If her future subjects were to follow her, truly follow her, she would have to confront these challenges head-on. She had to face the whispers, the shifting loyalties, and prove her worth. If she were easily shaken by soone who wasn’t even a true rival, how could she be expected to command a kingdom filled with dominant Alphas, each with their own pride and temperant?
Respect in their world ca from strength and competence. That was the very reason the Alpha King had to be the strongest, the most capable of them all. Not just to lead—but to rule over the fiercest, to make even the most dangerous among them submit, whether through diplomacy... or sheer force.
Although he knew the rumors about Mila would eventually reach Addison, he needed to see how she would respond. Would she react with anger, throw a tantrum, or feel hurt and aggrieved? Or would she rise above it, composed and dignified like a true monarch, showing everyone that such baseless talk was beneath her? A true leader does not need to prove themselves with words; they are born and raised to lead.
He wanted Addison to grow into the kind of leader who didn’t retreat when things beca difficult—strong, yet not cruel; fierce, yet just. Only by going through trials like this would she learn that complacency leads nowhere, and that worrying without action is simply a waste of precious ti.
Oddly enough, he also found himself growing excited. He knew his daughter couldn’t rember much, so it felt like teaching her everything from the beginning. But when Addison proactively requested to join the border patrol, it showed she understood her priorities. Amnesia or not, her core self hadn’t changed—and that reassured the Alpha King.
Now, his only remaining concern was the seal on her wolf.
"Alright, I trust you’re already familiar with the basic border patrol protocols—the signals and procedures. But when it cos to the patrol schedule, positioning, routes, and defensive asures, those are things you’ll need to learn directly from the Patrol Team. You may not rember everything, so listen carefully to their instructions and to the partner who’ll be assigned to you."
The Alpha King’s voice echoed softly down the hallway as they walked, sounding less like a commander and more like a concerned father.
"And rember—you can’t afford to be reckless like before. Aurora is still asleep within you, waiting for you to help her awaken. If sothing goes wrong out there, she won’t be able to protect you. That ans you have to rely solely on yourself."
Though it may have sounded like he was nagging, there was a deep worry beneath his words, tinged with a bit of nostalgia. He was reminding Addison that things had changed. She wasn’t the sa fearless warrior who could dive into battle headfirst, knowing her wolf would heal her and lend her strength. With Aurora sealed, even a single misstep against a rogue could be fatal. She had to be cautious now, more than ever—and he needed her to understand that.
Would Addison forget? Of course not.
She had spent three long years in the Midnight River Pack, living at the bottom of the pecking order. Technically, she was the Luna—but in reality, she was little more than a placeholder, a decoration. Her presence was tolerated, not respected. In terms of strength and influence, she was nearly invisible.
So no—she could never forget how weak she had once been.
And that mory was exactly what drove her now. She had to work harder, push herself further, especially with two pups depending on her. She couldn’t afford to falter. She needed to stay sharp, stay strong, and most importantly, rember.
Because rembering was the first step to breaking the curse.
"I understand, Father. Please rest assured," Addison said with a respectful bow.
She quickly turned and ran back to her room to change into a more suitable outfit for her upcoming assignnt with the patrol team. anwhile, her father had already inford the relevant departnt that his new assistant would be joining the patrol team for training. Of course, he couldn’t help but speak a few words on his daughter’s behalf, though she was still in disguise as a human male adult to keep her true identity hidden.
It wasn’t unusual for won to serve in the patrol team. Thanks to the Alpha King’s progressive stance on female warriors, driven in part by his daughter’s past achievents, many she-wolves had been inspired to step forward and join the ranks. These won took part in border patrols, repelled rogue attacks, and faced dangerous monsters just like their male team from the sa patrol team. Their outstanding results silenced any doubts, and female warriors were now treated as equals.
This shift in perception had begun with Addison herself. Even before anyone knew she was the princess, she’d proven her worth—outperforming many of her peers during training, defeating seasoned warriors, and unintentionally gathering a group of she-wolves who looked up to her as a role model.
If Addison were to return now in her true form, she would be instantly recognized. She still looked much the sa as she had six years ago, the only major difference being her once-golden hair now turned to a striking silver-white. Her reappearance would undoubtedly stir excitent and curiosity. Prying eyes might beco too curious, and with her father’s birthday celebration just around the corner, she couldn’t risk any disruptions.
Besides, compared to her strong and heroic past, Addison now appeared more like a paper tiger. Disguised as a human male adult, it was easy for others to assu she was simply there to observe, not to fight—let alone shift into a wolf. That misunderstanding worked in her favor, making her presence easier to explain and less likely to raise suspicions.
When she arrived at the patrol team’s office, the atmosphere was already lively. The room buzzed with excitent over the arrival of the so-called new assistant—soone who had apparently left a strong impression on the departnt leaders during the morning court etings.
Unbeknownst to Addison, word of her foresight and competence had started to spread. For her, it had rely been a matter of offering suggestions and gently steering discussions in a more productive direction. She didn’t feel as if she’d made any significant contributions.
But to the departnt leaders and nobles, her insights had been more than enough. She had demonstrated a well-rounded grasp of trade, politics, strategy, and situational awareness. Her quiet strength and clarity of thought had not gone unnoticed—and that alone was enough to spark admiration and curiosity.
When word spread that the impressive new assistant from the court etings would be joining their squad for training, curiosity ran high. Those who hadn’t yet started their shifts lingered at the patrol office, eager to catch a glimpse of this person. So, when Addison stepped forward and knocked lightly on the already wide-open door to announce her arrival, all eyes imdiately turned to her.
They scanned her from head to toe, skepticism flickering across their faces. The n in particular frowned and exchanged glances. No matter how they looked at Addison, sothing didn’t quite add up—she was simply too short for a man.
___
Thank you, Arbana_Xhelili, Sarah_Brennan_6131, Tallahassee_Slim, Colleen_Sikorski, Dreamfyre, and DaoistzYi3Iz, for the Golden tickets and the gifts! Thank you so, so much! (✿^з^)☆
User Comments
0 comments from readers