The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Escaped

Dwarves are deceptively strong despite their short stature. It was said a dwarf’s hammer could weigh anywhere from 20 to 50 kilos, yet they wielded them with ease in one hand, forging metal into near-magical creations. Born craftsmen, most dwarves became engineers or blacksmiths. The man before him could probably crush his skull with one hand if provoked, and that wasn’t a gamble he was willing to make.

As everyone continued to chat and speculate about Addison’s current position and what Mila’s next move might be, no one noticed Mila silently standing at the back of the hall until she quietly slipped away, vanishing without a word.

Addison, however, heard every murmur. Each word felt like a dagger to her chest.

She was well aware of her vulnerability. Without Aurora, her wolf, she wasn’t at her full strength, and there was no telling when, or if, the curse would be broken. In this condition, she truly wasn’t in the best place to claim her rightful role.

And if the court or the public were to learn of her situation, she feared that discontent would grow rapidly. Some might not hesitate to rally behind Mila instead, even submitting appeals to the Royal Court to name her the new heir. noveldrama

Addison took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. Her gaze shifted to the three men still staring at her with unwavering intensity, then to her father, whose expression offered her no guidance.

She didn’t know what to do.

A part of her wanted to reject Zion right then and there, to spare herself from the complications and pressure. But the werewolf law was absolute: no one was allowed to reject their fated mate. Such an act was said to invoke the wrath of the Moon Goddess herself. If she defied fate, her bloodline could be cursed. Her descendants might never be granted a fated mate, not even generations into the future.

And that possibility terrified her.

She couldn’t risk that, not for her children.

Her hesitation wasn’t just personal anymore. It carried the weight of the future of her children and grandchildren.

If a monarch never met their fated mate and instead chose a partner, their bloodline would gradually weaken. In time, that decline could lead to the rise of a new Alpha King from another pack, someone strong enough to bear the weight of leading all werewolves across the land.

And now, with everything that happened in front of so many witnesses, word was bound to spread quickly that she had three mates. If she made any reckless moves with so many eyes on her, she would be seen as setting a bad example. The elders and the devout followers of the Moon Goddess would surely condemn her for it.

So even though she felt deeply uncomfortable standing near Zion, especially with the intensity of his gaze, as if he wanted to claim and mark her right then and there, she forced herself to remain composed and push aside the unease.

But then something changed.

Addison saw Levi flinch. It was subtle, but after three years by his side, she could read him like an open book. He was agitated, clearly trying to suppress it, but it didn’t escape her notice. He must have received a bad report from the warriors they had brought along.

His expression hardened, and without a word, he turned to Zion and delivered the information via mindlink.

Zion’s entire demeanor changed in an instant. His face darkened, tension radiating from him like a coming storm. Without delay, he looked toward the Alpha King with urgency.

"Your Majesty, may we speak in private? It’s a matter of great importance."

The Alpha King initially wanted to make things difficult for Zion, partly out of pride, partly out of personal resentment. But he reminded himself that personal feelings and royal duty must remain separate.

He had already pushed the boundaries by acting on his grudge against Zion too many times. Any further misuse of power would risk damaging his credibility as a monarch and might be seen as a sign of weakness, or worse, corruption.

He couldn’t afford that.

So, with a terse nod, he motioned for Addison to join them. Together, Zion, Levi, Addison, the Alpha King, and the Queen made their way to a private lounge on the second floor. Before departing, the Alpha King quietly instructed his Royal Beta to keep watch over the banquet in his absence.

What none of them realized until it was too late was that Maxwell had silently tagged along. When the group settled into the lounge and Maxwell entered last, Zion’s patience snapped.

"Why are you here?" Zion growled, eyes narrowing sharply. "This concerns my pack and the Royal family’s business. You’re not part of either."

His voice held barely restrained hostility. Zion didn’t like Maxwell at all. Maybe it was instinct, maybe he felt he was a threat. The man had the Alpha King’s approval, a powerful presence, and seemed entirely too competent for Zion’s comfort.

But Maxwell didn’t flinch.

He bared his teeth in a silent snarl, a warning for Zion not to overstep. His cold stare made it clear: the only ones who had the authority to dismiss him from this room were Addison or the Alpha King himself.

The Alpha King, for his part, said nothing; he merely waved for Maxwell to sit, silently acknowledging his presence. The Queen and King took seats on either side of Addison, while Zion and Levi sat directly across from them. Maxwell took the single armchair by the coffee table like it had been waiting for him all along.

Then, in a voice that brooked no argument, the Alpha King spoke:

"Talk."

Zion tried to suppress his longing for Addison and focus on the matter at hand. "We need your help to find someone," he said, pausing as he struggled to explain the situation.

Claire had escaped, somehow, during the moment when he and Levi realized Addison was their fated mate. Everything had happened so quickly. Although Levi had assigned their elite warriors to guard Claire and ensure she couldn’t flee, it seemed she had still found a way.

Maybe desperation had driven her to exploit a brief distraction; the warriors had been momentarily stunned by the revelation they witnessed from their vantage point. In that fleeting window, Claire ran.

The warriors gave chase, but it was as if she vanished into thin air. No matter how hard they searched, they couldn’t pick up her trail. Her scent and tracks led only to the Royal Garden, a labyrinth in its own right. They combed through it three times before reporting back to Levi, empty-handed.

None of them could understand how she got away. Zion had a gnawing feeling that she hadn’t done it alone. Someone must have helped her, someone powerful enough to hide a grown woman and erase her scent. That could only mean one thing: an insider. Someone who knew the palace well enough to move undetected.

And if Zion tried to piece everything together, there was only one conclusion: the person behind this had to be the very traitor they once suspected, the same one who helped the vampires abduct Addison years ago. Taking Claire likely meant they had finally found a use for her existence.