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Due to the whirlwind of conflicting emotions in her heart, Addison didn’t even notice when sleep finally claimed her. As she drifted off, Zion sat quietly by her side, watching her with unreadable eyes hidden in the shadows of the night.
Before long, he gently pulled her into his arms, cradling her close. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her comforting scent–a scent that wrapped around him like a lullaby.
For the first time since his days on the frontlines, Zion felt truly at peace. That warmth, that serenity… it pulled him into the deepest sleep he’d had in years.
When the two finally woke again, the sun was already high in the sky. Zion immediately sprang out of bed and began dressing, the weight of responsibility settling back onto his shoulders.
He had holed himself up with Addison for three days, neglecting his duties, and there were pressing matters
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that required his attention around the pack grounds.
Addison stirred groggily, slowly sitting up, but before she could rise, Zion gently pushed her back down onto the bed. His voice was calm, almost emotionless. “Get some more rest. I’m heading to my office to handle the pack’s affairs.”
Without waiting for Addison’s reply, Zion left the room in a flash and made his way straight to his office, where his Beta was already waiting. Back in the Alpha suite, Addison drifted back to sleep–her body still too
weak to move.
Her legs trembled, and even the thought of standing felt impossible. She was so drained, it felt like even a soft breeze could knock her over. Besides, it was still early–so early the sun hadn’t even risen yet.
Meanwhile, as soon as Zion sat down in his chair, he didn’t waste a second. His gaze locked onto his Beta as he asked sharply, “So? Did the Royal Family respond to our message? When are they sending the convoy to escort the Princess back to the Royal Capital?”
His brows drew together in a tight line, his chin
A
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that required his attention around the pack grounds.
Addison stirred groggily, slowly sitting up, but before she could rise, Zion gently pushed her back down onto the bed. His voice was calm, almost emotionless. “Get
some more rest. I’m heading to my office to handle the pack’s affairs.”
Without waiting for Addison’s reply, Zion left the room in a flash and made his way straight to his office, where his Beta was already waiting. Back in the Alpha suite, Addison drifted back to sleep–her body still too
weak to move.
Her legs trembled, and even the thought of standing felt impossible. She was so drained, it felt like even a soft breeze could knock her over. Besides, it was still early–so early the sun hadn’t even risen yet.
he
Meanwhile, as soon as Zion sat down in his chair, didn’t waste a second. His gaze locked onto his Beta as he asked sharply, “So? Did the Royal Family respond to our message? When are they sending the convoy to escort the Princess back to the Royal Capital?”
His brows drew together in a tight line, his chin
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resting on his interlaced fingers, the weight of responsibility settling back over his shoulders like a familiar cloak.
“Alpha, I personally delivered the letter through the
secret line before we returned home. I made it clear
that they needed to act quickly–there’s a risk the vampires might catch wind of this information too,” Beta Greg reported.
“Just before dawn, we received a reply. The Royal Family is dispatching their best warriors in secret to retrieve the Princess. They’re expected to arrive within fifteen days–ten, if everything goes smoothly. They’re moving covertly to avoid being tracked, so until then, our priority is to keep the Princess safe. Once she’s in their hands, we can finally breathe a
little easier.”
There was a hint of excitement in Greg’s voice- understandably so. After all, they were talking about the Royal Princess, the only daughter of the Alpha King, who had been missing for three long years.
It was nothing short of a miracle that Alpha Zion had
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rescued her during a raid on one of the vampire
fortresses.
Who would’ve thought that among the captives they freed that night, one would turn out to be the long–lost princess?
Once the Princess was safely escorted back to the Royal Capital, their pack would be honored with great merit and generous rewards. And given their Alpha’s connection to the Princess, it wasn’t far–fetched to imagine that the Alpha King might even bestow his only daughter to Alpha Zion.
If that happened, their pack’s status would rise immensely–backed by the Royal Family, no neighboring pack would dare challenge them again.
“Alpha, about Addison…”
“She’s my Luna. Show some respect!” Zion snarled, baring his fangs at his Beta.
But almost immediately, he snapped back to his senses, his expression shifting into a troubled frown. He stood up abruptly, his mood soured, leaving even
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his Beta momentarily stunned by the sudden change
in demeanor.
The truth was–Zion himself was grappling with an internal storm. He knew in his mind that he should hate Addison… but over those three intense days and nights, his body–and the undeniable pull of the mate bond–had proven otherwise.
He couldn’t stay indifferent. No matter how much he tried to convince himself, every touch, every scent, every moment with her chipped away at his resolve.
Now, it felt like he was walking a tightrope suspended over a vast drop–one misstep and he’d plummet. The conflict between his heart and his mind was
suffocating, and though part of him longed to surrender, the hate still lingered, festering in the
corners of his soul.
He didn’t know if the Moon Goddess was playing a cruel joke on him. He hated the feeling of losing control–yet with Addison, that control slipped
through his fingers like water. No matter how much he tried to resist, his desire for her overwhelmed him.
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Even Shura, his wolf, had fought to take over while they were mating, growling and pushing from within. During those moments, Zion stopped thinking
altogether. It was as if instinct had devoured reason.
But despite everything, the pain of losing his father still burned deep inside him. There was blood between them–a life lost that stood like a wall he couldn’t just ignore or forgive. That’s why the storm of love and hate inside his chest was so tormenting. It gnawed at
him, heavy and suffocating.
And worst of all… it was maddeningly persistent.
“Alpha… that scent on you…” Beta Greg’s voice faltered as his eyes widened in realization. “You… you didn’t… Don’t tell me you’re falling for your chosen mate?”
It hit him all at once–like a secret suddenly exposed. At first, he had tried to convince himself that Zion was merely teaching Addison a harsh lesson, especially after the Alpha disappeared for three days without joining meals or overseeing training.
Greg had assumed it was all just because he was busy with the punishment he was giving Addison behind
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closed doors.
But now, standing in the office face–to–face with Zion,
the truth was undeniable.
The potent scent clinging to Zion–intimate and raw- was a mixture of himself and Addison. It was heavy in the air, wrapping around his Alpha like a second skin. Zion hadn’t even bothered to shower before rushing down upon hearing the message from the Royal Capital.
Greg, who had been too nervous earlier to notice anything else, suddenly felt the full weight of the pheromones. It hit his nostrils like a punch, and his breath caught in his throat. There was no mistaking it
anymore.
The Alpha wasn’t even torturing Addison during the days of his absence.
Instead, they are mating like wild animals, letting their beastly side take over their desire and instinct–and that scared Greg more than anything.
If Zion truly let go of his hatred for Addison and gave
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in to the mate bond… wouldn’t that mean the rest of them would be expected to do the same? To forgive, to forget, and to welcome her as their Luna?
Even if the pack could swallow their grudges and accept her, what then? What did Addison have to offer in the role of Luna? Sure, she had managerial skills- but she couldn’t fight. Not even a little. And this wasn’t some safe haven tucked away from the world. This was the borderlands, where danger was never far.
The vampires may have retreated for now, but who’s to say they wouldn’t return? Their kind was ruthless- driven by an insatiable thirst for power, for territory, for control. If that balance ever tipped again, what could Addison possibly do? She couldn’t protect herself, let alone stand at Zion’s side in battle. She’d be a weakness. A liability.
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