Chapter 499

“Your children, though still young, have already shown remarkable potential,” the Alpha King said, a proud smile lighting his face. “Aiden, in particular, possesses extraordinary physical prowess. Even at just three years old, his strength rivals that of a six-year-old. His instructor, the same old man who trained you when you were young, was amazed. He kept saying it felt as if he were seeing your younger self all over again p>

The Alpha King chuckled, sharing the news with his daughter in hopes of easing her mind.

“Indeed,” the Queen added with a warm smile. “When Aiden had a swordsmanship lesson with your old trainer, he could feel the power in every strike. Even at that age, the child’s potential was unmistakable p>

Addison let out a relieved breath, a soft, motherly smile spreading across her lips. “And what about Kyle?” she asked, her eyes growing gentler as she leaned forward.

“Kyle isn’t far behind in physical training,” the Alpha King said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “But the Royal Advisor, who now tutors both Kyle and Aiden, has noticed that Kyle excels even more in his studies. He has an extraordinary memory, as he can remember everything he reads, down to the smallest detail and punctuation, and repeat it flawlessly. Beyond that, his reasoning and deduction skills are exceptional p>

The Alpha King leaned forward, his expression animated. “The Royal Advisor even played a few games of ’Capture the General’ with him and discovered that Kyle has a natural talent for strategy p>

“He remembers terrain and troop positions as if they were etched in his mind, making it easy for him to place his forces in all the key spots. Naturally, the Royal Advisor wants to keep Kyle all to himself, just as your old trainer has taken Aiden under his wing, each wanting to mold their pupil into a true prodigy p>

He chuckled fondly. “Both children are showing incredible potential, just like you did when you were young. The two old men are pouring everything they know into them. So much so that Kyle and Aiden no longer cry at night asking for you p>

“By the time night falls, they’re completely exhausted from training and studying; they collapse into bed the moment their bodies touch it. And come morning, they’re right back at it, under the watchful eyes of their tutors, with no time for distraction p>

“Your personal servant has also been keeping a close eye on their diet and meals, so the children are doing much better now. The rosy glow is returning to their cheeks after the fever,” the Queen explained, a gentle smile on her face. “Your father and I often go to the safe house whenever we have the chance, just to check on them. To avoid raising suspicion about our frequent visits to the back palace, we always pretend we’re simply taking normal walks together p>

She let the words hang for a moment, downplaying the truth. In reality, their walks were far from ordinary. The Alpha King and Queen sometimes played the part of fated mates in public, acting like two animals in heat, seeking each other’s company for pleasure and desire, so no one would suspect why they were regularly slipping away to the back palace.

It was a perfect cover. Outsiders, including enemies keeping watch, would assume that the two key figures of the kingdom were so distracted by each other’s pleasures that they weren’t paying attention to anything else.

But the reality was quite the opposite. The Alpha King and Queen used the pretense to their advantage, keeping a close eye on the palace and its surroundings while everyone else, including potential threats, remained completely unaware.

And now, with Addison’s reminder that so many factions were targeting them, this tactic worked perfectly in their favor. By pretending to be lost in pleasure and desire, they could observe which nobles might take advantage of the situation and make a move against the royal family. Those who didn’t act would reveal themselves as cautious, or loyal, while those who did would show their true intentions, much to the Alpha King’s satisfaction.

At the same time, the act served a dual purpose: it allowed the Alpha King and Queen to keep a close eye on the children, giving them company so they wouldn’t miss their mother, while simultaneously testing their enemies.

So, acting a little flirtatious with his mate from time to time, and indulging in what mates do, was serving him well. When the Queen mentioned it, even downplaying their little act, the Alpha King couldn’t help but let a smug smile spread across his lips.

After all, a werewolf was never too old to fuck and mate or to indulge in the little pleasures shared with their mate, and the Alpha King was no exception. His closeness with the Queen, their stolen touches and fleeting moments of intimacy, was nothing unusual; in their world, sparks between mates could ignite at any time, their bodies responding even to the simplest glance.

It was also one of the reasons why so many envied those who had found their fated mates. Unlike choosing a partner, having a fated mate brought a connection far beyond imagination; the physical chemistry was intense, the bond unbreakable, and the feelings didn’t fade easily with age.

So seeing the Alpha King and Queen so affectionate, so in tune with each other, was perfectly natural.

Seeing him grin foolishly, the Queen pinched his thigh again. By now, it was probably bruised, but the Alpha King didn’t mind. Instead, he subtly rubbed her palm with his thumb, hinting at something only they understood.

Feeling his bold gesture, the Queen immediately let go, as if she’d been scalded, and glared at him, eyes flashing with mock outrage.

Watching her parents act like teenagers in love, Addison couldn’t help but smile, her lips curling wider. She remembered how they had always been like this, ever since discovering they were fated mates, their love had only grown more open and affectionate over the years. It was admirable, and for a moment, she felt a pang of envy, recalling how her own relationship with Zion had once ended.

But she quickly pushed the thought aside. Zion had changed, and he was doing his best to show her his care. Besides, with more than one mate in her life, she didn’t even have time to envy anyone.

Instead, she let out a soft chuckle. The sound carried across the communication crystal, pulling her parents back to reality. Their lovey-dovey display faded, replaced by the calm seriousness that always came with duty.

“Ehem… sweetheart, I know you miss the children, and they miss you too,” the Queen began, her composure as polished as ever, a gentle smile on her face. “Whenever we visit, they always run to us, asking when you’ll be back. Now that we know you’ll return in three days, we finally have some good news to relay to them. They’ll be thrilled and excited to hear it p>

Hearing her mother, Addison’s smile widened. “Alright, I’ll bring some souvenirs for them to play with when I get back. The Pack here in the West is easygoing and kind. They don’t usually go to war like the frontline packs, so they live a peaceful, humble life. Because of that, they’ve honed their crafting skills alongside farming, and many of them can even make wooden toys. I’ll bring some back for them p>

Suddenly, the tent flap snapped open.

“Who would need wooden toys p>

The voice made Addison’s heart drop to the pit of her stomach.