Chapter 200

The Conclusion

“What’s your answer?” Addison asked, her stance firm and uncompromising.

Seeing her like this, Leon felt a pang of guilt. He knew he had overstepped; his actions had been too forceful, and no matter his reasons, they had pushed Addison into a corner. Of course, she would be guarded now. But even in this situation, he sensed an opportunity, not to overpower her, but to get closer.

He suspected Addison intended to use him and his tribe as a spare blade against her enemies, and strangely, he didn’t mind. If being “used” meant staying in her orbit, and perhaps gaining leverage to make his own request in the future, he’d take that chance. He would retreat now, if only to advance later.

He noticed the priestess from his tribe looking displeased. Their position had shifted; they had lost the upper hand in the negotiation. Although they had managed to bind Addison to Leon through the false mate bond, it was clear she had no intention of submitting. She wasn’t someone who could be controlled.

Still, even if they no longer held the reins, it wasn’t as if they were walking away empty-handed.

The priestess, catching Leon’s gaze, quickly lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together, swallowing whatever words she had planned to say.

“I agree,” Leon said at last. “We’ll follow your arrangement and cooperate with your kingdom. My only condition is that you provide food for us each month. Of course, we’re not asking for charity; we’ll work for it. So, I believe this makes it a fair and equal treaty, doesn’t it?”

He looked at Addison directly, his earlier arrogance and domineering presence stripped away. Now, there was only sincerity in his gaze, as if he would truly abide by whatever decision she gave.

Addison raised an eyebrow. If Leon truly believed this treaty would be equal, then he was dreaming.

She was certain, if she had lost their earlier duel, Leon would have forced her to follow his terms without question. She wouldn’t even be given a voice in the matter. So now that she had won, and Leon had willingly left the arrangement in her hands, she had every right to treat this as she saw fit.

If providing food was the price, then fine, but they would have to work for every bite.

Feeding the Tigrens wasn’t cheap. Unlike werewolves, who maintained a balanced diet of meat, vegetables, and dairy, the Tigren were carnivores through and through, consuming large amounts of meat and fish, with only the occasional fruit or vegetable. And between the two, fish, especially the high-grade, favored by the Tigren, was the most expensive.

So, if Leon and his tribe wanted to eat, they’d have to earn it. As far as Addison was concerned, they were going to be her free labor, her well-fed donkeys.

But just as she was lost in thought, a sudden shiver crawled up her spine, and the hair on her arms stood on end. Her senses, always sharp, flared in warning.

When she looked up, her eyes met Leon’s, and the intensity of his gaze made her freeze. His eyes slowly roamed from her face down the length of her body, dark with hunger. He wasn’t alone.

As if waking from a daze, she turned and caught Zion, Lance, Maxwell, and Levi all staring at her with the same expression, raw desire, and barely restrained longing. Meanwhile, Elric and the Royal Advisor had pointedly averted their eyes, stiff and uncomfortable, clearly trying to remain respectful.

It was only then that Addison realized that she was still naked.

She had been so focused on the negotiation, so absorbed in strategy and power dynamics, that the state of her nakedness had completely slipped her mind. But now, with the tension in the room easing and the immediate threat of conflict fading, the atmosphere had shifted. Their restraint was fraying at the edges.

And of course, with her smooth, fair skin, striking figure, and unapologetic presence, she was hard to ignore, especially in this vulnerable state. Three of her fated mates were present, and the fourth, Leon, though only falsely bound to her, seemed just as affected by the invisible thread tugging at their instincts.

The Priestess cleared her throat, making her presence known before stepping forward to help ease Addison out of her awkward situation. She gently guided Addison toward a different tent, offering an escape from the lingering stares.

But this time, Addison was guarded. She didn’t trust the older Tigren woman, not after what had already transpired. Her movements were stiff, cautious, and the tension between them didn’t go unnoticed. The Priestess’s lips twitched, clearly offended by the mistrust, but she said nothing. She knew she’d earned that suspicion.

Instead, she simply handed Addison a new set of clothes, ones clearly better than the last. This outfit was more formal, more substantial. The outer layer was a deep forest green adorned with intricate golden embroidery along the hems. Unlike before, the set came with a pair of thin white pants to provide modesty and protection from the breeze.

The robe itself had long sleeves with elegant slits running down each side. Gold-threaded ties were stitched near the elbows and cuffs, allowing the wearer to fasten them tighter if needed. The design was clever, open enough to let air flow freely with each movement, keeping the wearer cool without sacrificing dignity or style.

After a brief moment of hesitation, the Priestess finally spoke, her fingers nervously fidgeting.”Princess Addison… I want to apologize for my actions.”

Addison’s gaze turned cold. “Don’t think an apology is enough,” she said flatly. “If you want forgiveness, earn it. And let me be clear, if you ever try pulling something like that on me again, I won’t hesitate to retaliate.”

Her voice was firm, her tone unyielding. She wasn’t just making a threat; she was drawing a line. She wanted the Priestess to understand that she wasn’t someone to be manipulated or pushed around. The only reason she was letting this go, for now, was because she couldn’t afford to make another enemy. Not at this moment.

As much as she hated it, she needed more allies, not fewer. Not just for her own protection, but for her kingdom, and more importantly, for the little ones who depended on her.

After making her point, the Priestess wisely fell silent. She knew that saying anything more might only worsen the situation or lead to another mistake. So, without another word, she simply guided Addison back.

When they returned, they were met with a tense scene. Addison’s mates were growling, on the verge of lunging at Leon, who stood smugly at the center of the tent, completely unbothered by the four furious werewolves closing in on him. He looked almost amused by their rage.