That was why, when Zion’s father rescued her, she vowed to be useful to his pack in any way she could. The forr Alpha had died saving her. She carried the weight of that guilt, so when his dying wish was revealed by the pack elders and told her that she should beco Zion’s chosen mate and support his growth, she accepted without hesitation. To her, it was a chance to repay a life-saving debt. A second chance at life.
But everything changed when she discovered the truth—that she wasn’t wolfless, that she was the princess of the werewolf kingdom, and that she had a wolf.
Aurora.
A majestic white wolf, the symbol of the Moon Goddess herself.
That knowledge rekindled sothing inside her. Her shattered confidence began to piece itself back together. Her will to break the curse that sealed her wolf surged stronger than ever. She had a purpose now—she wasn’t abandoned, she was abducted. She wasn’t wolfless, she was cursed. And sowhere deep within her, Aurora was waiting.
And this ti, Addison would fight to rember, to reclaim her power, and to reunite with her other half.
"Yes, Father," Addison replied with calm conviction. "I also need real combat experience—sothing that tests my ability to respond in a crisis, to think clearly under pressure, and to stay prepared at all tis. Sparring in a controlled environnt is one thing, but a real battle against unpredictable opponents is entirely different. This is the best way for to train and grow stronger."
Her voice was steady, but what she said ca from deep within her heart.
"Besides," she continued, "your birthday banquet is fast approaching. We can’t predict what might happen that day, and I refuse to stand idly by. I don’t want people to think that your successor is useless or beyond redemption."
Addison knew she was in a difficult position. As the heir apparent and future Alpha King, the weight of expectations rested heavily on her shoulders. The pressure was imnse. But even more than that, she knew how critical others would be. Every move she made would be scrutinized, every mistake magnified. And now, with her cousin growing ever closer to her parents, the comparisons were inevitable.
But she wouldn’t allow herself to fall short—not again.
It wasn’t that Addison had anything against Mila—far from it. But she wasn’t blind or deaf. After spending three years under scrutiny in the Midnight River Pack, she had developed a heightened sensitivity to how people thought and moved. Even without hearing the whispers directly, she could sense the shift.
Many were starting to believe that Mila was being favored by the Alpha King and Queen. Rumors were likely circulating that Mila might be in the running for succession. Several departnt leaders had already begun looking at Mila with favor. After all, aside from the Royal Beta, a few palace servants, the Royal Guards, the Royal Mage, the Royal Doctor, the Royal Healer, and the Royal Advisor—no one else knew Addison had returned.
Having been absent for so long, it wouldn’t be surprising if many assud she had died. In that void, people naturally began pinning their hopes on Mila. Her close relationship with the Alpha King and Queen only fueled the speculation, becoming evidence in itself to those watching from the sidelines.
In politics, this was expected. Factions would inevitably rise in situations like this. Nobles and officials alike would start choosing sides, betting on the leader they believed would bring the most benefit, either for the kingdom or, more often, for themselves.
In the past, Addison could let her strength speak for itself. She was the uncontested heir to the Alpha King’s title by birthright and by rit. She had prepared herself for the responsibility, and not just in terms of leadership. Yes, she had the qualifications: a sharp mind, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of trade and governance. She was, by all ans, a jack of all trades. But in their world, that wasn’t enough.
In the world of werewolves, strength reigns supre. The Alpha King is not just a ruler, but the strongest among all, physically dominant, commanding both fear and respect.
Addison had once possessed that strength. But now, without her wolf, she could barely be called a werewolf at all. Her power had faded, and with it, the fear and respect that ca naturally before. Who would follow a leader who couldn’t fight? Who would respect an Alpha without the strength to protect her people?
Worse, her enemies might see this weakness as an opportunity—not just to challenge her, but to destabilize the kingdom itself. That was sothing she couldn’t allow.
So Addison knew what she had to do. She had to work harder than ever before. She had to train, to sharpen every skill she had, and to rise above her limitations. Only then could she reclaim the power she once held—and the future that was always ant to be hers.
But above all else, Addison needed her wolf—her source of strength, her partner, her missing half.
The determination in her eyes carried a weight her words didn’t say. And as the Alpha King looked into his daughter’s gaze, he sighed in defeat, nodding at her request. He didn’t need her to explain. As her father, he could read between the lines.
Even though he had tried to shield her from the palace gossip—filtering the rumors and keeping her na out of the political crossfire—he knew Addison wasn’t naive. She was intelligent and perceptive. It was only a matter of ti before she sensed the shift in power dynamics around her.
He knew what people were saying. That Mila, with her growing presence beside the Queen and her active role in palace affairs, might be a viable successor. In the past, he would’ve crushed such talk before it gained traction—he would’ve nipped it in the bud for Addison’s sake. But this ti, things were different.
Mila had done nothing wrong. She hadn’t sched or overstepped. In fact, during Addison’s disappearance, Mila had been a source of strength for his mate, helping her endure the hardest days. The people creating factions and whispering of Mila’s candidacy were the ones stirring unrest, not Mila herself.
And so, the Alpha King chose to watch. To observe.
There was no real harm yet—no betrayal, no open challenge. This situation could still be contained. And perhaps, it could serve another purpose. A test. A chance for his daughter to rise again, to reclaim her rightful place—not just because she was born for it, but because she would prove she was worthy of it.
After all, as a ruler—as a monarch—dealing with rumors, factions, and power-hungry opportunists was nothing new. These kinds of people were always lurking in the shadows, waiting for weakness to show. As the current Alpha King, they still bowed their heads to him, obeyed his commands. But respect wasn’t sothing he could pass down like a crown or a title—it had to be earned.
Addison needed to earn it.
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It’s a good day today, everyone! I wanted to especially ntion my little Goddesses whose support keeps going. Thank you for the Golden Tickets, Jenni_Toney_9894, Cam_Evans_1336, Jessica_5598, and Arbana_Xhelili!!!!
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