The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna - Chapter 393

Chapter 393: Chapter 393 Going Back
Last night, instead of bringing Addison back to the pack to be examined and see for themselves what was happening, he had given in to selfishness, using distraction and desire to keep her close, to make her forget the pain through intimacy.

He had reveled in her soft moans, feeling like he was walking on clouds… yet now, that very memory felt like a knife twisting in his heart.

Maybe if he hadn’t let jealousy and possessiveness cloud his judgment, she wouldn’t be suffering like this. Maybe she wouldn’t be burning up in his arms. The only one to blame was himself.

“I…” His voice broke, trembling as the weight of his guilt crushed down on him. He wanted to cry, but he knew he had no right to. This was his doing.

But then, Zion tightened his hold on Addison. Wallowing in guilt and self-pity now would accomplish nothing. He had already made the wrong choice last night; continuing to dwell on it would be like falling into the same pit repeatedly without learning anything.

Instead, as he waited for the herbal tonic to be brewed, he looked up at Mary with steady resolve. “Mary, I’ll be leaving with my mate to return to your pack. She needs proper medical attention. Can I leave the operation of this temporary settlement in your care?”

Though he framed it as a question, his tone and presence left no room for refusal. Mary could only nod in agreement, recognizing the authority behind his words.

What Zion didn’t voice aloud, however, was that he also needed to check on the situation back at Mary’s pack, to see what had happened with Maxwell and Levi that could have caused Addison to fall so gravely ill.

The thought of their lives being in danger, or worse, even dying, made his jaw tighten. He didn’t even want to imagine what might come next as a surge of anger and fear coiled in his chest.

Mary didn’t hesitate. She nodded quickly and firmly, as if any delay might endanger Addison’s life. The situation at the temporary settlement was beginning to stabilize, and Zion and Addison no longer needed to personally oversee everything.

They still had a few batches of evacuees to lead and escort, and with Addison’s condition, it was far safer to return her to the Golden Hue Pack, where proper medical supplies and equipment awaited.

“Alpha Zion, please don’t worry about the temporary settlement,” Mary said confidently. “Leave everything in my care. You can bring Princess Addison back without hesitation. There are doctors ready to assess her condition with proper medical apparatus, and the healer is there as well. She’ll be in good hands.”

Zion also nodded. After all, if he truly wanted to know what was happening at the Golden Hue Pack, sending a messenger bird would take too long to go back and forth. They didn’t have a mage with them to use the communication crystal either, so there was no quick way to get information.

His only real option was to rush back at full speed with Addison secured on his back. Standing still any longer felt like it would only make the situation worse.

While Zion was giving his reminders to Mary, the old woman finished brewing the tonic. She began stirring it gently and softly blowing on its surface to cool it, knowing they needed to give it to Addison as soon as possible.

She could tell Zion was in a hurry, and even without being told, she understood the urgency of the situation and worked silently to help.

At the same time, she had to be careful not to blow too hard and risk contaminating the tonic with her saliva, which would be deeply disrespectful to the Princess. They could only wait patiently for it to cool to a safe temperature. Once she felt it was ready, she spooned a small amount and brought it toward Zion’s lips.

“Alpha Zion, please check the temperature before we give it to the Princess, or she might get burned,” she instructed. She couldn’t taste it herself, as it would be inappropriate; only Addison’s mate could.

Zion didn’t hesitate. He leaned over and took a sip, frowning at the bitter, earthy flavor. He considered asking if they could make it slightly sweeter to make it easier for Addison to drink, but he decided not to complicate things and set the tonic aside, ready to help her drink it.

Zion took the cooled concoction from the old woman and gently began feeding it to Addison.

“Cough! Cough!” The moment the bitter, earthy liquid touched her parched, burning throat, Addison coughed violently and spit some of it out, trembling as she curled up like a shrimp in Zion’s arms.

“Addie, please… drink this. It will help you feel better,” Zion coaxed, his voice soft but urgent.

No matter what he did, Addison’s lips stayed tightly shut, and her body shook against him. Seeing no other choice, Zion drank a small amount of the concoction himself, then leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers.

Using his tongue gently, he pried her lips open. When she tried to pull away, he clamped his other free hand on the back of her head to prevent her from moving, letting the tonic slowly slip into her mouth.

Addison had no choice but to swallow, though her discomfort was clear. Her hands shot up, clutching at Zion’s shirt and crumpling the fabric, her nails scratching him and leaving thin streaks of blood.

Zion didn’t flinch. He continued steadily, letting the bitter liquid flow slowly so she wouldn’t suffocate or choke. The earthy, almost gritty taste burned and itched her throat, like swallowing dry powdered grass, but slowly and gradually, she began to swallow it down.

Feeling Addison finally swallow the concoction, Zion’s eyes crinkled slightly in quiet approval, as if to say, “Good girl.” He repeated the process patiently until she had finished the entire bowl.

Once done, he reached into Addison’s magic bag and pulled out a chocolate snack, placing it in her mouth to let it melt slowly, gradually replacing the bitter, earthy taste with something sweet.

Cradling Addison in his arms like a child, he positioned half of her body over his shoulder, gently patting her back to help the warm tonic settle into her stomach and release any trapped air, essentially making her burp.

The others, aware that their Princess wasn’t feeling well, watched silently from a distance. They gave Zion and Addison space, their breaths held in quiet concern. After all, werewolves, with their strong physiques, rarely fall ill.

Flus and similar illnesses usually only affect the young who haven’t fully awakened their wolves. Seeing Addison sick, they knew something serious had gone wrong and feared it could even be life-threatening.

They wanted to ask Zion or the old man what was wrong with Addison, but no one dared to speak. The tension was so thick that even breathing felt heavy. They chose to stay silent, afraid that saying or doing the wrong thing might only make things worse.

For ten long minutes, no one uttered a word; the only sound was the steady gurgling of the boiling water in the large pot.

Then, Zion finally stood, still carrying Addison in his arms. The movement snapped Mary out of her daze.

“Alpha Zion, are you leaving?” she asked quickly.