The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna - Chapter 437

Chapter 437: Chapter 437 Escort
They let the injured and the weak go first. Although some time had already passed since the battle on the front lines the night before, several were still suffering from lingering injuries. Their wolves had been pushed to the brink during the fight, too exhausted to fully heal their human bodies.

Even though the doctors had already bandaged many of them, the pain and wounds still hindered their movement. Seeing this, the others quietly stepped aside and allowed the injured to eat first.

Once the injured had finished lining up, it was the shewolves’ turn, followed by the rest of the pack. The warriors guarding the perimeter were served by the omegas, including Zion and Maxwell, who had just returned from their inspection.

Alpha Hue also took a plate for himself as he strode over to the two Alphas, leaving his wife to check on the morale and well-being of the rest of their pack members.

“Alpha Zion, Alpha Maxwell. How are you both holding up?” Alpha Hue asked as he approached the two men standing silently side by side. He didn’t need to ask much; he could see the storm of thoughts running through their minds.

Yet, because they knew their work couldn’t wait, they were pushing those concerns aside to focus on what mattered most. Still, the cold tension radiating from their bodies, the frowns etched on their brows, and the sternness in their expressions couldn’t be hidden.

Alpha Hue wasn’t intimidated. He understood that young leaders often carried such burdens. He came over to offer a moment of conversation, to ease the weight a little.

Although it was his pack being escorted to safety and, as their Alpha, he technically should have been in charge, Alpha Hue knew when to step back. The two Alphas had made the decisions, briefed him on the plan, and demonstrated far more skill in crisis management than he could muster.

As he was used to peace, he acknowledged that he was no match for their efficiency, adaptability, and leadership under pressure, so he let them take the helm while he observed and supported.

Given the situation, Alpha Hue decided it was better to let the two Alphas lead, while he took a slower, more measured approach. He focused on supporting his pack with his Luna, offering comfort and solace, especially to those who had recently lost their loved ones in the rogue attack.

Many were still grieving and needed emotional guidance. Unlike Zion and Maxwell, who were accustomed to fighting amidst bloodshed, Alpha Hue recognized that his strengths lay in the support role, providing stability and care for those who needed it most.

“Fine. How are your pack members?” Zion replied curtly, not delving into the details of the situation at the rendezvous point. His main concern was the morale of the Golden Hue Pack.

They had suffered heavy losses, and he understood how they might feel defeated in more ways than one. Even so, they were fortunate that they were not annihilated, and the locust swarm had not been unleashed, so, all things considered, their situation was holding up better than expected.

“They are doing fine. Luckily, we managed to bury the dead at the gravesite before leaving, but I guess they still won’t feel truly at peace until we perform the ceremonial ritual for the deceased…” Alpha Hue said sadly.

Since they didn’t have much time, they had only done their best to lay the dead to rest at the gravesite at the foot of the mountain. Normally, a ceremonial ritual would follow, sending the departed souls to the Moon Goddess’ embrace, allowing them to start anew in their next life.

It also served as the final farewell between the deceased and their families, the true beginning of closure.

Without the ritual, many were left feeling unsettled, especially knowing that the biochemical agent would take time to clear from their territory once released. The uncertainty about its future impact on their land and livelihood only deepened their gloom.

That was why Alpha Hue’s mate was doing her best to comfort and reassure the pack, helping them cope with their unease.

Addison couldn’t make any promises for now, as she still needed to wait for Alchemist Malveric to finish preparing the treatment agent that would restore whatever the biochemical agent might destroy, especially the land. She hadn’t assured Alpha Hue or his pack of anything yet. They would also need Silas’s help with the treatment, given the special properties of the biochemical.

In truth, Addison hadn’t wanted to use the biochemical agent and had hesitated more than once. But seeing how events were unfolding, and realizing that Greg’s side had likely been alerted, forcing them to attack the Golden Hue Pack to release the locust swarm, she no longer had the luxury to hesitate.

They had to proceed with their initial plan.

Addison suspected that Greg’s decision to target the Golden Hue Pack, despite all the risks, was because he might have learned that she and her allies were planning to use the biochemical agent against the locust swarm. Her only conclusion was that their spies in the Royal Palace must have informed him.

As much as Addison suspected, Maxwell, Zion, and even Levi had already arrived at the same conclusion not long ago. But then Zion’s brows furrowed as he suddenly recalled what Maxwell had said about the locust swarm and the components they had found from the biochemical agent before they departed.

The realization hit him, and his eyes widened. There was no mage nearby to relay the information, so he knew he needed to send a message to Addison immediately.

Seeing Zion’s urgency, Alpha Hue looked puzzled, while Maxwell stared at him, trying to figure out exactly what Zion was doing.

But Zion didn’t want to alarm Alpha Hue, knowing it might worry him and throw the pack into chaos. He forced himself to calm down and act normal, though Maxwell could tell something had triggered him.

Zion was trying too hard to mask his emotions, moving like an ant on a hot pan. Maxwell, however, said nothing and instead chatted briefly with Alpha Hue, giving Zion some space to regain his composure.

Once Alpha Hue walked away, Maxwell stepped closer to Zion, his expression stern. He leaned in and whispered, keeping his voice as low as possible. “What’s wrong with you?”

Since they couldn’t communicate via mindlink, Maxwell made sure no one nearby could overhear.

“I… I just remembered the Red Devourer you mentioned before… and then it hit me, the specific component Alchemist Malveric uncovered in the biochemical agent,” Zion said, his voice tight with tension. “I knew he was already working on a treatment agent to counter the biochemical’s effects, using the holy water Addison provided, but now I realize… it might not be enough.”

“Thinking about it, I believe we’ve been playing right into our enemy’s hands all along. They sent Greg to attack the Golden Hue Pack, to create chaos and provoke us…so we’d take the very action they wanted us to take, the use of the biochemical agent.”

Zion’s expression darkened, grim and burning with anger.

“Wait… are you telling me they’ve been manipulating us all along?…” Maxwell muttered, falling silent as he replayed the components Alchemist Malveric had discovered in the biochemical agent in his mind. His eyes widened, and his heart thudded violently as a wave of restlessness washed over him.