Chapter 574 I am Yours

“Yes, traveling merchants move between kingdoms and races, bringing goods from one land to another. But that’s nowhere near enough.”

She paused for a fraction of a second.

“What I learned bef—”

The words caught in her throat.

She had almost revealed that she learned it during her time as the Luna of the Midnight River Pack.

A dangerous mistake.

Only her family knew that part of her past. If the council caught on, questions would inevitably follow, questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.

Without missing another beat, she smoothly corrected herself.

“What I learned from the Midnight River Pack is that becoming self-sufficient wasn’t the only reason they prospered.”

“They didn’t stop after expanding their farms and livestock. They opened trade routes with neighboring races, particularly the dwarves and the elves.”

“They exchanged agricultural goods for dwarven machinery that improved productivity and elven silk and craftsmanship that elevated their industries.”

Her voice remained calm, but every sentence carried the confidence of someone who had witnessed those successes firsthand.

“We can do the same.”

“Instead of relying solely on wandering merchants who come and go whenever they please, we should establish official trade routes that connect every territory in our kingdom to our neighboring races.”

She slowly clasped her hands behind her back.

“Doing so wouldn’t merely increase the Royal Treasury’s revenue. It would stimulate local economies, create more opportunities for our people, and allow resources to circulate throughout the kingdom instead of remaining concentrated in a few regions.”

Her sharp eyes swept across the room once more.

“And trade doesn’t only move goods.”

“It moves information.”

“Merchants hear rumors before warriors do. They witness economic changes, political shifts, military movements, shortages, and unrest long before official reports ever reach a throne.”

“If we build reliable trade networks, we gain access to valuable intelligence about other races, their economies, their political climate, and even potential threats before they arrive at our borders.”

She lifted a finger.

“Of course, that advantage cuts both ways.”

“Opening our borders for commerce also creates opportunities for spies, smugglers, and enemy agents to slip into our kingdom.”

Several elders exchanged uneasy glances.

“But that risk is manageable.”

“We establish checkpoints. We regulate where foreign merchants may travel. We limit access to sensitive locations, require permits, conduct inspections, and strengthen our intelligence network.”

Her expression remained unwavering.

“The objective has never been to throw our gates wide open.”

“It’s to control what enters while expanding what leaves.”

“Our priority is still increasing food reserves, strengthening every territory’s self-sufficiency, strengthening every border, and extending our reach beyond our borders. Intelligence and diplomacy are simply additional benefits.”

She glanced toward her mates before looking back at the council.

“We already have a Royal Merchant capable of handling foreign negotiations.”

“Rather than leaving diplomacy to wandering traders, we should entrust official trade agreements to the Royal Merchant while each territory focuses on producing the resources it excels at.”

A faint smile finally appeared on her lips.

“And there’s one more thing.”

“We now have the Tigren Clan standing beside us.”

“Whether we announce it or not, word will spread.”

“The moment the neighboring races learn that the Werewolf Kingdom has gained the loyalty of the Tigren Clan, they’ll have to reconsider every hostile thought they harbor against us.”

“After all…”

“…few kingdoms are foolish enough to provoke a nation protected by the strongest warriors on the continent.”

Addison turned her gaze toward Leon.

“What do you think, Chieftain Leon?” she asked calmly. “Can the Tigren Clan add another layer of protection to this kingdom? Enough to make every potential enemy think twice before setting foot on our borders?”

The corner of Leon’s lips curled upward.

“Just give the order.”

His deep voice echoed throughout the council chamber.

“If you command me to wage war against a kingdom, I will lead my clan into battle, crush their armies, and return with their ruler’s head laid at your feet.”

“If you order me to conquer a nation, I will return only after its banners have fallen and its lands kneel before you.”

“There is nothing beyond my reach if it is your wish.”

He slowly rose from his seat.

Every movement was steady, unhurried, and filled with quiet dominance. Under the stunned gazes of the elders, ministers, and Alphas, Leon crossed the chamber until he stood beside Addison.

