The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 128: Chapter 128 The Twins Are Sick

Noticing her father’s subtle probing, Addison quickly realized he likely knew more than he was letting on. It was becoming clear that telling her parents the truth was inevitable. Still, this wasn’t the right time—certainly not in front of everyone present, many of whom were outsiders, and definitely not in the middle of dinner.

Meeting his gaze, Addison offered a teasing smile and replied lightly, ”Father, why would I be nervous? It’s your birthday celebration, not mine.”

She added a pointed look, silently telling him, ’We’ll talk later.’

The Alpha King caught the message in her eyes, and with a satisfied hum, he returned to his meal. Truthfully, he hadn’t intended to bring it up so openly—he’d told himself he wouldn’t reopen old wounds.

But lately, his thoughts had spiraled into endless speculation. The uncertainty was beginning to weigh on him, and asking Addison directly seemed the only way to keep his imagination from running wild with baseless conclusions.

And so, they ate in comfortable silence, save for the soft, contented hums of the twins as they enjoyed their meal. The Alpha King and Queen both smiled at the familiar sound, reminded of a young Addison, who used to hum in the exact same way when she loved her food. The Queen, clearly delighted, couldn’t help but pile more food onto the twins’ plates. Fortunately, Addison was seated beside her mother and gently intervened before the boys were completely overfed by their doting grandmother.

After the meal, Addison gently handed the twins over to the Royal Guards with instructions to help them bathe and prepare for bed. She, meanwhile, would accompany her father to his study, with the Queen following closely behind.

A sense of quiet anticipation filled the air since the Alpha King would finally hear what he wanted to hear and know the truth without needing to bust his own head trying to make up conclusions in his head.

Gasp!

But they hadn’t even taken more than a few steps when a Royal Guard let out a frantic gasp. Addison’s heart skipped a beat as she spun around—only to see both of her children collapsed in the guards’ arms, their small faces flushed a deep shade of red.

Her blood ran cold.

Moments ago, they had been bubbly and full of life. How could things change so suddenly? Addison rushed to their side in a panic, her mind racing. She pressed her trembling hand against Aiden’s forehead, and the little boy whimpered, nuzzling weakly into her palm.

”They’re burning up!” she cried, voice cracking with fear. She looked up at her parents, panic flashing in her eyes. ”Take them back to their room! Call for the Royal Healer and get a doctor, now!”

Servants sprang into motion as the Alpha King and Queen quickly moved closer, their expressions equally alarmed. The twins were still so young and hadn’t awakened their wolves yet, which meant their immune systems were still fragile, vulnerable to illnesses that wouldn’t even faze adult shifters.

But what terrified Addison the most wasn’t just the fever—it was the grim possibility that clawed at the back of her mind. There had been reports of a spreading plague in the North. If someone—perhaps an Alpha—had unknowingly brought it back with them, even without direct contact, it could have reached the palace. Airborne particles, surface transfer... with children this small, it didn’t take much.

She didn’t want to leap to conclusions, but she had to consider every possibility. If it were the plague, identifying it early might be the only way to find an effective treatment. And if the illness had reached the Royal Capital...

The consequences could be catastrophic.

The Queen and the more experienced mothers among the servants believed the twins were likely experiencing a common fever, perhaps brought on by the changing weather, exhaustion from training, or a combination of both. Addison also hoped that was the case, clinging to that possibility to steady her nerves.

Still, she wasted no time and had the twins sent to their room to rest while they awaited the arrival of the Royal Healer and the palace doctor, one of the few who remained behind when the Royal Doctor and several apprentices departed for the North.

The twins’ room, a spacious suite with two queen-sized beds adorned in distinct, personalized designs, quickly quieted as the servants respectfully withdrew. A pair of Royal Guards took their posts outside the door.

Inside, the Alpha King and Queen stayed close, hovering with concern, while Mila quietly settled herself on a couch in the corner, careful not to get in the way or add to the tension already hanging in the air.

”Should we postpone the birthday celebration and initiate a full lockdown just to be safe?” the Alpha King asked suddenly, his voice low with concern.

But Addison immediately shook her head. As much as she was worried for her children, she knew they couldn’t make such a drastic decision based on uncertainty. Though it was her father’s birthday, the celebration was more than just a family event—it was a political gathering that involved many powerful Alphas. Canceling it now could spark unrest or suspicion, especially if rumors spread that the plague had reached the Royal Capital.

If this turned out to be a false alarm, the fallout would be both embarrassing and damaging. It might even give certain Alphas the opportunity to nitpick or stir trouble for their own agendas.

For now, the best course was to investigate quietly and monitor the twins closely. Addison clenched her fists. She couldn’t afford to spiral into panic. Her children were already sick—if she gave in to fear, she’d lose her grip completely.

”Let’s send people to quietly check around the Capital first—see if there are any reported cases of sudden illness,” Addison said after steadying her thoughts. ”While the remaining doctors in the medical ward examine the twins, we need to start implementing basic hygiene protocols. Inspect the cleanliness of key locations, monitor anyone who recently traveled north or lives near the border territories, and have them discreetly examined. We can present this as a routine health protocol for the safety of the Royal Family to avoid raising suspicion.”

She paused, her gaze firm. ”The banquet must proceed as planned. We can’t afford to trigger public unrest or cause a false alarm. But if we confirm that it is the plague, then we need to act fast—lock down the Capital, quarantine those affected, and immediately contact the Royal Doctor in the North to see if he’s made any progress.”

Though her voice was calm, her heart was anything but. Still, Addison knew now wasn’t the time to fall apart. Panicking or crying wouldn’t help her children—strategic thinking would.

And in that moment, seeing her so composed and decisive, even the Alpha King gave her an approving nod. His daughter had just proven herself as a leader. A true monarch—able to face a crisis with a clear mind and act swiftly for both her family and her people.

And so, the Alpha King relayed his orders to the Royal Beta through the mindlink, and the Beta immediately dispatched scouts throughout the Capital to quietly investigate. Their priority was to check for any sudden rise in the number of people getting sick, particularly in the servants’ quarters.