Chapter 102: Chapter 102 Preparations

“Alpha Zion,” Levi said boldly, “if the Alpha King really intends to hold Luna Addison responsible for what happened to Princess Claire three years ago… and sends a hunter after her, then maybe we can use that to our advantage.”

Zion looked at him, startled, as Levi continued, “We could track the hunter—follow him from a distance. When he finds her, we use that moment to step in and get to her first. We take her away and protect her before he can make a move.”

After all, they say no one can find someone faster than a Hunter. If they were going to find Addison, this might be their only chance.

Zion shook his head. Using a hunter could only be their last resort—no matter what, it was too dangerous. Hunters were ruthless; they knew exactly how to exploit their target’s weaknesses.

They couldn’t risk Addison’s life like that. What if the hunter was the type who always killed their target, especially when the Alpha King hadn’t specified whether he wanted her alive or dead? That uncertainty made the idea too risky.

As Zion’s expression grew darker, Levi realized the same thing. He immediately dismissed the thought from his mind. No matter how desperate he was to find Addison, he couldn’t afford to endanger her. So, he forced himself to stay still and think.

“Let’s think this through more seriously. For now, we should prepare to head to the Royal Capital. It seems we can’t afford to reject this invitation,” Zion said as he stood by the window, leaning his whole body to the side with his arms crossed. “Besides, this might be our only chance to report our findings directly to the Alpha King.”

His eyes were red and weary, evidence of too many sleepless nights. Zion hadn’t rested properly in days—haunted by the same recurring nightmare of Addison, bloodied and crawling, over and over again.

“Alpha Zion, I think you should rest. You’ve been working nonstop without sleep for days. Even if werewolves have strong bodies and fast healing, you can’t keep pushing yourself like this,” Levi advised, frowning as he looked at Zion.

He noticed Zion had lost weight. Even though Levi was still angry at him—for what he had done to Addison—he couldn’t ignore the exhaustion in his Alpha’s eyes.

It was Zion’s neglect that had led to Addison’s suffering, and while Levi had every right to resent him, he had also served at Zion’s side for three years. He could see how deeply Zion regretted everything.

But regret didn’t change the past. It didn’t erase the fact that Addison had endured years of torment because of their decaying mate bond—or that she’d been tortured by Gerg. What Zion was doing now looked less like perseverance and more like self-destruction.

Was this his guilt consuming him? Was he punishing himself? Maybe. Or maybe his conscience had finally caught up with him.

Zion didn’t answer right away. He stood in silence, staring out the window for what felt like a very long time. Levi stepped closer and followed his gaze.

Zion was looking straight at the garden—the one Addison used to tend when she was still with the pack. It was still lush, vibrant, and just as beautiful as it had been before she disappeared. That was because Zion had been caring for it every single day. He watered the plants himself, loosened the soil with his own hands.

The garden had become his quiet refuge, a place where he could find a sliver of peace amidst the chaos in his mind. It was his therapy—his way of grounding himself whenever the storm inside his head grew too loud. Especially when Shura, his wolf, threatened to lose control.

“Alright, I’ll be in my room. You take care of the preparations—make sure everything we need is packed. Also, tighten the defense line once we leave the territory, and have Gamma Mike take over pack leadership in our absence,” Zion said as he slowly walked out of the room. His tall frame seemed slightly hunched, his steps heavy, revealing just how exhausted he was.

Gamma Mike, who had recently taken over Levi’s former role, was a reliable and diligent warrior from a strong lineage of Gammas. He possessed not only a sharp strategic mind but also a compassionate heart—traits that made him an ideal second-in-command to the Luna. Currently, Gamma Mike oversaw the warriors’ training.

While Zion occasionally took charge of the training sessions himself when his schedule allowed, his sessions were notoriously grueling. Warriors often left the field limping, groaning, and covered in sweat. In contrast, Gamma Mike maintained a sense of balance—he pushed the warriors hard but never to the point of breaking them. His practical approach earned him the respect and loyalty of the entire unit.

One of the admirable things about Gamma Mike was that, despite the rumors swirling about Claire potentially becoming the future Luna, he never once tried to curry favor with her. He understood his role clearly—his duty was to serve the Luna chosen by his Alpha. And since Claire had not been chosen, she wasn’t his Luna.

Gamma Mike drew a firm line and didn’t take orders from anyone outside the chain of command. With no official Luna in place, and with Alpha Zion still recognizing Addison—though missing—as the true Luna of the pack, Gamma Mike simply focused on his responsibilities and waited for Addison’s return.

He was also one of the very few in the pack who never criticized Addison or blamed her for the former Alpha’s death. That integrity and loyalty were part of why Levi had recommended him for the position. It wasn’t just because Mike came from a strong Gamma lineage, but because he was the right man for the job—principled, capable, and trustworthy.

After all, Levi didn’t want to place another sycophant in a position of power—someone others could manipulate, like what happened with Greg. Even though there was no solid evidence proving that Claire and Greg had conspired against Addison, Levi trusted Addison’s character deeply. He knew she wasn’t the kind of person to betray or mistreat anyone, let alone deserve the treatment she endured.

To Levi, the only logical explanation was that she had been framed. And the way it all unfolded suggested that many within the pack had sided with Claire—Greg, that deceased omega, and likely others. To prevent history from repeating itself, it was essential to assign important roles only to people who couldn’t be easily swayed by emotions or external influence.

They needed leaders who followed only their Alpha’s command—no one else’s.

“Gamma Mike.” Levi reached out through the mindlink as he watched Zion walk out of the room.

“Yes, Beta Levi?”

“Choose some of our best warriors and have them prepare for departure. The Alpha and I have been summoned to the Royal Palace, and we’ll be bringing Claire with us. While we’re gone, we cannot allow anyone unauthorized to enter our territory. I’m entrusting this responsibility to you.”

Levi’s tone was calm and composed. He trusted Gamma Mike—but not enough to reveal Claire’s true identity. Even after all these years, no one had discovered that Claire was the missing princess from the Royal Capital.

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