The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Zion Coming Clean

”Levi,” Zion’s voice was calm, but there was a hint of finality to it. ”Come with me to the office.”

He turned sharply, heading toward the Alpha’s office as he continued to descend the stairs. Addison’s garden could wait for now; there were more pressing matters to discuss with his Gamma, and Zion was determined to get to the heart of them.

Levi, who was equally baffled by the sudden shift in the air and Zion’s demeanor, had no choice but to follow, quickly schooling his expression into neutrality. As they stepped into the office, which had just been cleaned by one of the omegas, Zion immediately headed to his leather chair without a word.

”Close the door,” he instructed.

Once Levi did so, Zion gestured to the seat across from him. ”Sit.”

Leaning back into his chair, Zion took a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts. His voice was measured but direct when he finally spoke.

”Tell me—what do you know about Claire, and why the Royal Convoy is here?”

Still baffled, Levi answered truthfully, ”Wasn’t Miss Claire your mistress? The one you chose to be the future Luna of this pack? Aside from being your supposed fated mate—who exactly is she?”

He paused briefly before continuing, ”As for the Royal Convoy, I heard they were visiting neighboring packs to inquire about the aftermath of the war—the casualties, damages—so the Royal Capital could arrange aid accordingly.”

But as Levi spoke, something in him stirred. Having worked closely with Addison for the past three years, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to all of this—something deeper, something hidden. And that suspicion only grew stronger now that his Alpha was asking what he knew.

His brows furrowed instinctively as he perched on the edge of the couch, his gaze sharp and focused on Zion. He studied him carefully, as if trying to piece together a puzzle from the flickers of expression on Zion’s face.

Feeling the weight of his Gamma’s scrutinizing gaze, Alpha Zion took a deep breath and met Levi’s eyes directly.

”Is that what everyone truly thinks?” he asked, though the answer was already clear to him.

He wasn’t blind—he had seen the way his pack looked at him when he was with Claire, how warm and accepting they were toward her. They must have believed she was the fated mate he had found outside the territory. And even though he was aware of the growing misunderstanding, he chose not to correct it. He allowed the illusion to persist—so Claire could stay in the pack without drawing suspicion.

More than that, he let the lie fester because he wanted to hurt Addison. He wanted her pain to run so deep that there would be no night she didn’t cry over it. And now? Now he could see how twisted and cruel that choice had been.

He regretted it—deeply. Even if he tried to clear the air now, would Addison ever hear it? Would she even care?

A wave of self-loathing washed over him, but there was no undoing the past. All he could do now was start to right his wrongs, piece by piece—beginning with his pack... and his Gamma.

”Well, obviously,” Levi said flatly, his gaze sharpening. ”The entire pack thinks you found your fated mate outside. Why else would you let an unknown woman ride on your back in wolf form—the position reserved only for a true mate? And the way you treated her... all that concern, gentleness, and attention? No one gives that kind of devotion to just anyone—unless they’re indulging in the fantasy of keeping a mistress and living a life of luxury and debauchery.”

He let out a dry, humorless snort at the end, his words laced with open contempt. His wolf growled in protest, warning him not to go too far with his Alpha, but Levi pressed on undeterred. Even his wolf, despite its loyalty, had been disappointed in Zion.

Because the truth was painfully clear—if they truly didn’t want Addison, then Zion should never have mated with her.

And even if it had been the former Alpha’s order, no one could have forced Zion to mark Addison if he had truly resisted. Whether out of filial duty or a warped sense of responsibility, he still made the choice. And if he made that choice, then he should have honored it. He should have honored her.

But he hadn’t. Instead, he’d acted out of immaturity and pride—and now they were all paying for it.

Zion could tell that Levi was struggling—not just with him, but with his wolf. He could feel the tension in the air, the internal conflict playing out behind Levi’s unreadable expression. Levi’s wolf had once been loyal, respectful, unwavering. But now, it was silent. Distant. Even when Zion had tried to reach out through their link, there had been nothing—no response, no presence. That silence spoke volumes. Disappointment ran deep, and Zion couldn’t fault them for it.

He let out another heavy sigh, dragging a hand through his hair as he braced himself. Then, in a quiet but resolute voice, he began. ”You’re right. I did let everyone misunderstand my relationship with Claire.”

He paused, meeting Levi’s eyes head-on. His gaze didn’t waver.

”But the truth is—Claire isn’t my mistress. She was never my fated mate, and I’ve never had any kind of relationship with her, not physically, not emotionally.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, and for the first time, Levi faltered. Something in Zion’s tone—grave and unflinchingly honest—shook him. Then, without warning, Zion opened the mental link between them.

Levi felt it instantly.

Waves of emotion poured through: sorrow, regret, shame, and a quiet but steady determination. Beneath it all, the sincerity was undeniable. Zion wasn’t lying. He was baring himself completely, holding nothing back.

Levi didn’t close the link. He said nothing—but he listened, and for the first time in a long while, he felt his Alpha.

”Then if she wasn’t anything to you,” Levi snapped, ”why pretend she was? Why let the entire pack believe she was your fated mate? Why go so far to make it look real?” His voice trembled with restrained fury. ”I just... I can’t wrap my head around it. What was the point of all this?”

His emotions surged through the link—anger, disappointment, confusion—all crashing down on Zion like a tidal wave. But Zion didn’t flinch. He accepted it all, taking the weight of Levi’s fury without defense, because he knew he deserved it.

”On our last mission...” Zion began, his gaze distant, lost in the shadows of memory. ”Beta Greg, a few of our men, and I were sent to infiltrate the enemy’s fortress. Our goal was to breach their gates from within—so our forces could storm in, wipe out the vampires, and claim more territory to fortify our defenses.”

He paused, his jaw tightening slightly before he continued.

”I almost got caught. I had to retreat and hide. That’s when I stumbled upon a cage tucked deep in the darkness... and inside it, I saw her. Claire.” His voice grew softer, more haunted. ”Her golden hair was matted and oily, her body filthy and frail. But her eyes... those honey-gold eyes stared straight into mine. And right then, I knew—she had to be the missing princess the Royal Palace had been searching for all these years.”

At that, Levi froze, as if struck by lightning. His breath caught in his throat. Words failed him.