And more than that, even though he already knew Addison had fated mates, and he wasn’t one of them, he couldn’t bring himself to give up so easily. He knew all too well how it felt to walk away from soone he loved, how unbearable it was to think he’d never see her again. So yes, maybe it was selfish... maybe even foolish to defy the Moon Goddess’s design, but his heart refused to listen to reason.
As for Addison, the one caught in the middle of it all, she had no idea what storm was quietly building around her.
While they talked, they eventually arrived at Addison’s palace. Just like Lance had said, he waited downstairs in the guest receiving area, where the Ogas promptly served him tea and snacks. anwhile, Addison returned to her chambers.
Without wasting ti, she slipped out of her clothes and stepped into the shower. The warm water helped rinse away the tension, and more importantly, Zion’s lingering scent. She knew her father had a sharp nose and an even sharper tendency to jump to conclusions. If he caught the faintest trace of Zion on her, he’d assu she was already giving in to the mate bond and forgiving Zion far too quickly. And Addison could already hear the teasing remarks or, worse, a smug lecture.
Once she was done, perfectly tid with an Oga’s arrival to collect her used clothes, she stepped out of the bathroom. A soft towel was in her hands to dry her hair, but she made no effort to cover herself with it as she walked around her room, naked.
The Oga passed by her calmly, as if used to her unbothered deanor, and quietly closed the door behind her. Addison, unfazed, continued drying her hair as she casually walked across the room, droplets of water still glistening on her bare skin while she browsed her wardrobe for sothing fresh to wear.
"Addison, do you have a minute?" Mila’s sudden voice behind her made Addison flinch and turn around quickly, her heart skipping a beat.
"What is it?" she asked, her brows drawing together slightly as she faced Mila, who stood just two steps away. Addison hadn’t even heard her co in. She must have entered quietly with the Oga and stayed silent until the servant left.
Mila’s eyes dropped to the floor, her long lashes casting shadows over her gaze, making it hard for Addison to read her expression. Her face was calm, too calm, but sothing about her energy felt... off.
"I heard from Auntie, the Queen, that you’re officially taking the position of heir apparent," Mila began, her voice soft and hesitant. "She’s already preparing for the coronation. It’s to announce your return and show everyone that you’re stepping into your role..."
She trailed off, nervously fidgeting with her hands. Addison could sense the tension, even a flicker of envy woven into her tone, but she stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.
"I was just wondering," Mila finally said, looking up with uncertain eyes, "if you could maybe... talk to your father and mother about postponing the coronation?"
Addison’s brows imdiately drew together in a frown, but before she could say anything, Mila panicked and rushed to explain, her voice trembling and eyes wide with worry.
"Wait—I... I didn’t an anything by it! I’m just scared," Mila admitted, wringing her hands. "Right now, my family’s eyes are all on . If they realize I haven’t even had the chance to make a na for myself inside the Royal Palace, they’ll co for . Especially my halfsiblings, they’re ruthless. I’m terrified they’ll try to assassinate out of jealousy or just plain viciousness."
Addison felt her heart soften. She genuinely pitied Mila.
She knew all too well how cruel Mila’s father could be; he hadn’t even cared when his own fated mate was on her deathbed, let alone spared a thought for the child she would leave behind. The man had fathered more children than he could count, each with a different woman, and those children, along with their ambitious mothers, had long since turned into power-hungry threats.
Mila, as the only child born of his one true bond, his legitimate heir, stood in the way of their ambitions. As long as Mila and her mother remained alive, they could never beco legitimate heirs. And so, Mila was a threat they wanted to erase.
The only thing keeping her safe all this ti was the Queen’s favor and the Alpha King’s protection. As long as she remained under their watch while Addison was missing, the others kept their heads down. No one dared offend the Alpha King. He was not a man to give his brother face, not even for family.
But if Addison’s coronation as heir apparent was officially announced, it would shatter the image that had quietly ford around Mila over the years. Ever since she stayed close to the Alpha King and Queen, many in the Royal Court had begun to speculate that Mila was being grood as the future heir. The shift in power had seed almost inevitable, and many nobles had already thrown their support behind Mila, believing she would one day succeed the Alpha King.
That unspoken support had shielded her. No one dared touch her then.
But now, everything was about to change.
If it beca clear that all of it had been nothing more than a convenient illusion, that Mila was never truly in line for the throne, then those who had been holding back would surely resu their sches. Her halfsiblings, in particular, would see this as their chance to eliminate her once and for all.
To survive, Mila could only think of one desperate option: beg Addison to delay her coronation.
But Addison saw things differently. This wasn’t just about her anymore.
Right now, unrest was brewing across the werewolf kingdom, growing heavier with each passing day. Yet the announcent of her return had sparked hope in people’s hearts. People still rembered the stories told about her: how fierce a warrior she was, how massive and formidable her wolf had been. Her legend had never truly faded.
Now that she was back, while emotions were high and the kingdom was still basking in the thrill of her return, it was the perfect ti to move forward with the coronation. Striking while the iron was hot would not only affirm her position but also help stabilize the fragile morale of the kingdom. It would take pressure off the departnt leaders, who were drowning in responsibility, and give them so room to breathe.
And while the coronation would undoubtedly boost public morale, Addison knew it wasn’t a long-term solution to the kingdom’s deepening crisis. Still, delaying it would only worsen the political landscape.
If the ceremony were postponed, it would send a ssage that the Alpha King was still undecided between naming Addison or Mila as his successor. Given Addison’s long absence, the public and the court might interpret the delay as a sign that she was no longer favored.
Worse, she couldn’t rely on power to assert her claim. With her wolf still sealed, any display of strength was out of reach. For now, her only weapons were the trust of the people and her leadership skills. Until they uncovered a way to lift the curse, Addison’s options were limited, and ti was not on her side.
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