The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 568: Chapter 568 Leon’s Arrival 2

And now, they had.

Their arrival couldn’t have been more timely.

Just moments ago, the elders had questioned the kingdom’s military strength, arguing that turning warriors into farmers would leave the werewolves vulnerable. Yet with the Tigren Clan now swearing their allegiance to her, that concern had become laughably insignificant.

Even if every werewolf devoted themselves to rebuilding the land, who would dare invade when the Tigren Clan stood watch over the territory?

With Leon, the incarnation of the God of War and King of All Tigrens, leading the defense alongside her Alpha mates, who on the continent could possibly contend with such overwhelming might?

The answer was simple.

No one.

The realization struck the outspoken elder like a merciless slap across the face.

The color drained from his features as his confident expression crumbled into disbelief. His lips parted, yet no words came. Staring blankly at Addison as though seeing her for the first time, his knees weakened beneath him, and he collapsed back into his seat with a heavy plop.

Utterly defeated.

He could no longer find a single argument to oppose her.

”Good! Good! Excellent!”

The Alpha King’s booming laughter thundered throughout the hall, rich with undisguised delight.

After all, Addison had already informed him of everything that had transpired in the Tigren Clan when she acquired the biochemical agent. She had even warned him that the Tigren Clan would likely come to the Royal Capital sooner rather than later. Amid the chaos brought by the Red Devourer, however, the matter had slipped to the back of his mind.

Now that the report had arrived, he couldn’t have been more pleased.

He threw his head back and laughed heartily, his booming voice echoing through the council hall like rolling thunder. His laughter carried an unmistakable note of ridicule, directed squarely at the elder who had so confidently questioned Addison moments ago. The old man’s pride was stripped bare before everyone present.

With a loud smack, the Alpha King slammed his palm onto the table, the sharp crack startling the entire assembly.

”Hurry! Invite the Tigren Chieftain inside!”

His command rang through the chamber with unquestionable authority.

He wanted every fool who had dared challenge his daughter’s judgment to witness the truth with their own eyes. Let them see the terrifying warrior who had chosen to stand beside Addison. Let them ask themselves whether they could withstand even a single strike from the King of All Tigrens before daring to question her authority again.

Truthfully, the Alpha King still hadn’t forgiven Leon for forcefully claiming Addison as his chosen mate before the Tigren God. The memory alone had once made his wolf bristle with fury, and he had nearly marched to where the Tigren Chieftain was to settle the score himself.

That grievance had not disappeared.

It had merely been set aside.

A man capable of commanding the entire Tigren Clan, a warrior revered as the incarnation of the God of War, was an ally too valuable to reject outright. There would be time to settle accounts between fathers and sons-in-law later.

Across the hall, however, Zion, Maxwell, and Levi wore expressions as dark as gathering storm clouds.

The report had reminded them of the one person they had almost managed to forget.

Leon.

The infuriating bastard had come all the way to the Royal Capital.

Claire’s expression darkened, but she forced herself to keep the scowl from surfacing.

Watching Addison stand at the center of everyone’s admiration was like swallowing poison. Every word of praise directed at her fanned the flames of Claire’s hatred, burning hotter with each passing second.

Yet she remained perfectly silent.

She couldn’t afford to make another mistake.

The Alpha King had only recently punished her, and she had painstakingly crafted the image of a frightened, remorseful daughter who had finally realized the error of her ways. Timid. Obedient. Broken.

That illusion was all that protected her.

If she allowed even a crack to appear in that mask, the Alpha King would undoubtedly grow suspicious again. Worse, he might strip her of the privileges she had only just managed to retain, barring her from appearing before the public or participating in crucial royal meetings like this one. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Even though her newfound father favored and protected her, she knew full well that he was nowhere near powerful enough to challenge the Alpha King.

So she endured.

She buried her fury.

She smothered the hatred threatening to consume her whole.

