Chapter 579 Telling Them The Truth At Last

The mask Claire always wore whenever things stopped going her way, hoping some gullible fool would rush to defend her and fight her battles for her. Greg had fallen for that act before, throwing himself into the fire on her behalf like a brainless puppet dancing on her strings.

Unfortunately for Claire…

That trick wasn’t going to work tonight.

With Levi, Maxwell, Zion, and now even Leon silently working together, every opening she tried to create was crushed before anyone else could notice. No one was given the opportunity to sympathize with her, much less come to her rescue.

Instead of protecting Claire, they had unknowingly isolated her.

And by keeping everyone else occupied, they had completely freed Addison’s hands, allowing her to deal with Claire’s little theatrics personally.

“Hah! That’s the only thing he’s ever been good at, running that sharp mouth of his.” Zion shot back through the mindlink, his tone dripping with sourness. Watching Leon steal the spotlight by saying everything Zion himself had wanted to say left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

Levi’s grin widened. “What’s this? Feeling a little bitter because someone stole your thunder?”

“Shut up.” Zion’s reply came instantly, short and defensive, only making Levi’s silent laughter grow louder in his own head.

The late dinner passed without a hitch this time.

Addison’s fated mate, and even Leon, made sure to keep a close eye on Claire, working almost seamlessly to prevent her from using Addison as a stepping stone or stirring up another scene in front of the gathered Alphas. Whether Claire liked it or not, she found herself with far fewer opportunities to provoke Addison or twist the situation in her favor.

Soon enough, the dinner came to an end, and everyone gradually dispersed to rest.

It had been an exhausting day, especially with the sheer amount of information that had been thrown at them. Discussions about the restoration of the West, the demonic insect contamination, the shifting alliances, and the Tigren Clan’s unexpected pledge of loyalty to Addison had left plenty for the attendees to think about.

Many of them would need time to digest everything they had heard.

But that was not all they had to consider.

By now, several sharp-eyed Alphas and influential figures had also noticed the subtle cracks within the Royal Family. The tension between its members had not gone completely unnoticed, and for those with enough political sense, it was clear that something was shifting beneath the surface.

That realization would force many of them to think carefully.

Who should they support?

Where should their loyalty lie?

And more importantly, how deep did that loyalty truly run?

The Alpha King was fully aware of what was happening.

In fact, he had expected it.

Through his and Addison’s subtle maneuvering, they had deliberately planted ideas, raised questions, and stirred thoughts that many of the Alphas could no longer ignore. They had not openly demanded anyone’s allegiance, nor had they forced anyone to take a side.

Instead, they had allowed the seeds to take root.

Now, all they had to do was wait.

The people needed time to think. Time to weigh their interests, reassess their loyalties, and decide where they truly stood.

And once they had done that, the Alpha King would finally see the truth.

Only then would he know who would willingly stand in his corner, and who would prove that their loyalty to the throne was more than just empty words.

And so, as soon as everyone began going their separate ways, the Alpha King turned his attention to his daughter.

Addison, however, seemed distracted.

Her gaze was fixed on the retreating figures of the Alpha King’s brother and Claire. The man had a firm grip on Claire’s hand as he practically dragged her out of the banquet hall, his expression dark enough to make it obvious that he was in a foul mood.

The only question was —

Who was he angry with?

Was his anger directed at Claire for making such a spectacle of herself in front of so many powerful Alphas? After all, the gathering had been the perfect opportunity to display her strengths and establish connections with influential figures who could have become valuable supporters in the future.

Or was he angry at Mila?

After all, Mila had remained silent.

She had done nothing to help her sister recover her dignity or salvage her image after Claire had been thoroughly put in her place. In front of the very Alphas they might have hoped to win over, Claire had lost face instead. Any advantage they had hoped to showcase was overshadowed by her humiliating confrontation with Addison.

And because they could not openly blame Addison for blocking Claire’s path and dismantling her schemes, someone else would inevitably have to take the fall.

Mila was the easiest target.

She quietly followed behind her father and her newfound sister, her head lowered as she walked several steps behind them.

To anyone watching, she looked obedient.

Submissive.

As though she had already accepted her place beneath them.

But Addison knew better.

Mila was not bowing her head because she had surrendered.

She simply knew when to stay silent.

There was little to be gained from openly fighting her father and Claire when their family still held enough influence within the court to make her life difficult. Challenging them now would only expose her position and give them a reason to suppress her even further.

So, Mila endured.

She lowered her head, swallowed whatever anger or resentment she felt, and allowed herself to appear weak, for now.

But beneath that obedient exterior, she was anything but submissive.

Mila was simply smart enough to understand that picking a fight with her obviously biased father over power she did not yet possess would be nothing more than a foolish waste of effort.

And so, she stayed quiet.

For now.

Not because she had given up.

But because she was waiting for the right moment to raise her head again.

“Not bad.” The Alpha King nodded in satisfaction as he watched his daughter’s fated mates stand firmly at her side, openly backing her in front of everyone present. Their united front sent a clear message, Addison was far from alone. The strength behind her was formidable, and anyone foolish enough to challenge her or try to take what belonged to her would have to think twice before making a move.

The Alpha King was thoroughly pleased with the outcome of the day’s meeting, especially with how the silent power struggle within the Royal Family had unfolded. No swords had been drawn, no open threats had been exchanged, yet everyone present had witnessed exactly where each side stood.

“Sweetheart,” the Alpha King said, his expression softening as he turned to Addison, “you’ve had a long journey and an exhausting day. You and your mates should head back and get some rest. We can catch up properly another time.”

“Right, sweetheart, you…” The Queen paused, her gaze lingering on her daughter as though there were still countless things she wanted to say but could not say in front of everyone. “You and your mates should all get some rest.”

She let out a quiet sigh, clearly holding herself back from adding more. In the end, however, she chose to let it go. It seemed Addison understood exactly what her mother had wanted to say, because she bit her lower lip before giving a small nod.

“Very well, Mother. Father,” Addison replied respectfully. “We’ll go back and rest. You should both return and get some rest as well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With that, Addison gracefully curtsied to her parents. Her four mates immediately followed suit behind her, lowering their heads in respect.

None of them straightened until the Alpha King and Queen had finally turned and left the banquet hall. Only after the royal couple had completely disappeared from sight did Addison slowly lift her head again.

Addison hesitated for a moment, as though weighing her decision carefully. Then, as if she had finally made up her mind, she slowly lifted her gaze and looked at each of her mates in turn, meeting their eyes one by one.

“Thank you, everyone, for today,” Addison said. “But before we head back to rest, there’s something I want to show you. Please, follow me.”

Without waiting for their response, she turned and started walking ahead.

Her back remained straight and her head held high, giving nothing away, but beneath that composed exterior, her heart was hammering wildly against her ribs.

At first, Addison had considered sending Leon away before revealing the truth. Being completely honest with him still felt too soon. She did not know enough about him yet, whether he had truly come to her of his own will, whether someone else could still be using him, or whether he might someday become a threat to her or her family.

But after thinking it over, she realized that things had already changed.