21 Chapter 21 Claire’s Condition
“Ha… ugh.” Addison let out a bitter, mocking laugh that quickly turned into a pained groan as a sharp jab of agony from her ribs reminded her of her injury. The pain shot through her side, a cruel reminder of Claire’s framing–and Zion’s blind trust.
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The pack doctor hadn’t even looked at her before they threw her into the dungeon. The shard of glass lodged in her knee was still there, untouched, and by now Addison couldn’t even tell where it hurt the most- everything just throbbed in agony.
She wanted to cry, to scream out the injustice and betrayal, but maybe the shock had gone too deep. No tears came. Her eyes were dry, her chest hollow, but the ache was still there–sharp, suffocating. She felt utterly miserable, inside and out, so much so that she couldn’t even bring herself to pity her own state.
And her mate–Zion. Even if they were only chosen mates, he should have felt something through the bond. That thread of connection should’ve told him
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she was in pain. He should have felt it. But instead, he turned his back on her, sent her down here like she was nothing, left her bleeding and broken.
He knew. Zion knew her condition–knew she was wolfless, that she didn’t have the healing power others took for granted. For someone like her, injuries like this could be fatal if left untreated. So in throwing her down here, in delaying her care… it was as if he’d chosen death for her. As if he was telling her: go die.
ww
On Zion’s side, he was pacing anxiously outside Claire’s room on the second floor, waiting for the pack doctor to emerge. Earlier, when he heard that Addison had returned to the packhouse to help Claire prepare the guest room for their incoming visitor, he had intended to head upstairs to see hér. It had been over a week since he last saw Addison, and guilt tugged at him–he had missed her.
But that entire week, he’d been by Claire’s side. Her emotions were unstable, and he feared that any stress might harm her or the pup she carried. So he catered
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to her every request, obeyed her whims without question, trying to keep her calm. He didn’t dare upset her, not when the consequences could be so serious.
And because of that… he never found the time or courage to face Addison.
So, he had taken this opportunity as an excuse to catch a glimpse of Addison–to see how she was doing, what kind of attitude she held after everything. But the moment he stepped into the packhouse, a scream tore through the air, sharp and sudden.
Almost instantly, the thick metallic scent of blood hit his nose, wafting from the floor above.
Without hesitation, Zion bolted up the stairs, his heart pounding. But nothing could prepare him for the sight that greeted him–Addison and Claire both lying at the foot of the staircase. His eyes flared red with a surge of rage and panic.
And then he heard it–soft and trembling, yet enough to ignite the flame in his chest further. Claire’s omega attendant murmured fearfully, “W–Why did Luna Addison push Miss Claire down the stairs? Miss Claire
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was only trying to help Luna Addison down… Did she want to harm the pup inside Miss Claire’s stomach?”
Hearing those words, Zion’s mind buzzed with fear. Claire wasn’t just anyone–she was the Royal Princess, the Alpha King’s only daughter, and now she carried the royal bloodline in her womb.
Attempting to harm a royal heir was a capital offense, punishable by death. The thought alone made Zion’s blood run cold. His face paled, and panic quickly turned to fury.
When his eyes fell on Addison, he stormed toward her and yanked her by the arm, unable to stop the emotions from crashing over him. “Why?” he demanded, his voice thick with anger and disbelief. “Why would you do something so reckless?”
His mind scrambled for answers, and the only explanation he could grasp was jealousy–was she jealous that he had been spending all his time with Claire? That he had neglected her? It seemed plausible. After all, werewolves were possessive by nature, and even if Addison was wolfless and
21 Chapter 21 Claire’s Condition
physically weak, that instinct was still in her blood.
That made it worse.
Zion thought she was smarter than this. He had hoped, even without knowing Claire’s true identity, Addison would still carry herself with grace and restraint–as a
Luna should.
He didn’t hide Claire’s lineage out of malice or betrayal, but to protect everyone. The fewer who knew, the safer they all were. And yet… this. This
chaos.
Zion’s mind was spinning. He couldn’t believe things had escalated to this point. Without stopping to ask Addison for an explanation–without even thinking—
he acted on instinct.
Seeing the blood pooling beneath Claire, spreading from between her legs, panic took over. His vision clouded with rage and fear, and in that moment, he threw Addison aside. He didn’t hold back his strength,
didn’t even think to check if she was hurt afterward.
All he could focus on was Claire.
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The consequences were terrifying. If Claire lost the royal pup, Addison wouldn’t just be punished–she would be sentenced to death. And it wouldn’t end with
her. Zion’s entire pack would suffer the fallout.
He felt cornered, overwhelmed, and helpless. The convoy from the Royal Palace was due to arrive soon, and he had no idea how to explain what had happened -or how to contain it. He was trapped in a nightmare with no way out.
Left with no other choice, Zion had called for the pack doctor, placing all his hopes on them to stabilize Claire and ensure the survival of the pup. Hours had passed since the doctor entered the room, but still, no update. had come. He paced anxiously outside the door, his nerves fraying with each passing minute.
Then, as if on cue, a voice broke into his mind through the pack link. It was the pack doctor–the only one currently able to reach him, as Zion had shut off all other links, even the one with his mate, to focus
entirely on Claire.
“Alpha Zion,” the doctor’s voice echoed with urgency,
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“this is bad. Miss Claire’s fall was severe. She lost a significant amount of blood, and the pup is in critical condition. There’s a high risk she may lose it. I’ll do everything I can, but tonight is critical. I suggest you prepare yourself for the worst.”
“Alright… do everything you can to save both the mother and the pup,” Alpha Zion said, his voice grim and low, eyes darkening as he stood frozen outside the door. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on his shoulders. Unbeknownst to him, while he was
consumed with worry over Claire, a different storm was brewing elsewhere in the pack.
The news had already spread like wildfire throughout the entire territory. Whispers of Addison’s supposed crime–pushed by none other than Claire’s omega
attendant–had turned into furious roars.
And now, in the cold, damp dungeon, Addison lay burning with fever, her body weak and trembling. But instead of receiving help, members of the pack–fueled by outrage–were/preparing to make her suffer.
At the helm of this growing madness stood Beta Greg,
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flanked by Claire’s attendant, leading the charge with
a twisted sense of justice and loyalty.
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