The Alpha's Regret Return Of The Betrayed Luna (Addison) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Chapter 16 A Bet

The Midnight River Pack had only just begun to rebuild after three long years of chaos and loss. They were still standing on unsteady ground, struggling to regain the respect they’d once commanded.

What they needed now were strong, capable leaders who could project that strength to the world—who could remind the other packs and races that they weren’t to be trifled with.

And Addison? She couldn’t offer them that. No matter how Beta Greg looked at it, she wasn’t a symbol of power. She was a variable—an unpredictable risk at a time when they could least afford one.

As much as the pack needed a strong Alpha to lead them, they equally needed a powerful Luna—someone who could stand beside their Alpha, guide the pack with wisdom and strength, and one day bear a stronger Alpha bloodline that would become the hope and future of their people.

Thinking about this, Beta Greg couldn’t help but furrow his brows in frustration. A wave of repulsion washed over him at the thought of Addison.

He didn’t even need to speak for Zion to notice—thanks to the deep connection he shared with his pack as their Alpha, Zion could sense the emotional undercurrents running through them. And right now, he could clearly feel his Beta’s dissatisfaction pulsing through that bond.

If not for the former Alpha’s influence, Zion was certain that no one in the pack would have accepted Addison in the first place.

From the very beginning—when his father returned home on the brink of death, carrying an unconscious girl in his arms—Zion had been filled with resentment. That same girl, Addison, was later revealed to be his chosen mate, chosen by his father.

The idea alone stirred intense dissatisfaction within him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Addison was cunning and manipulative, seizing the opportunity to secure a position of power as Luna of the Midnight River Pack, the second strongest in the werewolf world at the time.

But after his father’s death, everything crumbled. The pack was swiftly trampled by their enemies, pressured from all sides, and their status plummeted.

Alliances were severed without hesitation—no one feared retaliation anymore. All the weight of survival and leadership fell onto Zion’s shoulders the moment he came of age.

His father hadn’t even completed his Alpha training for Zion, leaving him to figure things out on his own. Zion had to lead his warriors into battle after battle, facing overwhelming odds against vampires who attacked with brutal tactics and sheer numbers.

The pressure was suffocating—and the bitterness he felt toward Addison only deepened.

Even Zion had momentarily forgotten his resentment toward Addison after spending some time with her. They hadn’t spoken about their past—no discussions about the three years they had been apart, no attempts to understand each other.

Instead, they just mated like it was mating season, consumed by instinct rather than intention.

Now that Zion looked back on it, a deep frown creased his face. It felt wrong. He felt like he had been under a spell—seduced, drawn in, manipulated. The idea that he might have been charmed rather than truly willing unsettled him.

He hated it. He hated the feeling of losing control over himself, like his body had betrayed his mind.

Frustrated and exasperated after discussing the pressing matter of the Royals with his Beta—specifically the preparations they needed to make while waiting for the royal convoy to escort the princess back to the capital—Zion stormed off to the training grounds.

His Beta trailed after him, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. He recognized that look in Zion’s eyes: turmoil, conflict, the desperate need to shake off the weight of everything clouding his mind.

"If I win," Greg declared, "you’ll follow my arrangement for the entire week—no complaints."

Zion let out a low chuckle, a rare smirk playing on his lips. "Bold of you, considering you always lose. What’ll you do when you lose again?"

"Alpha Zion, I always lose anyway. Can’t you at least give me the small satisfaction of a reward if I win?" Beta Greg said shamelessly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Just a little something to help mend my fragile ego and give me a sense of fulfillment."

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