Chapter 238: Chapter 238 Blocked

Lance mind-linked one of the guards. “Take a few men and quietly check the route we came from. See if there’s any way we can circle back and return to the correct path.”

“Understood, sir!” the guard replied through the mindlink. He quickly connected with the nearest guards. “Come with me!” As soon as they nodded, the small group turned and ran back the way they came.

Meanwhile, Zion and Maxwell, after carefully assessing their surroundings and sensing no immediate threat in the eerie atmosphere, shifted back into their human forms. Their bodies were streaked with blood, especially around their mouths, where it had already begun to dry. Despite the exhaustion weighing on them, their first instinct was to check on Addison.

When they returned to her cart, what they saw immediately ignited a storm of jealousy inside them. Addison nestled in Levi’s arms.

Their gazes darkened.

The sight struck a nerve, raw and deep. Perhaps it was the lingering tension from the earlier fight or the rush of adrenaline still coursing through their veins, but their Alpha instincts surged violently.

Possessiveness flared within them like a flame to dry grass. Both Zion and Maxwell felt the overpowering urge to rip Levi away from her… or worse.

Addison, too consumed by her thoughts and her struggle to summon her wolf, only belatedly noticed Zion and Maxwell standing at the rear of her cart. When she looked up, she was startled to find both Alphas glaring murderously at Levi.

But Levi didn’t flinch.

He stood his ground, eyes locked onto theirs with a defiant fire. As Addison’s fated mate, he believed he had just as much right to be by her side, and he refused to be intimidated. His wolf echoed that defiance, standing tall on all fours, fur bristling and fangs bared in a silent challenge.

Zion’s expression darkened further.

Seeing his own Beta baring fangs at him sparked a fury deep within him. The insult to his dominance and the challenge to his place beside Addison ignited his Alpha instincts, and tension crackled in the air like a lit fuse ready to explode.

“Stop!” Addison’s voice rang out, firm and commanding, just before the tension between the three could explode into a full-blown brawl. She could sense that both Zion and Maxwell were still reeling from the earlier fight, blood still clung to their bodies, and the remnants of their bloodlust made them volatile and on edge. The last thing they needed right now was infighting, especially with danger still lurking nearby.

Moments later, Lance arrived, stepping up to the cart with urgency in his eyes.

“Addie, are you alright?” he asked, peering inside with concern.

Outside, Zion and Maxwell stood on either side of the cart, trying to wipe the blood off their bodies while struggling to calm their turbulent emotions. Zion, in particular, was having a harder time; his wolf, Shura, was pacing restlessly inside him, growling low and deep.

The murderous aura radiating from him hadn’t faded yet, and it took every ounce of willpower to keep it contained.

“I’m fine,” Addison replied with a faint smile, though her eyes betrayed her exhaustion. “What’s the situation outside?”

“I sent a few guards to scout the road behind us,” Lance said, his brows furrowed with concern. “If we’re lucky, we might be able to turn back. If that’s the case, we could wait here until those rogues retreat and then return to our original path.”

Addison shook her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. “I doubt it’ll be that easy. They’ve probably anticipated that and are already guarding the exit. Turning back might not even be an option anymore.”

Lance fell silent for a moment, her words sinking in. “You’re right… If they planned this ambush, they wouldn’t leave any openings.”

Now faced with two grim choices, forcing their way back through the rogues or pressing forward into the unknown, they both knew the odds weren’t in their favor. Either path was just as dangerous. Their enemies weren’t just trying to kill them; they were likely hoping to exploit this moment of chaos… possibly to abduct Addison again while she was most vulnerable.

Although they had anticipated an ambush, they hadn’t expected it to be like this. The enemy’s tactics were downright suicidal; they threw wave after wave of rogues at them with no regard for casualties. ’They’re truly insane,’ Lance cursed inwardly.

Before long, the guards Lance had sent to scout the rear returned. They immediately shifted back to their human forms and stood beside him, their expressions grim. Fortunately, half their bodies were hidden by the elevated cart, so Addison didn’t have to worry about seeing anything inappropriate, and she could clearly hear the report.

“Captain, after checking the road behind us, we discovered that just beyond the foggy path, there’s a barrier enclosing the area. We can’t return the way we came,” the guard reported grimly.

At his words, Lance, Zion, Maxwell, Addison, and Levi’s expressions turned stone-cold. No wonder the rogues had fought so recklessly to drive them into this dark forest; they had already set up a barrier at the exit. Once the caravan entered, there was no turning back. They had been herded here deliberately, like prey into a trap.

Even if the rogues retreated, there was no escaping back to the original route. It could only mean one thing: this entire ambush had been meticulously planned from the very beginning.

“Please call Archmage Elric,” Addison instructed the guard.

The guard gave a respectful nod and bowed before hurrying toward Elric’s carriage. He returned shortly with the Archmage in tow.

“Your Highness,” Elric greeted, bowing deeply. “How may I be of service?”

“Archmage Elric,” Addison began, her tone steady, “we’ve just learned that the path we passed earlier is now enclosed by a barrier. Could you go and examine it? See if it’s possible to break it, or at the very least, identify what kind of barrier it is.”

She paused for a moment before adding, “There are many types of barriers, each with different conditions for removal. If our escape route is already sealed, there’s a chance the path ahead might be blocked too. And advancing blindly through this forest could be suicidal, especially since we’re deep in the dark fairies’ territory.”

Everyone agreed with Addison’s reasoning, rushing ahead without knowing what lay in wait could easily lead them into a deadlier trap. It was wiser to stay put and allow Elric time to study the barrier. Resting and conserving their strength was the most logical move for now, especially in case they needed to fight again later.

Addison then turned to Lance. “Lance, please try contacting the Royal Palace and inform them of our current situation. Let them know we might be delayed on our journey.”

She needed to ensure her royal father was made aware. If they could send backup, scouts, or even just monitor the situation, it would make a difference. And if not, at the very least, the palace wouldn’t be left in the dark or consumed with worry.

“I understand,” Lance replied with a firm nod before heading off to find one of the mages who could help him establish a connection with the Royal Palace using a communication crystal.

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