But as the Royal Guard captain continued his report, describing how the mighty Tigren Clan had sworn their loyalty to Addison, Claire felt as though invisible hands were squeezing the air from her lungs.

The color drained from her face before returning in ugly blotches of green, pale white, and furious crimson. Jealousy gnawed at her heart like a ravenous beast, each revelation driving its fangs deeper.

’Why...?’

’Why do the strongest men always choose her?’

’Why does everything fall into Addison’s hands?’

She screamed those questions over and over inside her mind until they became a deafening roar.

Her eyes slowly reddened with murderous intent, the hatred within them so fierce that she feared someone might notice. She could barely suppress the bloodlust threatening to spill from her gaze.

Quickly, she lowered her head, hiding the grotesque twist of her features.

But then...

She caught it.

That faint, smug, knowing smile on Addison’s lips.

It was subtle.

Almost imperceptible.

Yet to Claire, it was the final spark thrown onto a mountain of dry tinder.

Her entire body trembled with barely restrained rage.

She bit down so hard on her lower lip that sharp pain exploded through her mouth. Her teeth ground together with such force that her gums split open, warm blood flooding across her tongue.

The metallic taste only sharpened her hatred.

Still...

She endured.

For now.

One day, she swore, she would wipe that infuriating smile from Addison’s face forever.

The loyal ministers, elders, and Alphas who had remained steadfastly devoted to the Alpha King stood frozen in stunned silence. Shock rippled through the hall as disbelief gave way to utter awe.

Addison had only just returned to the Royal Family after disappearing for years, yet in such a short span of time she had overturned everything they thought impossible. She had already resolved one of the kingdom’s greatest crises, won the respect of countless people, and now... she had returned with an unimaginable powerhouse willing to stand as the kingdom’s protector.

And then came the declaration that left every heart pounding.

His chosen mate.

The words echoed through the hall, simple yet carrying a weight so immense that no one could ignore them. They understood what the title implied, yet at the same time, they couldn’t fully comprehend it.

A union between different races was virtually unheard of.

Every tale recorded throughout history spoke only of tragedy, bloodshed, rejection, and ruin. Cross-race bonds had never ended well, making them little more than forbidden legends whispered in fear.

Yet here stood the Chieftain of the Tigren Clan, declaring before the entire royal court, without the slightest hesitation, that Addison was his chosen mate.

It wasn’t merely a confession.

It was a vow.

A declaration to every soul present that Addison belonged at his side, and that he would never abandon her, never surrender her, and never allow anyone to take her away. His resolve was absolute, his possessiveness laid bare for all to witness.

It was both breathtaking... and deeply unsettling.

For if someone with such overwhelming strength had chosen Addison above all else, then anyone foolish enough to threaten her would not merely earn his anger; they would be inviting the full wrath of the Tigren Clan upon themselves.

Even the Alpha King regarded Addison with undisguised perplexity. Although his daughter had already relayed the gist of what had happened, he was just as stunned as everyone else. A cross-race union was something unheard of, something that had never existed in the history of either race.

Yet beneath his disbelief was unmistakable exhilaration.

The Tigren Clan, a race renowned for their overwhelming strength and fierce independence, had willingly chosen to stand behind Addison. While they could technically be considered external allies, their allegiance carried a far greater meaning.

It was undeniable proof of Addison’s extraordinary charisma, her commanding presence, and the kind of leadership capable of earning the loyalty of even the most powerful and prideful beings.

That single revelation struck harder than any speech or political maneuver ever could. It became infinitely more difficult for anyone harboring hidden agendas or lingering doubts to question her competence, challenge her authority, or dismiss her worthiness as the future ruler.

After all, power recognized power, and the Tigren had chosen Addison.

The Alpha King turned to Addison. Seeing her composed expression and the faint nod she gave in response, a broad smile spread across his face.

”Good! Invite them in. Arrange for the Tigren Clan to be settled in one of our guest villas for now. As for the Tigren Chieftain, escort him directly to the Royal Palace and have him join this meeting immediately.”