The Alpha's Regret Return Of The Betrayed Luna (Addison) novel Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Chapter 257 Missing

"I know, buddy. I was wrong... but I’ll do my best to win her over," Zion murmured. Shura only rolled its eyes with a huff before retreating to the far corner of his mind.

Zion knew Addison was trying, trying to reciprocate their bond, trying to make sense of the tangled connection she shared with the three of them.

But he could also feel the hatred simmering inside her chest, the scars of how he had once treated her. He saw it in her eyes—the unspoken desire to tear him apart, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain he had inflicted on her.

And yet, instead of lashing out, she chose silence. She ignored him, pushed him aside, and pretended he wasn’t there.

That indifference cut deeper than any accusation or angry word could. If she yelled, if she raged, it would mean he still mattered to her. But this cold distance... this quiet dismissal... it was a silent declaration that she wanted nothing to do with him anymore. And that was the one thing Zion dreaded most.

But now, as he thought about it, Zion finally understood what Addison must have gone through—alone in his pack, forced to swallow every vile word his pack members hurled at her, enduring their disrespect without a way to fight back.

She had no choice but to bury her grievances and push forward, and the weight of it must have crushed her spirit and twisted her mentality. No wonder when he returned, she looked haggard and worn, so different from the radiant woman she was now. The stark contrast only highlighted how deeply he had failed her, and guilt clawed at him all the more.

"Shut up. Stop wallowing in self-pity and start acting!" Shura suddenly snapped inside his mind before vanishing again, temperamental as ever. Zion let out a dry chuckle at his wolf’s sharp tongue, then continued washing himself.

After finishing his shower, Zion slipped on only a pair of pants before collapsing onto his bed. Exhaustion quickly pulled him under, and he was asleep within moments. Maxwell and Levi weren’t any different; each was lost in his own thoughts about the tangled bond they shared with Addison.

The mate bond weighed heavily on them, stirring a storm of mixed emotions, and the strain left them more drained than they had ever felt before. By the time they washed up, they too surrendered to sleep.

For four straight hours, the room remained quiet, all three lost in restless slumber, until a sharp knock broke the silence. Blinking awake, they realized the sound wasn’t meant for them at all. It was coming from Addison’s door. Lance was standing outside, knocking firmly.

"Addie, are you awake?" Lance called softly as he knocked on Addison’s door. Morning light was already spilling across the sky, and by her instructions, they should have been preparing to leave after breakfast.

A sumptuous meal had been prepared for them by the former Gamma and former Luna of the pack, who had taken it upon themselves to host in the absence of the current Alpha and his core members.

With the Alpha and his Luna still at the Royal Palace for the ongoing conference with the other Alphas, it fell to the former leaders to ensure everything ran smoothly. They did their best to accommodate everyone’s needs, especially keeping the Princess and her party’s comfort at the forefront.

Their horses had already rested, with fodder and water prepared for the journey ahead. They had also replenished their food supplies, ensuring they could continue traveling without worry.

Addison, on the other hand, caught the scent of her mates the moment they stepped out of their rooms. Even through the gaps in the doors, their distinct fragrance slipped through, stirring her groggy mind awake.

Still sluggish, she went straight to the shower without noticing anything unusual or bothering to examine herself too closely. Since her wolf had yet to fully return, it wasn’t surprising that her body remained vulnerable, prone to light fevers like an ordinary human whenever she pushed herself too hard. She didn’t dwell on it.

After a quick shower, she slipped into comfortable pants and a shirt, towel-dried her hair, and tied it into a high bun. Just as she prepared to head downstairs, her eyes fell on the bundle of clothes. Pausing, she loosened it slightly to peek inside, then froze. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

’Where are the dark fairies?! Did they wake up while I was asleep and fly away?!’ Addison’s heart lurched as panic set in. She sniffed the air, desperate to catch any trace of an intruder who might have slipped into her room to steal them. But there was nothing, no unfamiliar scent, no sign of the windows being opened, not even the curtains had been disturbed.

Her anxiety spiked as she tore through the room in a frantic search. ’Where are they?!’ The words nearly burst from her lips, but she bit them back, afraid of waking anyone and exposing the secret of the dark fairies.

Her mind, still clouded and fragile from last night, felt tangled and restless. She knew there was something important she needed to share, something she should have said last night, but her thoughts wouldn’t settle.

Disoriented, overwhelmed, it was as if every emotion within her had been magnified, dragging her into a storm of overthinking and turbulent feelings.