The Alpha's Regret Return Of The Betrayed Luna (Addison) novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Focus

Addison shook her head, trying to shake herself free from the flood of memories. There were just too many resurfacing at once. Yet she could clearly recall what she had read about fairies when she was younger.

And more than that, she remembered the words of an old merchant who once passed through the Eastern Territory while she was still Luna of the Midnight River Pack.

’Fairies aren’t evil,’ he had said, his voice filled with sincerity. ’They respond to human emotions, especially the heart. They are some of the purest beings in existence. I know because I was saved by one when I was a boy.’

’ No one believed me, of course. They said I just got lost in the forest and was lucky to return unharmed. But the truth is, I was being chased by a wild boar, and just when I thought I’d be trampled to death, a tiny creature appeared and led me away.’

’ I followed it and stumbled into a paradise—lush, serene, magical. I wanted to stay, but I knew my parents would be worried, so I left... but no matter how hard I tried, I could never find that place again."

Addison remembered how wistful his eyes had been when he spoke, and how people around him scoffed and laughed, brushing it off as nothing more than a child’s fantasy or a fevered dream.

’We all had imaginary friends as kids,’ they would say. But the merchant had become a traveler, and eventually a merchant, driven by a singular hope to one day find that place again.

Thinking about all this, Addison couldn’t help but feel her curiosity stir. She genuinely wanted to explore the place, to see if the legends were true. But at the same time, she worried, what if she really couldn’t find her way back?

They still had a mission to complete, and this wasn’t the time to satisfy her curiosity. So, with a sigh, she pushed the thought aside for now, silently promising herself that once the mission was over and she had some freedom, she’d come back and investigate.

But that left her back at square one. Since that mysterious path through the forest was off-limits, they had no choice but to take the longer route. It was safer, yes, but it also meant a longer journey, which wasn’t exactly ideal considering the time constraints they were working with.

But given her presence here, and the threat of people like Greg and those aligned with him who were likely trying to abduct her, taking the left path through the cliffs could easily play right into their hands.

It would be the perfect place for an ambush, and it would look as if Addison had served herself up on a silver platter. That is, if they really were tailing her and waiting for the right moment to strike.

Gritting her teeth, Addison made her decision. "We’ll take the safer route," she said firmly. "We’ll just increase our pace to cut down on travel time. No stopping at the foot of the mountain tonight, let’s push through until we reach the next pack’s territory. We’ll rest there."

It wasn’t ideal, but it was the most practical choice. While the coachmen weren’t aware of the threats looming over her, they could still see that Addison’s decision balanced both concerns: the coachmen’s desire for speed and the guards’ need to keep everyone safe.

They all nodded in agreement, understanding the logic behind the compromise. And with that, everyone began preparing to move out.

Then Lance gave Addison a gentle pat on the shoulder. "That was a solid plan. Thanks for stepping in back there."

Addison was quietly relieved that none of them questioned her about Lance. She had felt their intense gazes earlier when Lance touched her shoulder and ruffled her hair—and she fully expected them to demand an explanation or bristle with jealousy.

But to her surprise, they remained composed. Maybe they were finally learning to give her space... or maybe they were just waiting. Either way, she chose not to dwell on it.

"Alright, everyone, we’ll be leaving in five!" Lance called out, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention. At his words, the camp buzzed with urgency, and people began eating faster, practically shoveling food into their mouths.

Fortunately, the congee had cooled enough that no one burned themselves.

Even Addison picked up her pace, swallowing the warm porridge quickly. Once she finished, Zion silently took her bowl and headed to the river to wash it himself.

Addison raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. She hadn’t expected someone like Zion, an Alpha known for his pride and arrogance, to do something as humble as washing dishes for someone else. She watched him for a brief three seconds before shrugging it off and turning toward her cart.

Addison climbed onto the back of the cart and sat at the edge, her feet dangling as she quietly nibbled on the piece of bread in her hand. Even though she was still eating, she figured she could just sit there while the cart started to move.