The Alpha's Regret Return Of The Betrayed Luna (Addison) novel Chapter 554

Chapter 554: Chapter 554 Claire’s Inner Schemes

There had never been a release.

And now, with Zion no longer holding Shura back the same way, Shura poured it all out, raw, unfiltered, like he was finally emptying everything he had been forced to keep inside.

But in truth, that pent-up rage was only part of why Zion always lost control back then. The rest was because of the tangled strain of the mate bond, his unstable temperament, and a mind that never quite settled. Guilt had a way of festering in him, and when it did, it didn’t stay contained.

While Zion remained caught in his own thoughts, weighed down by what he’d done, Levi and Maxwell turned to Addison with gentle, reassuring smiles, a silent acknowledgment that she deserved this kind of welcome.

She had earned it. What she accomplished in the West had reached all the way to the Royal Capital, and her people hadn’t taken it for granted, and they appreciated it.

Seeing that, the hesitation in Addison eased.

She let herself smile, soft at first, then it turned brighter, returning every look, every wave directed at her. Eventually, she raised her hand and waved back, her expression open and radiant, no longer holding back.

And in front of her, Levi and Maxwell’s smiles only deepened as they watched her, quietly pleased.

While Addison and her fated mates were caught in their quiet moment, the front gates of the Royal Palace stood ready for her arrival. Claire, Mila, Mila’s father, and the Alpha King with his Queen were already waiting. The Alpha King and Queen wore their anticipation openly, pride and warmth softening their features as they prepared to welcome their child home.

Claire, however, was a different story.

She stood rigid among them, rage simmering beneath the surface, her gaze fixed ahead like it could burn through the crowd. The streets were packed, people spilling into every corner, banners draped high, cheers rising, like they were welcoming a war hero.

It made her sick.

She could barely see past the sea of bodies, but she didn’t need to. The atmosphere alone was enough to twist something ugly inside her. She hated how Addison was rising above her, how Addison was adored by all, and how Addison became so untouchable.

After everything Claire had endured...

Her jaw tightened. Even now, she could still feel the phantom sting of the silver whip lashing across her back, the scars that refused to fade no matter how much time passed. The pain had branded itself into her, and with it came a hatred that only grew sharper.

For a fleeting moment, the thought crossed her mind to just kill Addison and end it all.

But she crushed it down just as quickly.

She couldn’t afford that right now.

Claire forced herself to breathe, to steady the storm behind her eyes, and to mask her aggression towards Addison. She needed to be seen as someone who has changed her way and become softer, kinder, someone worthy of standing beside Mila... and Addison as princesses of this kingdom.

Because that was the only way forward.

If she played it right, if she rebuilt her image, earned back trust, reshaped how people saw her, then maybe, just maybe, she could take what Addison held. The position. The favor. Everything.

And this time, she wouldn’t fail.

So she tried harder, perfecting the act, burying the hatred deeper, even as it threatened to consume her from within.

"Mila... how do you think Addison completed that mission out west?"

Claire’s voice was soft, almost a whisper, light enough to pass as idle curiosity. But among werewolves, nothing stayed unheard. Every ear around them caught it.

On the surface, it sounded harmless.

But it wasn’t.

The way she phrased it, the timing, the casual tone, it all carried something sharper underneath. A quiet suggestion. A seed of doubt.

That Addison hadn’t really done it alone.

That maybe she hadn’t done much at all.

That she’d leaned on her fated mates... on others... and in the end, simply stepped forward to claim the credit.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify