Addison didn’t recognize the man, but sothing about him struck a chord deep inside her, a flicker of familiarity that she couldn’t quite place. More than that, a stirring sensation began to rise within her, a warmth that started to radiate from deep inside. It was unsettling. She shifted slightly, discomfort blooming in her chest, unsure of what it ant or what to do next.
And then it hit her, scents, powerful and intoxicating, drifting in from all directions, each more intense than the last. The sudden rush made her head spin. Yet she didn’t dislike them. In fact, they were the most divine fragrances she had ever encountered, each one inexplicably familiar... and utterly irresistible.
Addison closed her eyes, trying to distinguish the layers of scent lingering in the air. The first was her favorite, comforting and fresh, a citrusy blend with a touch of pine. Then ca the rich aroma of chocolate and coffee, warm and perfectly balanced, another favorite. Finally, a familiar mixture: lemon and honey, but this ti laced with soothing lavender. The combination was so decadent, so perfect, it made her stomach flutter.
The scents swirled around her, heady and overwhelming, making her feel lightheaded and weak, as though they were seeping into her very soul.
She turned to her father, wanting to ask him for answers, but the words caught in her throat. Her body felt strange—overheated, restless. As she and her father stood frozen in place at the center of it all—
A voice rumbled through the air.
"MATE!"
Then another.
"MATE!"
And another.
"MATE!"
But that wasn’t the most shocking thing to hit Addison; it struck her like a tidal wave. Amid the swirling scents and confusion, she suddenly heard it, two distinct voices echoing in her mind, both calling the sa word:
"Mate."
She stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded. Before she could even process what was happening, three n appeared before her, eyes glowing gold, their breaths ragged like starving wolves. Their primal hunger was obviously taking over their rationality, their wolves pushing to the surface, staring straight into her soul.
Even the Alpha King took a step back, his expression unreadable. He, like everyone else, knew exactly what was unfolding, and it was unprecedented.
A she-wolf with not one, not two, but three fated mates.
It had never happened in the history of their kind. The tension in the air thickened as the reality set in: if even one of the three lost control, a bloodbath could break out right here and now. Everyone instinctively held their breath, not daring to move or speak.
The three werewolves stood agitated and taut, as though caught between reverence and rage, each one staring at Addison like she was everything they had ever searched for... and might lose in the next heartbeat.
’What’s going on? Was that you, Aurora?!’
Addison’s thoughts reeled. She had heard voices in her mind, one of them unmistakably Aurora’s. The mont she recognized it, a flicker of warmth surged through her, but the second voice was unfamiliar. It was like a whisper in a dream, there one second, gone the next, fleeting and intangible.
She felt Aurora stir faintly within her, only to fall silent just as quickly. It was as if reaching out, just enough to confirm they had found their fated mate, had drained all of Aurora’s energy, leaving her quiet and unmoving inside the seal once more.
Addison’s eyes focused on the three n standing before her. Confusion warred with disbelief. She didn’t know what to feel; there was shock, recognition, and sothing deeper she couldn’t na.
Then her gaze landed on soone she least expected. He was right in front of her, breathing her in as if her scent were an addictive drug he couldn’t get enough of. Desperate. Starved.
And then there was Zion, his face so close, his gaze locked onto hers, unblinking, intense. She could feel Shura too, lingering on the surface, his eyes filled with emotion.
Regret. Pain. Self-reproach.
....
Alpha Zion’s POV
The mont I caught that scent, I knew it was Addison. And when I heard the princess had returned and just entered this very hall, I would’ve been a fool not to piece it together. But none of that mattered to right now.
All I wanted was to see her.
To apologize.
To show her how deeply I regretted everything.
The pain I inflicted on myself when I lost her, when I let my anger and hatred consu .
When my negligence allowed harm to co her way.
I’ve done a lot of self-reflection lately. And no matter how I look at it, from any angle, the truth remains the sa: Addison didn’t deserve any of it. She was a victim, through and through. And I had aid my hatred at the wrong person.
At first, I believed she had manipulated my father into marrying her to , seeking power or position as many she-wolves would have done. But now I see just how self-centered and blind I was. I arrogantly assud that because my father wanted her to be my Luna and my mate, she must have shared the sa intention.
I never stopped to consider that maybe... just maybe, she accepted it out of duty. Out of guilt. Because she knew my father had died saving her from the vampires.
Now, after catching her scent in the banquet hall and realizing she might be the missing princess, so many things finally started to make sense.
Even if she had no wolf, even if so saw her as useless, her talents in territory managent and trade were undeniable. Any pack would be lucky to have her. With her skills, she would’ve easily earned a respected position as a managent specialist, welcod and valued no matter where she went.
But in my territory... she wasn’t.
Because of .
It was my neglect, my harsh judgnt, and my cold dismissal that shaped how my pack treated her. I set the tone. I led by example, and that example condemned her. Her misery was a direct reflection of the environnt I created.
And God! How deeply I regret that now.
Thinking back on everything she could do... it all began to make sense. If Addison really was the missing princess, then her abilities, her strategic mind, and her skill in trade and territory managent were no coincidence. These were things she must have learned from royal tutors within the palace walls.
And that mont... when my father gave his life to save her... it wasn’t random. He often visited the Royal Palace. He must have recognized her, maybe even rembered her as a child. That would explain why he risked everything to protect her, even if it cost him his life.
Now, I wonder if that’s also why he insisted I take her as my mate, even after learning she had lost her mories. Maybe he wasn’t just trying to bind her to , but trying to protect . To protect the pack. To keep us from falling apart after he was gone.
Just like the reason why I wanted to protect Claire and bring her back from the battlefield, maybe my father saw Addison as a shield... a safeguard. With her royal blood, tying her to the Midnight River Pack could’ve ant future protection from the Alpha King himself, an alliance that would keep us safe until I was strong enough to lead.
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