Then…

To everyone’s disbelief—

The proud Chieftain of the Tigren Clan lowered himself onto one knee.

His right fist rested firmly over his heart while his head dipped just enough to signify absolute respect.

“My Princess…”

His golden feline eyes remained fixed on her alone.

“My sword is yours.”

“My warriors are yours.”

“My clan is yours.”

“My life is yours.”

“So long as you desire it, I will become the shield that guards your kingdom, the blade that slaughters your enemies, and the monster your foes learn to fear.”

Silence engulfed the entire council chamber.

Not a single soul dared to breathe too loudly.

Even Addison’s composure cracked for a fleeting moment.

She knew Leon better than anyone.

This was a man whose pride bordered on arrogance. A man who had never bowed to anyone, not to kings, not to emperors, not even to gods.

Yet now…

He had willingly knelt before her.

Not because anyone demanded it.

Not because protocol required it.

But because he chose to.

It was complete submission.

Complete devotion.

For the first time, the council witnessed the terrifying Chieftain of the Tigren Clan lowering his head to another person.

Addison couldn’t help but wonder…

Was this his way of making amends?

Did he know she still hadn’t forgiven him for forcefully binding her to him as his mate?

Perhaps this was his silent apology.

Or perhaps…

This was simply Leon’s way of showing that, despite everything he had done, he would spend the rest of his life proving that she would never regret choosing him.

“I…”

For the first time since entering the council chamber, Addison found herself momentarily at a loss for words.

Leon was still kneeling before her.

The proud Chieftain of the Tigren Clan — whose arrogance was as legendary as his strength — had willingly lowered himself before the entire royal court without a shred of hesitation.

It was a sight she never imagined she would witness.

Taking a slow breath, she regained her composure and lifted her gaze to the council.

Silence filled the chamber.

She patiently waited for someone to object.

After all, what she was proposing wasn’t a minor policy change.

She was asking the Werewolf Kingdom to formally accept the Tigren Clan as allies and protectors, to provide them with food and resources, and, in every practical sense, welcome them into the kingdom’s future.

It was an enormous responsibility.

A decision that would undoubtedly face resistance.

That was precisely why she had laid everything on the table.

She had to make them see that the Tigren Clan wasn’t another mouth to feed.

They were an investment.

An investment in the kingdom’s future.

Protection from one of the continent’s strongest warrior races was something countless kingdoms would spend fortunes to obtain, yet the Werewolf Kingdom had received that opportunity in exchange for something they could produce themselves.

More importantly, expanding agriculture and livestock across every territory had never been solely about feeding the Tigrens.

It was about transforming the kingdom itself.

A self-sufficient territory was harder to starve.

A prosperous territory was harder to conquer.

A kingdom with abundant food reserves could survive disasters, withstand prolonged wars, and negotiate with neighboring races from a position of strength instead of desperation.

Trade would strengthen their economy.

Diplomacy would earn them allies.

A wider intelligence network would warn them of dangers long before those dangers reached their borders.

Every step reinforced the next.

It wasn’t simply about feeding another race.

It was about building a kingdom that could stand for generations.

Besides…

She had already witnessed this strategy succeed once before.

The Midnight River Pack had followed the very same path — expanding agriculture, strengthening local production, and opening trade with neighboring races. The results had exceeded every expectation.

The experiment had already been proven.

There was no uncertainty left.

All the Werewolf Kingdom had to do was follow a road that had already led others to prosperity.

Of course…

That future depended on one crucial condition.

The Tigren Clan had to remain true to the loyalty Leon had just pledged before the entire council.

If they did…

Then accepting them into the kingdom would not become a burden.

It would become one of the greatest decisions the Werewolf Kingdom had ever made.

After dropping to one knee before Addison, Leon didn’t stop there.

Seizing the opportunity without the slightest hint of shame, he gently took her hand in his and pressed a lingering kiss against the back of it.

The gesture immediately earned him murderous glares from Maxwell, Zion, and Levi. If looks could kill, Leon would have been ripped apart on the spot.

The Alpha King, however, merely watched the scene unfold with barely concealed amusement.