Chapter 236
Her mind was racing, running through every possible consequence if her wolf fully overtook her body. Maybe the reason Saintess Silas hadn’t detected it before was because of the seal. But now… that seal was cracking. And the cracks were growing.
If Maxwell was right, then the wolf that emerged the other day might have been Aurora, but not entirely. Something had changed.
Addison took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind. No matter how much she overthought it, she wouldn’t find all the answers right now. It was better to focus on what mattered at the moment.
Now that she had explained everything, it felt like everyone was finally on the same page. At least now, they would stop jumping to conclusions about her being possessed by a succubus. And more importantly, she had more allies, people who understood her situation and would help keep her secret… and protect her if needed.
“Don’t worry, Addie. I’ll protect you,” Levi said suddenly, reaching out to take her hand. He was seated close, so it was easy for him to close the gap and gently squeeze her fingers.
Levi always knew just how to ease her worries. The warmth of his touch grounded her, and for the first time in a while, Addison felt herself truly calm down.
Then Zion chimed in, his tone matter-of-fact. “So… about the feeding. Should we set a schedule?”
Addison blinked, confused. “Feeding? What feeding?”
“Maxwell just said it’s best if you feed your wolf with men’s vitality of your own volition,” Zion began, his tone almost too casual. “That way, it won’t take over your body, you stay in control, no one gets hurt, and you decide how much vitality to give. Which means… we’d have to participate in the feeding, right? And that also means we’d have to mate.”
He let the rest hang in the air, deliberately leaving the implications for everyone else to absorb.
As soon as Addison processed what he said, her expression darkened. ‘Seriously?’ This man never missed a chance to push her buttons or take advantage of a situation. After everything they’d just discussed, this was where Zion chose to focus? The “feeding”?
Still… he wasn’t wrong.
It was the most crucial part of the issue now, and something they couldn’t afford to ignore. But even so, Addison couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d somehow be giving in, losing something, if she let Zion use the situation as an excuse to get closer under the guise of necessity.
But when Addison glanced at Zion, looking so serious, as if he were only concerned for her, she felt her exasperation spike. ‘This man!’ She was so frustrated that she nearly felt like coughing up blood. Rather than wasting more energy, she simply chose to ignore him altogether.
“Buddy, you’re way too obvious,” Shura chimed in, its voice dripping with mockery inside Zion’s mind. “You just want an excuse to hump and mate. Don’t act like you’re being noble; you saw an opportunity and jumped on it. Tsk. Shameless.”
There was clear disdain in its tone, and it only made Zion bristle.
“Shut it,” Zion growled, the frustration in his voice barely restrained. “I was just stating the facts. Maxwell was the one who suggested it in the first place. Why don’t you mock him?”
But no one seemed to care for his defense. Addison was now clearly ignoring him, still letting Levi hold her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Zion’s jealousy flared hotter than ever, but he didn’t dare interfere. He already knew she was displeased with him, and if he acted rashly, she might end up hating him all over again.
So, he stayed where he was, sulking in the corner of the cart, stewing in his own bitterness and anger while Maxwell simply sneered at him, silently mocking his stupidity.
The guard who had come to check on them paused at the sight before him. One of the Alphas—Zion, no less—was sulking in the corner, looking scorned, pitiful, and downright miserable.
The guard didn’t know whether to cough to break the tension or laugh out loud… but either reaction might get him killed.
Because if Zion realized someone had seen him like this, it would be a social death for an Alpha—and likely a literal one for the unfortunate witness. Bristling pride and fragile egos weren’t a mix he wanted to get tangled in.
So, he quietly retreated, slipping away like a shadow and deciding to let someone else deliver the message instead.
Not long after, a different guard arrived and addressed them with a respectful bow. “Princess Addison, Alpha Maxwell, Alpha Zion, and Beta Levi—we’re approaching the crossroads. We’ll be increasing our pace.”
“Alright,” Addison replied with a nod, and the guard bowed once more before leaving.
Moments later, the cart jolted sharply as the horses picked up speed. The road grew bumpier, and when one of the wheels hit a rock, the sudden jolt nearly sent Addison tumbling to the other side of the cart.
Not long after, the sharp sounds of fighting echoed outside the cart. Shouts rang out, guards barking commands.
“Get in formation!”
Addison’s expression darkened, her brow furrowing in concern. In an instant, Maxwell and Zion leapt out of the cart, shifting into their wolf forms mid-air to join the fight.
“We’re under attack! Protect the Princess!” Lance’s voice roared from the front of the caravan. Though Addison couldn’t see him, his words reached her loud and clear.
Despite the danger, the caravan didn’t stop; instead, the horses sped up, the wheels rumbling violently over the uneven road as they tried to outrun the threat.
Addison’s heart pounded. She didn’t know what kind of creature they were facing. But then she heard it, low, vicious growls coming from the forest.
Not monsters.
Wolves.
And not the ones from their own caravan. There were several of them, maybe more, and their snarls carried a malice she couldn’t ignore.
Rogues.
Or worse, werewolves like the ones who had tried to abduct Claire from the Midnight River Pack. It was just speculation for now, but Addison’s instincts were screaming at her that she was right.
They had likely launched their attack after the caravan picked up speed, thinking Addison’s group had spotted them and was trying to flee. The timing made sense. As soon as the caravan accelerated, the hidden werewolves emerged from the forest and struck.
They’d been lying in wait… ready to ambush.
Addison’s eyes narrowed, her frown deepening as she pieced it together. ‘Why this exact location?’
Why ambush them here? Was it because the attackers weren’t certain which route the caravan would take… and this point gave them the best chance of intercepting her?
As she tried to work through it, the battle outside suddenly intensified.
“Not good! We’re being flanked!” Lance shouted from the front, his voice sharp and commanding as he directed the guards to regroup and push back.
Zion and Maxwell immediately responded, each taking one side of the caravan to prevent a full encirclement. Zion’s midnight-black wolf and Maxwell’s massive gray form tore through the enemy with ruthless precision, their fur already stained red from the clash.
From inside the cart, Addison’s heart pounded as she listened. Then, realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.