The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 552: Chapter 552 Way Back Home

Before leaving, Addison turned to Mary, her voice gentler now. ”Once you’re done here, come with the Royal Beta and find me, alright?”

”I will. Thank you, Princess, and have a safe journey,” Mary replied with a bright nod, watching as the carriages began to roll away, their forms slowly fading into the distance. Addison and her three fated mates shared a single carriage, while Archmage Elric and his mages occupied the three behind them, the small convoy moving steadily toward home.

Only now did the tension in Addison’s shoulders begin to ease. The pressure slowly slipped away, and before she even realized it, sleep claimed her. Her head tilted, coming to rest against Zion’s shoulder.

Zion stilled when he noticed. For a moment, he simply watched her, then, carefully, he shifted. One arm slid around her as he gently pulled her closer, guiding her onto his lap so she could rest more comfortably.

The carriage rattled over the uneven road, but in his arms, she was steadier, sheltered from the constant jolt. Exhaustion had finally taken its due, pulling her under after everything she had been holding in.

And this time, she didn’t fight it.

”Now that the West has been settled... have any of you identified the spy among them?” Levi asked, his voice low as his gaze shifted from Zion to Maxwell.

Zion gently tucked a loose strand of Addison’s hair behind her ear, adjusting her slightly so she rested more securely against him. Only then did he nod. ”Mm. I found two, right at the last minute. I reported it to the Royal Beta. He said he’d handle it quietly... didn’t want to alert them and risk them taking their own lives once cornered.”

Levi’s eyes narrowed slightly at that. ”Are they the same ones who went with you to gather materials outside?”

”No,” Zion replied quietly. ”They stayed behind at the temporary camp. They were the ones stirring trouble while we were away.”

He shifted slightly, keeping Addison steady as he continued. ”As for the ones watching us... I believe they were using animals, either familiars or creatures controlled by Dark Witches. I only caught on after Addison dealt with that oversized bat.”

Maxwell gave a small nod in agreement. ”I noticed it too,” he added. ”There was a sparrow that kept circling us during the journey. At first, I brushed it off, but it stayed on the same path the entire time. Too consistent to be a coincidence.”

His gaze darkened slightly. ”It tried to stay subtle, but against heightened senses like ours, it wasn’t enough. An Alpha doesn’t miss a tail that persistent.”

After hearing their explanation, Levi gave a slow nod. The tension that had once coiled in his chest was no longer there. Earlier, Addison had given him just enough reassurance and confidence to steady himself, and now, he no longer felt overshadowed by Zion or Maxwell, or felt useless for failing to notice the spies’ actions in the camp.

He had his own responsibility.

He had been guarding the supplies.

And the fact that the spies never managed to tamper with them, that alone was significant. They had already gone after the livestock, nearly poisoning them to death. If they had reached the grains and vegetables stored as well... the consequences would have been far worse.

At best, the supplies could have been destroyed. At worst, they could have been poisoned and distributed to their people, leading to mass casualties and unimaginable damage.

Levi exhaled quietly, grounding himself in that realization. He had done his part.

And that was enough.

With nothing more to add to Zion and Maxwell’s report, he simply remained silent.

After exchanging information and confirming that Levi had kept the grains and supplies untouched, both Zion and Maxwell let out quiet breaths of relief. If even the stored grains had been compromised, it would have only added to Addison’s burden, and she had already endured enough.

Exhaustion soon settled over them, but none of them allowed themselves to fully relax. Though Royal Guards escorted them back to the Royal Capital, caution still held firm.

They closed their eyes but only lightly. Even in rest, they remained alert.

Lance, on the other hand, trailed behind Addison’s convoy, his expression shadowed. He had wanted to ride with her, wanted even a moment at her side, but she hadn’t called for him. So he remained where he was, at the rear, just another guard returning after completing his duty.

Their mission had ended cleanly. They had escorted the rescued pack members from the West to the borders of the Royal Capital, and with the Royal Beta taking over, there was nothing left for him to do but return, report, and rest.

Yet the result left him hollow.

He hadn’t closed the distance between them. Hadn’t made her notice him, not enough, not in the way he wanted. The thought festered, something sharp and restless coiling in his chest. All he wanted was to stand beside her, and yet it felt impossibly far out of reach.

It was unacceptable.

The frustration simmered, but he forced it down, keeping his face composed. He wouldn’t let it show, not where she might see it. Not where she might misunderstand him.

So, Lance had no choice but to trail behind the convoy, his gaze fixed on the carriage where Addison rested. He stared at it with such intensity that it was as if he could burn a hole through the wood itself, so he could catch even a glimpse of her silhouette if he tried hard enough.

But the journey didn’t last long.

They were already near the borders of the Royal Capital, and with the pace they maintained, it only took two days to arrive. They didn’t stop to rest, eating on the move, because everything had been arranged in advance by the Royal Beta. For werewolves, the strain was manageable. Their endurance carried them through without issue.

If anything, it only confirmed one thing for Zion, Maxwell, Levi... and even Addison—

Their return was urgent, and their presence was needed in the Royal Capital.

So no one suggested slowing down. No one asked the Royal Guards to halt. They simply endured the journey as it was.

Inside the carriage, they adjusted as needed, taking turns holding Addison into their laps to steady her against the constant jolts of the uneven road, making sure, at the very least, she wouldn’t have to bear the full discomfort of it alone.

Addison had tried to protest, insisting she could sit on her own instead of remaining in her fated mates’ laps, but none of them listened. To them, it wasn’t even a question. However firm and muscular their bodies were, they were still a far better choice than the rigid wooden seats of the carriage.

In the end, she had no choice but to give in.

The others, unfortunately, weren’t as fortunate.

The mages, including Archmage Elric, had to endure the journey the hard way. Two days of relentless travel over uneven roads left them shifting uncomfortably, their backsides sore from the constant jolting. By the end of it, they were certain bruises had already formed, every bump a fresh reminder of just how unforgiving the ride had been.