The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 395: Chapter 395 Arrival

「On Zion’s side...」

As soon as Zion dashed out from the temporary shelter, he ran through the forest at full speed. Yet even in his urgency, he carefully avoided low-hanging branches and thick bushes, anything that might scratch Addison’s exposed face.

Mary couldn’t cover her completely with the blanket, fearing she might suffocate, so Zion made sure to choose the safest route possible.

He compensated for the longer path with sheer speed, his powerful strides cutting through the forest like a blur. By the time the sun neared its peak, he had already reached the perimeter close to the Golden Hue Pack.

But then he stopped.

A few thin trails of black smoke rose from the direction of the pack. His chest tightened, his heart pounding violently against his ribs. He didn’t want to believe what his eyes were telling him, but deep down, he knew something terrible had happened while they were away.

He paused only for a brief moment before charging toward the Golden Hue Pack, a new fear thundering in his chest as Addison’s condition flashed in his mind. His earlier suspicion now burned even stronger.

As he crossed the border of the pack, a thick, metallic stench of blood hit him, heavy and suffocating. The reek clung to the air and the forest floor alike, forcing him to scrunch his nose and narrow his eyes.

Still, he didn’t slow down. He couldn’t sense any presence nearby, which told him the danger had long passed, but that knowledge brought little comfort.

By chance, he had entered through a section of the forest near his former post, midway between his area and Maxwell’s. Yet the silence was unsettling, no guards, no movement, nothing. The emptiness gnawed at him, tightening the unease twisting in his gut.

’Is the situation really that bad?’ Zion thought grimly as his gaze swept over the scene. Bodies were scattered across the ground, some so mangled they were barely recognizable, others with faces still intact but smeared with dried blood.

Judging by their tattered clothes and unfamiliar faces, Zion quickly realized they weren’t members of the Golden Hue Pack. The stench of decay mixed with that distinct, foul odor only rogues carried confirmed it; these were outsiders.

The rogues had attacked.

His mind raced, recalling the string of rogue attacks that had plagued his own territory. A sickening thought clicked into place, and his chest tightened. He grew even more protective, wanting to keep Addison safe. The Golden Hue Pack may have been attacked and was now in a sorry state, but at that moment, he couldn’t help feeling a grim sense of relief that he’d kept Addison away last night.

Because if his suspicion was right... the attack might not have been random at all. It could be connected to her, just like the relentless rogue incursions that had haunted his territory for years. And now, the pieces were starting to fit together in the worst possible way.

The timing of the rogue attack felt almost too coincidental, striking precisely when Addison was nearby, along with the plan he had heard Greg and Chase had talked about in the forest, only proved all of these.

In a way, they were lucky that she had stayed behind the temporary shelter that night, overseeing its construction and guiding Mary on how the walls should be built, where the traps should be placed, and how to secure everyone’s safety before returning.

Had they followed the original plan, Zion and Addison would have simply explained everything to Mary and then returned to the Golden Hue Pack, leaving her to carry on. There were still other batches of evacuees waiting, not only from their own pack but from surrounding ones as well, and they lacked the time to escort them all.

But if they had stuck to that plan, Zion and Addison themselves might have walked straight into the rogue ambush. The thought of what could have happened made his stomach churn, and he didn’t want to imagine the worst.

The deeper he ran into the forest, the more the stench of blood assaulted his senses, making his head throb painfully. Pushing himself even faster, his paws tore into the earth, leaving deep, heavy prints behind.

When he finally burst out of the trees, the scene that greeted him was devastating: burned houses and scorched fields, with people scrambling frantically to douse the flames licking the remnants of their homes.

But before he could even get close, he saw Alpha Hue in his wolf form, sprinting from the other side of the forest. Zion didn’t even have a chance to approach him and ask about the situation.

Alpha Hue, as if oblivious to Zion’s presence, raced like the wind toward the packhouse, flanked by his Beta and two other warriors, likely his Gamma and an elite warrior. Seeing their urgent, panicked movements, Zion’s eyes narrowed, and his anxiety spiked. He fell in behind them.

Fortunately, Alpha Hue and his entourage headed straight for the medical ward near the packhouse. It was a stroke of luck because Zion didn’t have to search for Alpha Hue separately, and he could get Addison to the medical staff without delay.

Still, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the chaos. He needed to confirm his suspicions because if they were true, the danger surrounding Addison was far greater than anyone had feared.

When Zion saw Alpha Hue and the others dash toward the open door of the small hospital, he followed immediately, desperate to find a nurse to help Addison. But the moment he stepped inside, there was no one in sight.

The silence and somber atmosphere told him everything; there were likely many injured, perhaps even those who had died in the attack.

Yet the stillness felt wrong. Normally, the ward should be bustling, staff rushing to aid the injured. Then, faint footsteps reached his ears. They were distant, probably deeper inside where Alpha Hue had headed. Zion followed the scent, moving swiftly to where the crowd of people had gathered.

Not far away, he spotted Alpha Hue, now back in human form, still covered in blood, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His eyes were drawn to the bright red sign above the door: ”Operating Room.” His heart clenched; he felt that every answer he sought was behind that door.

Slowly, he approached. The moment his massive, midnight-black wolf form neared, his oppressive aura radiated outward, making everyone in the room tense.

Those who had been frozen in shock finally turned to see him, noticing immediately the bundle strapped to his back and the thing clenched in his jaws.

”Alpha Zion?!” Alpha Hue called out, shock and panic flashing across his face, though he tried to mask it. Zion noticed the brief flicker of guilt and fear in his eyes, subtle but unmistakable. His grip on the rope in his jaws tightened instinctively. He wanted to speak, but he couldn’t because he was still in wolf form and with Addison strapped to his back, shifting was impossible.

Instead, he moved to the side, giving Alpha Hue a clear view of Addison and signaling him to help untie her. Only then did everyone realize that the bundle on Zion’s back was the princess. Her flushed face and uneven breathing immediately drew their attention.