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And she was right.
Maxwell, noticing Addison’s desire to observe the surroundings and perhaps needing a bit of space for herself, away from others‘ constant presence, gave her room without complaint. Understanding her unspoken need, he quietly leapt down from the cart and began walking beside it, joining the guards in their patrol.
With Maxwell’s Alpha aura blanketing the area, the guards no longer needed to remain constantly on high alert or stay in a defensive stance, which would have quickly drained their stamina and worn down their mentality.
Startled, Addison nearly let out a yelp, not realizing when he had moved so close. But before the sound could escape, Maxwell gently covered her mouth, sparing the horses from being spooked.
As the carts began disappearing through the glowing portal, Lance paused to cast one last, lingering glance at Addison’s carriage–his expression torn between duty and longing. Then, without another word, he stepped into the portal himself.
Meanwhile, Elric dashed toward his assigned carriage, where his disciples were already waiting, ready to accompany him to the West.
But Addison shook her head. Now that they were on the move, there was always the risk of encountering monsters along the way. Every capable fighter needed to conserve their strength to protect the caravan and those traveling with them. Maxwell’s presence added valuable muscle to their side, and it would be reckless to waste his
energy now.
She’d been in a deep, dreamless sleep. Her entire body ached with soreness, yet she also felt oddly refreshed–like she’d been reborn. It was a strange but invigorating sensation, something she had never experienced before.
The scout goblins who had been circling the caravan quickly retreated back to their dens. Goblins might be small, but they were cunning. They knew when to attack, and more importantly, when to run. Their strength lay in numbers, not in reckless bravery, and today, they knew they were outmatched.
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Thanks to this, the caravan progressed smoothly along the route, undisturbed. No monsters dared approach. Even low–level creatures like goblins didn’t attempt to test their luck. As soon as they sensed Maxwell’s Alpha presence, a chill ran down their spines. It was as if a predator’s eyes were locked onto them from the shadows,
“Sorry, baby…” Maxwell murmured as he slowly lowered his hand and let Addison go.
“Alright, I’ll listen to Addie,” Maxwell said with a rare, soft smile that melted away his usual cold demeanor. The unexpected tenderness in his expression caught Addison off guard, and her heart skipped a beat.
Thankfully, the front seat was wide enough to accommodate two more people, so Addison’s presence didn’t make him feel cramped.
“Want to walk for a bit? Feel the sun and the breeze on your skin? It might help you stretch your limbs,” came Maxwell’s voice suddenly, right behind her ear.
They were grateful to Maxwell; having more than one Alpha on this journey made a world of difference. The presence of an Alpha gave them a vital buffer, allowing for much–needed breathing room and a fighting booster.
‘Let’s not overthink this right now. Focus on the mission,‘ Addison reminded herself firmly. With that, she gently began to extricate herself from Maxwell’s arms.
Some guards immediately began collecting ingredients and setting up cooking stations, while others prepared the food. Meanwhile, a separate team scouted the perimeter, establishing protective measures and ensuring the area was secure. A few others gathered dry sticks and branches to build a campfire, readying the site for a safe and restful night.
If there had been no Alpha present, the goblins would have undoubtedly attacked the caravan, whether to steal supplies or capture people to take back to their dens. In desperate times, goblins were known to treat their captives as livestock, using them as a food source when resources ran scarce.
Maxwell had honed his stealth over years of infiltrating other pack territories in search of the dark witch’s trail. Moving silently, blending in, and approaching undetected had become second nature to him, so much so that even someone as alert as Addison couldn’t catch his approach.
Addison instinctively pressed a hand to her chest, still catching her breath. She
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been so focused on scanning her surroundings that she hadn’t sensed Maxwell approaching at all. Not even the rustling of clothing. It genuinely startled her.
After a long day of travel, just before the sun dipped below the horizon, Lance and the rest of the carava
found a small clearing suitable for setting up camp. As soon as the caravan came to a halt, the group moved efficiently into action.
Sure enough, as soon as Maxwell released a controlled wave of his presence, the rustling sounds from the forest faded. Whatever restless creatures had been prowling close by quickly retreated into the shadows, wisely choosing not to test their fuck.
The oppressive tension lifted, and the ever–present rustling in the forest gradually faded into silence. The guards collectively felt more at ease.
Addison’s gaze wandered until it met with one of the guards walking beside the cart. She gave him a small nod, and he returned it silently before she resumed scanning the surroundings.
Flustered, she quickly jumped off his lap and pushed aside the animal hide covering the front of the cart where the coachman sat. She peeked out. The path ahead was lined with tall trees stretching endlessly, their leafy canopy filtering the sunlight into soft beams.
The coachman flinched in surprise and immediately straightened up, suddenly alert. He hadn’t expected company, let alone from the princess herself. Panic flickered across his face, worried he might be scolded for slacking off.
By the time Addison woke up, they had already passed through the portal and left the checkpoint behind. The caravan was well on its way to the West, and to her surprise, she hadn’t felt a thing.
“Don’t move. You won’t find a more comfortable place to sit than this,” Maxwell said, clearly reluctant to let Addison go. “Or would you prefer I shift into my wolf form so you can ride on my back? My fur might cushion you better; you won’t feel all the bumps and jolts from the road!
The sun was high, but the day wasn’t too hot; a gentle breeze flowed through the leaves, carrying a refreshing coolness that made the coachman yawn and momentarily doze off, even as he loosely held the reins.
‘Maybe this is what it feels like to have a wolf’she thought. But even more presing
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was the realization that she still couldn’t communicate with her wolf. Just like before. there was only silence. Perhaps it was because her wolf wasn’t fully freed from the curse yet, only able to stir when necessary, and could only take advantage of the small cracks in its restraints.
Besides, this wasn’t Addison’s first time traveling with a caravan; she had learned to manage her expectations a long time ago.
He didn’t shift into his wolf form. There was no need. Just walking alongside the caravan, his natural alpha aura and scent were enough to deter most low–level monsters and wild animals lurking nearby. With an Alpha present, few dared approach.
She frowned slightly in thought. ‘Did he really get that close without making a sound?” Maybe he just had exceptionally good stealth skills, and that’s why she didn’t notice him until he was already beside her.
“It’s alright, I’ll go sit in front,” Addison said as she gently pushed back the animal hide and climbed up to sit beside the coachman.
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