60 Chapter 80 No Face To Return
60 Chapter 60 No Face To Return
Right now, her plan was to become the Luna of this pack first. Once that was achieved, even if Zion later discovered she wasn’t the real princess, it would be too late. Besides, she could always argue that she never officially assumed the title of royal princess–it was merely their assumption that led to the misunderstanding. She had just never corrected it. O
No matter what, Claire believed she could talk her way out of any situation. After all, as long as she never stepped foot in the palace, there was no way Zion–or anyone else- would discover she wasn’t the real royal princess.
It had already been three years since the princess went missing. So what if she used the title outside the palace? No one would question her, and no one would know she was lying.
As far as anyone knew, the real princess might have already been killed by vampires- that would explain the years of silence. So as long as she never reappeared, no one, especially Zion, would ever know whether Claire was the real princess or not.
And if she truly refused to return, the Alpha King couldn’t force her. They’d likely assume she was simply angry–bitter that no one ever came to rescue her. Once they found out she was mated to the Alpha of the Midnight River Pack, they might even offer their blessing.
She could always decline their visits or reject any summons to the palace. If she played her cards right, she might even get pregnant with Zion’s child by then, securing her place as the Luna and mother of the future heir.
To Claire, it was the perfect plan. A plan she had been crafting from the moment Zion dragged her out of that wretched place and mistook her for the missing princess. For her, it had been love at first sight–and now, she was determined. She wanted Zion, and no one would stop her.
“I–I just couldn’t face them anymore. I was too weak… I couldn’t even protect my baby. To the Alpha King, that would be a terrible disgrace, and I just…” Claire’s voice trembled as tears welled in her eyes, her gaze locked on Zion.
She was answering his question–why she refused to return to the Royal Palace with the convoy. And as the Royal Princess, if she truly wished to stay, Zion had no
60 Chapter 60 No Face To Retur
authority to drive her away.
The Royal Family ruled over the entire domain, and their members had the right to reside in any pack they chose, treated with the dignity of royalty. If she declared she wouldn’t return, then that would be final. From that moment on, she would be honored like a Luna–second only to the Alpha himself–as an esteemed guest of the Midnight River Pack.
Even Zion couldn’t find fault in her words. After all, the Royal Princess was known not for her appearance, but for her strength. By the age of fifteen, she was already participating in territory patrols and handling disputes involving rogues.
At sixteen, she earned her first rogue kill–and she wasn’t shaken by it. She believed her actions were justified, that taking one life meant saving many innocent citizens. That mindset wasn’t wrong. It was part of why she was both admired and feared–two essential traits for a leader.
A leader couldn’t afford to be too righteous, lest they be seen as weak or idealistic. True leadership requires the ability to inspire fear just as much as empathy. There had to be a balance between both.
Only the strong have the right to set the rules–and the privilege to show compassion. The weak are simply trampled. This was the core lesson the Alpha King instilled in his daughter. So while the Royal Princess was known for her compassion and was beloved by the people, she was also strong and ruthless when necessary.
It was this balance that made her so charismatic and respected. However, because she was still underage yet already performing duties expected of an heir, she became a prime target for many hostile forces.
To protect her while allowing her to train with the warriors and patrol the territory freely, the Alpha King chose to keep her identity a secret and never revealed her appearance to the public until her coming–of–age ceremony.
Now that Zion was hearing Claire’s explanation, it sounded so natural, so believable. H could imagine how deeply such a disgrace would wound a proud princess’s pride and ego. To admit to her parents that she lost her pup and nearly died at the hands of a wolfless werewolf–someone who shouldn’t even be considered a threat–would‘ a humiliating blow, not just to her but to the entire royal family.
Worse still, the scandal would be immense. She became pregnant while away from the
60 Chapter 60 No Face To Return
palace, an act already frowned upon, making her seem like a reckless wild child carrying a bastard. And to be harmed by someone without a wolf? Even Zion wouldn’t want to return home if he were in her position.
But even with a plausible explanation, Zion couldn’t shake off the uneasiness pressing on his mind as if he were still missing something.
Something just didn’t sit right.
If Claire truly was the royal princess with such formidable strength, how could she have been so easily pushed down the stairs by someone like Addison? Even if she couldn’t shift into her wolf form, her wolf and royal bloodline should still grant her enhanced strength and agility to avoid Addison’s action.
She should have at least been able to resist the shove–or even catch Addison’s hand mid–push. So what really happened that day? That question had been haunting Zion ever since.
“Zion… You know how many people look up to the royal princess. It’s both an honor and a curse to hold that position. One wrong step, and the whispers start–every action is magnified, every flaw dissected.”
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“And after what happened to me… do you really think I’d be spared? Even the Alpha King might see me as a failure. Can you imagine what that would feel like? Do you think I can accept another blow after already losing my child?” Claire’s voice trembled as she lowered her head, hiding her face from view.
“That child… was my anchor. My only reason to keep fighting when everything felt hopeless. Even when those vampires crushed my spirit, I kept going–because of the life growing inside me. I tried to escape. I fought. But there were too many of them, and I was alone. I did everything I could, but do you think anyone in the royal capital would care about that? All they see is the outcome. And to them, I failed.”
She took a shaky breath. “So before they can look down on me, pity me, or see me as a disgrace, I’d rather stay here on the borders. Let them think I’ve been demoted. That’s easier to live with than seeing the disappointment in their eyes.”
But would the Alpha King really leave his beloved daughter at the border without trying to bring her home or forgiving her? Zion understood that Claire had a poi her shame ran deep–but he also believed that once both sides had time to cool down, things would change.
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Now that they knew the royal princess was alive and where she was, it was only a matter of time. Sooner or later, Claire would come to terms with what happened, and the Alpha King would surely find it in his heart to accept his daughter again.
This is what came to Zion’s mind after listening to Claire.
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