The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 125: Chapter 125 The Contradictions In Their Speculations

Claire felt as if she’d been plunged into an ice cellar. Her blood ran cold, and her limbs were numb. She felt completely trapped in this situation, unable to guess when she’d be judged—or if she’d be executed. The uncertainty gnawed at her more cruelly than a sentence ever could.

She wanted to cry, but all she could do was focus on staying silent. She instinctively shrank inward, lowering her presence as much as possible, praying no one would even notice she was still there.

When they arrived at the guest palace — an enormous structure even larger than the Midnight River Pack’s Packhouse — the warriors from Midnight River Pack couldn’t help but gulp in awe as they approached the grand entrance.

There, waiting for them, were baskets filled with clean clothes. At that cue, the elite warriors shifted back into their human forms to change. However, Levi and Alpha Zion opted to step into a room to shift privately, change into the clothes that had been prepared for them in advance, and then rejoined the group.

They followed the Royal Beta to the third floor, where three rooms had been assigned to them — one each for Alpha Zion, Levi, and Claire — clearly indicating that these rooms were reserved for the core members of the visiting pack. The rest of the elite warriors were given separate shared quarters located beside the guest wing, a space designated for warriors from visiting packs.

The Guest Wing itself was reserved for higher-ranking werewolves from other territories. This arrangement reflected the strict hierarchical structure of werewolf society. Housing high-ranking guests in the same quarters as ordinary warriors would be considered disrespectful — a slight that could offend their pride and potentially cause conflict.

Even the Alpha King wasn’t exempt from such consequences, as a gathering of displeased Alphas could become problematic. Thus, it was his duty as host to show proper hospitality and uphold the decorum that status demanded.

”Alpha Zion, this is your room,” the Royal Beta said respectfully. ”If you require anything, simply pull the rope beside your bed or near the door — a servant will arrive promptly to assist you.”

He then turned to Levi. ”Beta Levi, the room next to the Alpha’s has been reserved for you. The lady accompanying you has her own room right beside yours. Should you need anything, please don’t hesitate to let us know.”

The Royal Beta gave a slight bow. ”For now, I must excuse myself, as there are other duties I need to attend to. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. in the Guest Wing’s cafeteria. We apologize that the Alpha King is unable to personally welcome you at the moment — he is currently occupied with matters of the domain. In the meantime, you are free to make yourselves comfortable.”

With another curt bow, he turned and left, without sparing Claire so much as a glance.

Levi looked at Claire thoughtfully, but before he could speak, she turned and rushed into her room, slamming the door behind her. It was clear she didn’t want to answer any questions — not from Levi, or anyone else.

As Claire rushed into her room, slamming the door behind her, Levi turned his gaze to the distracted Zion, who swayed slightly as he slowly made his way to his own quarters. Levi’s frown deepened. At times, he felt less like a Beta and more like a caretaker for those around him. But beyond that growing sense of responsibility, something didn’t sit right with him — a gnawing feeling that something was off.

He glanced down the hallway, toward the direction the Royal Beta had taken, before finally retreating to his own room, still lost in thought.

Unbeknownst to them, the Royal Beta had been in constant communication with the Alpha King. From the moment he picked up Alpha Zion’s entourage to the second he showed them to their rooms, his mindlink remained open.

Every observation, every thought—even his internal musings—were transmitted directly to the Alpha King, as though his mind had become an open journal for the ruler to read at will.

”So, what do you think?” the Alpha King asked through the mindlink, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.

The Royal Beta, having just finished settling the Midnight River Pack’s warriors into their quarters and ensuring all accommodations were in place, was now making his way back to the Alpha King — eager to deliver his impressions, and perhaps indulge in a bit of well-earned gossip.

”Your Majesty,” the Royal Beta began, ”to tell you the truth, Alpha Zion is undeniably a powerful Alpha. His aura radiates naturally, effortlessly, and commanding. But alas... he seems blind in some ways.”

He didn’t need to elaborate. His tone, laced with sarcasm and a hint of disappointment, said enough.

”But his Beta is competent,” he continued, as if to temper his criticism, ”and their warriors—strong, disciplined. Just like they were before the second-ranking Alpha died six years ago. That man should’ve been proud to have a capable son. Unfortunately, he died too soon to teach him how to judge a person’s character.”

The Alpha King didn’t respond, but he understood. The Royal Beta was once again casting doubt, laced with scorn, on the woman rumored to be the long-lost princess—a supposed impostor.

And though neither of them said it aloud, the unspoken questions lingered between them.

Why pretend to be the missing princess? What was the motive?And more importantly, was Alpha Zion truly unaware of the truth behind the woman he brought with him?

Or was he complicit?

Then they both recalled that it was the Midnight River Pack who claimed to have found the missing princess on the front lines. Later, Elric discovered Addison with Maxwell in the forest within the Midnight River Pack’s territory. So, in that regard, they hadn’t lied — she was found there.

But what actually happened that night remained shrouded in mystery. Only the Alpha King dared to speculate before that Alpha Zion’s Luna had attacked his daughter, mistaking Addison for a mistress Zion brought back from the battlefield. And that, it was an act of jealousy that nearly cost the girl her life.

And yet, if that were truly the case... why bring back a fake princess?

The contradictions made the truth feel even further out of reach.

”Wait, wait... do you think that the woman with Alpha Zion might actually be his Luna — and that it just so happens she bears a resemblance to the princess, my daughter?” the Alpha King said, his voice thoughtful. ”After all, they did report that they found the princess on the front lines and rescued her — that part appears to be true. But it’s also true that someone from their side hurt my daughter. So maybe... maybe they came here with his Luna, not realizing we’ve already recovered the real princess.”

The Royal Beta came to a sudden halt, processing the Alpha King’s words. Now that the Alpha King had pointed it out, he realized they had overlooked key details — details that might explain the confusion. They had been so quick to assume the woman accompanying Alpha Zion was an impostor because of what the people around the capital were saying after seeing her, they’d ignored the possibility that she might actually be his Luna, with an unfortunate resemblance to the missing princess.