The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 230: Chapter 230 Rejuvinated

With that, Maxwell turned away without another word and headed back to his tent. As Alphas, both he and Zion were given their own tents, while the mages and guards shared theirs in groups of four.

Addison, who had been silently listening to the conversation outside her tent, couldn’t help but shake her head with a small smile before closing her eyes. Surprisingly, the comforting scent of Levi lingering just outside lulled her into sleep far more easily than she expected.

The ground beneath her was hard, and the constant chirping of insects could’ve been grating, but none of it bothered her. Before she knew it, sleep took over, and when she woke up, morning had already arrived.

Outside, the camp was bustling with movement. Some were busy packing up the tents, while others prepared breakfast and readied food they could eat on the road later for lunch. The soft commotion roused Addison from her sleep, and as she slowly sat up, she realized just how deeply she had slept.

She hadn’t expected to rest so well, but maybe it had something to do with her mates being close again, just like the other night. It was still a new experience for her.

Before meeting her fated mates, she always slept on time, but that didn’t mean she rested well. Her nights were often filled with memories of the past, some painful, others terrifying.

Sometimes, she dreamed of being stalked through endless, shadowy corridors by something she couldn’t see, something that felt terrifyingly real. She didn’t know who or what it was, only that it wanted her, and if it caught her, something terrible would happen.

Those dreams always ended with her running for her life, only to wake up drenched in sweat, her heart pounding like she had just escaped death.

Other nights, she relived the torment she endured in the underground dungeon. She would cry, calling out names she could barely remember, but no sound ever left her throat. In the dream, she would scream until the veins in her neck bulged, but her voice remained silent.

She had grown used to those dreams, those restless nights. So the peaceful, dreamless sleep she had last night, and even the night before, felt like a gift. Rare. Healing. For the first time in what felt like forever, she woke up feeling truly rested, rejuvenated even.

As Addison stepped out of her tent, she stretched her arms above her head, inhaling the crisp morning air laced with the scent of dew and earth. Her movement stilled when she met eyes with Zion, who was standing just outside, keeping watch.

”Good morning, Addie...” Zion greeted her softly, offering a gentle smile.

It caught her off guard. Not because she had never seen him smile like that, she had. But this was the first time that kind of gentleness was directed at her.

And that shift, that warmth meant specifically for her, stirred something unfamiliar in her chest. A quiet, uneasy mix of emotions that she wasn’t quite sure how to process. So, she gave him an awkward smile in return as she stepped fully into the morning light.

Thankfully, Lance called out to her just in time to offer a graceful exit.

”Addie, you’re up! Come take a look at the map, help us figure out if this is still the best route to take,” he said, waving her over.

On the surface, it sounded like a normal request. But the truth was far from it. Lance hadn’t called her over just for the map; he had done it to pull her away from Zion. He didn’t want to give them time to mend their relationship.

Nor did he want the other men to grow closer to her than they already were.

He knew it was selfish.

Unlike her three fated mates, Lance had no bond to rely on, nothing predetermined tying her to him. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to give up. Not without a fight. So, for now, subtle tactics like this were all he had.

Addison approached while rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Just then, Levi appeared as if out of nowhere, holding a metal mug in his hand.

”Here,” he said, offering it to her.

It was warm saline water, a simple mix of salt and water, and without hesitation, Addison took it with familiar ease. She swished the liquid in her mouth a few times to wash away her morning breath before spitting it to the side.

”Thank you,” she murmured, handing the mug back to him.

The exchange felt natural. Like muscle memory back from their previous lives in the Midnight River Pack, when she was his Luna and he was her devoted Gamma.

Levi smiled softly in return, accepting the mug without a word. Then, sensing that the others were waiting for Addison’s attention, he quietly turned around and walked away, giving her space for the morning briefing. He didn’t want to get in her way.

Lance, watching the interaction from a distance, felt a flicker of irritation rise in his chest. Levi, Zion, and Maxwell—they were constantly hovering around Addison like persistent flies. He knew he was being possessive, but he couldn’t help it. Still, he didn’t want to make Addison uncomfortable or seem overbearing, so he forced himself to keep it in check.

After regaining his composure, he gently guided Addison toward the back of the cart, where the map was already laid out. Several veteran guards and coachmen were gathered there, deep in discussion over the best route to take.

Since many of them had traveled these paths before, each spoke with confidence, but their perspectives were clashing. The coachmen argued for the fastest route, wanting to shave off as much time as possible.

However, the guards opposed that suggestion. Though the shortcut was indeed quicker, it passed through a narrow path wedged between two cliffs, a perfect spot for an ambush.

”It might save us time,” one of the veteran guards said, pointing at the map, ”but it’s also a death trap. If we’re attacked, there’s nowhere to run.”

The guards nodded grimly. ”Exactly. One wrong move, and we’ll be boxed in with no cover.”

Addison quietly listened.

The coachmen’s insistence on taking the fastest route wasn’t without reason; they were racing against time. They understood the urgency of the situation in the west and knew they needed to reach the destination as quickly as possible.

After all, this wasn’t going to be a one-time trip. With the amount of crops and livestock involved, multiple trips would be necessary, and the shorter the route, the faster they could complete the mission.

But from the guards’ point of view, safety was the top priority, especially with the princess in the convoy. The fastest route, though efficient, was a narrow path wedged between two cliffs, perfect for an ambush. If enemies or monsters struck, they’d have nowhere to retreat or take cover. It would be a death trap.

And so, the debate reached a stalemate, with both sides presenting valid concerns. This was exactly where Lance found himself in a dilemma.

As much as he wanted to remain close to Addison, but he also needed an objective third-party perspective, someone who could weigh both sides fairly and offer a rational solution.