinctively, brushing a strand of hair from her face, letting my thumb linger on her cheek.

“Then we do this together,” I whisper. “No matter what comes next.”

We step forward, the stage lights catching the edges of the podium, illuminating the emblem behind me, the symbol of the nation I now have the honor to lead. The crowd is massive, faces blurred by distance but charged with expectation. Reporters adjust cameras, microphones sway toward me, and the murmur of questions lingers in the air.

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment press against my chest. This is more than a speech. This is a declaration. A promise. A responsibility I cannot take lightly. I glance at Emily again. Her eyes are steady, unwavering, and I draw strength from her confidence.

“I am,” I begin, voice steady despite the tremor in my stomach, “humbled and honored to stand before you as the nation’s new Alpha King. I am thankful for your votes, your faith, and your belief in what we can achieve together.”

The applause is immediate, filling the air, echoing against the walls and streets beyond. I let it wash over me briefly, then continue, finding the cadence of my words, the rhythm of intention.

“I stand here not only to serve,” I continue, “but to ensure that justice is served to those who deserve it. I am committed to bringing an era of peace to our country, one in which every citizen feels heard, protected, and valued.”

The words feel weighty, heavy with the expectation of those listening, but as I speak, I notice the subtle tilt of Emily’s head, the encouraging squeeze of her hand on Peter’s blanket. Their presence is a shield, a source of calm amidst the storm of attention. I draw another deep breath, letting the gravity of responsibility sink fully into me, while simultaneously grounding myself in the small, perfect family beside me.

I pause, scanning the crowd, letting my gaze travel across the faces of reporters, security personnel, and citizens beyond the barricades. I see hope. I see expectation. And I see the reflection of what we’re fighting for: a future that isn’t just about power, but about protection, guidance, and care.

“And now,” I continue, voice firm and unwavering, “I must take my leave to focus on what matters just as much — my family. My wife, Emily, and our newborn son, Peter, are my anchor. They serve as my reminder of why every choice I make carries weight. I wish to spend time with them, and I encourage all of us to remember that while leadership demands much, it is the love and bonds we nurture that define our legacy.”

I feel the murmur of the crowd shift, reporters scribbling notes furiously, cameras clicking, capturing the moment for history. I step back slightly, allowing Emily to adjust Peter in her arms, letting the cameras catch the family we’ve created.

Emily smiles up at me, and I can see the pride in her eyes, the quiet encouragement that has always lifted me. I reach for her hand, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles, feeling her warmth seeping into my skin, steadying me even as adrenaline courses through my veins.

The crowd continues to cheer, applause rolling like waves over the stage, but in this small space, in this moment, it feels almost secondary to the intimacy I feel with Emily and Peter.

This is ours. No matter the magnitude of the office, no matter the weight of expectations, this small family beside me is the core of everything I fight for.

I glance down at Peter again, marveling at his tiny features, the soft rise and fall of his chest, the faint wisps of hair on his forehead. He looks up at me briefly, a tiny hand curling instinctively, and I feel a surge of protective pride.

This is why I lead. This is why I endure. This is why I must be steadfast, unwavering, and just.

Emily leans closer, brushing her forehead against mine, whispering just loud enough for me to hear over the crowd: “You did it. You’re going to be incredible, Logan.”

Her words, soft and certain, embed themselves in my chest. I close my eyes briefly, letting them settle, anchoring me against the enormity of the moment. When I open them, I step back to the podium, adjusting the microphone, ready to finalize my message to the nation.

“Thank you all,” I say again, letting my voice carry over the crowd. “I am committed to serving this country with honor, integrity, and compassion. I will not forget the reason for everything I do. It is for the people I love, the family that sustains me, and the citizens who place their faith in me. Together, we can achieve more than any of us imagined. Together, we will build a future worth fighting for.”

The applause swells once more, louder, more insistent. The cameras flash, capturing every expression, every moment. I only have eyes for Emily and Peter, though. They are the only people that matter the most to me now.

Finally, the crowd begins to settle, reporters murmuring their next questions, cameras lowering slightly. I step back from the podium, reaching for Emily’s hand. She squeezes mine, holding Peter gently between us.

I bend slightly, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, a small, private celebration amid the public spectacle. She smiles against me, her cheeks warm, eyes shining with pride and love.

“I’m proud of you,” she whispers, voice tender but unwavering.

“I’m proud of you too,” I reply, voice low, sincere, feeling the truth in every syllable. “We did this. All of it. And now…we protect it. Together.”

She leans her head against my shoulder, Peter nestled safely between us, and for a heartbeat, the chaos, the cameras, the expectations — all of it — fades away. It’s just us and the family we’ve built. Just the life we’re choosing to protect and cherish, no matter what comes next.

I glance one last time across the stage, into the faces of the cheering crowd, the cameras, the reporters, I know something irrevocable: I am the Alpha King, yes, but I am also a husband, a father, and a protector. And it is those roles that define the man I am and the leader I will become.

Emily presses her lips to mine once more, soft, sure, grounding. Peter stirs slightly, tiny fingers brushing against my chest, and I smile, letting the moment linger. The applause, the speeches, the expectations—they can wait.

For now, our newfound love as a family is enough to keep me going through these next few days.