The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna - Chapter 327

Chapter 327: Chapter 327 Reconciled?
She didn’t want him to grow complacent, and more than that, she knew that clinging to hatred and grudges would only poison their relationship, and worse, it would spill over onto the children.

She refused to let her pain rob them of their chance to feel the love of a father. Whatever had happened between her and Zion was theirs to bear, not the children’s. They deserved to grow up surrounded by love and care, not weighed down by the shadows of her pain.

“Okay then… please protect me well,” Addison murmured shyly, almost hoping Zion wouldn’t catch it. But with their closeness and his sharp hearing, there was no way he could have missed her words.

For a moment, Zion was stunned. He hadn’t expected her to accept him so easily. With two other mates now, she had choices, and he had braced himself for rejection, even anger.

But instead of lashing out, Addison had entrusted him with her protection. The realization filled him with such joy that he couldn’t contain the grin spreading across his face. His eyes lit up, and in that instant, his happiness drowned out the murderous intent that had been burning within him.

“Um… leave it to me,” he said before pulling Addison into another hug, pressing a quick, peppered kiss against her cheek.

For a fleeting moment, Addison almost regretted letting her guard down. She wasn’t sure if her softening heart came from genuinely appreciating his efforts to make amends, or if the mate bond itself was chipping away at her defenses.

But as she heard his quiet chuckles and felt the warmth of his happiness radiating through every gesture, her heart eased despite herself.

So she chose to set her doubts aside. The two of them began eating together, with Zion carefully feeding Addison bite by bite, his full attention fixed solely on her.

“Stop feeding me. I can take care of it on my own, I’m not disabled,” Addison grumbled, reaching for the food in Zion’s hand as he tried to feed her.

“Addie, just let me serve you, okay? Save your energy and just enjoy it,” Zion coaxed, holding the rice ball closer to her lips.

Addison took a reluctant bite, chewed, then muttered, “But I’m not disabled. This makes me feel like a child… or like I don’t even have hands of my own.”

Zion chuckled softly and nuzzled her cheek. “Addie, this is just my way of taking care of you and making amends. After all, you are my mate.” He offered the rice ball again, and though she grumbled under her breath, Addison took another bite.

“But it just makes me feel like your daughter,” Addison grumbled, rolling her eyes. For a fleeting moment, she regretted giving this guy a chance. But instead of giving her space, Zion only laughed, holding her tighter on his lap as he continued feeding her.

Their closeness, this playful back-and-forth, was something they had never shared before. To Zion, it felt exhilarating, as though adrenaline coursed through his veins. Yet, beneath the happiness, his heart twisted with regret.

He realized just how much he had missed by being an asshole in the past, the simple warmth of moments like this with his mate. He had missed a lot. And now, all he wanted was to make up for those lost chances, one moment at a time.

With their playful back-and-forth, time slipped by quickly. By the time they finished eating, the caravan was already prepared to move again. Addison and Zion set aside their lighter mood, especially Zion, and returned to the front to lead everyone toward the chosen plot of land for their temporary settlement.

From her post guarding the caravan, Alpha Hue’s daughter had been quietly observing them. She hadn’t heard what they were saying, but she could see the shift in their emotions: the tension at first, the subtle softening, and finally, the reconciliation. Watching the change unfold fascinated her.

Although she had always seen her parents as a loving couple, there was something different about the way Addison and Zion communicated. It stirred a quiet envy within her and made her long for the day she would meet her own fated mate, someone who would treat her with the same devotion.

That thought alone filled her with a renewed enthusiasm, and when Addison assigned her to guard the rear, she carried out the order with even greater zeal.

“Alright, everyone, we’ve rested long enough. Let’s move out!” Addison called as she gripped her horse’s reins and stepped forward to mount.

Before she could climb up, Zion caught her hand gently and signaled for one of the warriors to take her horse. Confused, Addison turned to question him, but he only gave her a soft smile.

“You’ll feel much better riding on my back,” he explained. “My fur will cushion you, and it’ll keep you from getting bruises on your thighs or feeling too sore.”

Addison opened her mouth to respond, but Zion had already slipped behind a nearby tree, mindful of the many eyes on them and especially the female guard around them. Out of sight, he removed his clothes, tucked them into his magic bag, and shifted into his wolf form.

When he emerged again, the massive wolf nudged Addison gently with his snout before rubbing his head affectionately against her.

“Alright, alright…” Addison finally gave in. Ever since she told Zion she would let him protect her, he had become even clingier, always wanting to stay close. She wasn’t sure how to feel about it, part of her was conflicted, but another part of her felt her heart quietly warm.

And truthfully, Zion’s reasoning made sense. His fur was far softer than any horse saddle, and riding on his back was both safer and more comfortable. If danger came, Zion could dodge instantly with her behind him, without wasting time to shift forms.

Seeing the advantages, Addison decided to just accept it. Zion crouched low, allowing her to climb onto his broad back with ease. Once settled, she lifted her hand and signaled for the caravan to move forward.

And so, the caravan resumed its march. Zion released his Alpha Aura, pushing it out like a warning wave to drive away weaker monsters lurking in the shadows and bushes. Any creature that wasn’t strong enough quickly retreated, unwilling to test the oppressive presence.

Thanks to this, their journey remained smooth and uneventful, until suddenly—

“Argh!” A guard let out a strangled groan and collapsed to the ground.

By now, they were already near the riverside, only a few kilometers from the plot of land where they intended to build the settlement. Both Addison and Zion froze in shock. Neither of them had sensed anything unusual until this moment.

“We’re under attack! Everyone, on guard!” Addison shouted, already drawing the dagger from her side. She crouched low behind Zion, slipping seamlessly into hunting mode. Zion lowered himself as well, muscles coiled, ready to lunge into offense at a moment’s notice.

The nearest guard rushed to the fallen man, dragging him back to safety before checking his condition. His expression darkened. “Princess! He’s been hit with a poison dart!” he called out, yanking the dart free from the guard’s arm.

Addison’s eyes never left the treeline. “Administer the antidote!” she ordered sharply, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.