CHAPTER 257: CHAPTER 257 MISSING

"I know, buddy. I was wrong... but I’ll do my best to win her over," Zion murmured. Shura only rolled its eyes with a huff before retreating to the far corner of his mind.

Zion knew Addison was trying, trying to reciprocate their bond, trying to make sense of the tangled connection she shared with the three of them.

But he could also feel the hatred simmering inside her chest, the scars of how he had once treated her. He saw it in her eyes—the unspoken desire to tear him apart, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain he had inflicted on her.

And yet, instead of lashing out, she chose silence. She ignored him, pushed him aside, and pretended he wasn’t there.

That indifference cut deeper than any accusation or angry word could. If she yelled, if she raged, it would mean he still mattered to her. But this cold distance... this quiet dismissal... it was a silent declaration that she wanted nothing to do with him anymore. And that was the one thing Zion dreaded most.

But now, as he thought about it, Zion finally understood what Addison must have gone through—alone in his pack, forced to swallow every vile word his pack members hurled at her, enduring their disrespect without a way to fight back.

She had no choice but to bury her grievances and push forward, and the weight of it must have crushed her spirit and twisted her mentality. No wonder when he returned, she looked haggard and worn, so different from the radiant woman she was now. The stark contrast only highlighted how deeply he had failed her, and guilt clawed at him all the more.

"Shut up. Stop wallowing in self-pity and start acting!"

Shura suddenly snapped inside his mind before vanishing again, temperamental as ever. Zion let out a dry chuckle at his wolf’s sharp tongue, then continued washing himself.

After finishing his shower, Zion slipped on only a pair of pants before collapsing onto his bed. Exhaustion quickly pulled him under, and he was asleep within moments. Maxwell and Levi weren’t any different; each was lost in his own thoughts about the tangled bond they shared with Addison.

The mate bond weighed heavily on them, stirring a storm of mixed emotions, and the strain left them more drained than they had ever felt before. By the time they washed up, they too surrendered to sleep.

For four straight hours, the room remained quiet, all three lost in restless slumber, until a sharp knock broke the silence. Blinking awake, they realized the sound wasn’t meant for them at all. It was coming from Addison’s door. Lance was standing outside, knocking firmly.

"Addie, are you awake?" Lance called softly as he knocked on Addison’s door. Morning light was already spilling across the sky, and by her instructions, they should have been preparing to leave after breakfast.

A sumptuous meal had been prepared for them by the former Gamma and former Luna of the pack, who had taken it upon themselves to host in the absence of the current Alpha and his core members.

With the Alpha and his Luna still at the Royal Palace for the ongoing conference with the other Alphas, it fell to the former leaders to ensure everything ran smoothly. They did their best to accommodate everyone’s needs, especially keeping the Princess and her party’s comfort at the forefront.

Their horses had already rested, with fodder and water prepared for the journey ahead. They had also replenished their food supplies, ensuring they could continue traveling without worry.

Still, he understood that Addison had endured far more than the others. Yesterday, she and the others had faced a Night Walker, a creature spoken of only in legends and believed to be unkillable. Yet, against all odds, they had managed to drive it away.

Addison stirred at the faint voice outside her door, but it reached her ears only as a distant murmur. Her head felt heavy, and when she pressed a hand to her forehead, she realized she had a slight fever.

Every muscle in her body ached. She remembered collapsing the moment her body hit the mattress, face buried in the sheets while her legs still dangled off the edge. It hadn’t been a proper sleep at all, more like passing out from sheer exhaustion.

No wonder she woke sore from head to toe, her neck and shoulders stiff as if she had slept in the worst position possible. On top of that, a wave of sluggishness and irritation weighed on her, making her mood even darker.

So when she heard Lance’s voice reporting from outside, she forced herself to listen."Addie, we’ve already restocked our supplies. The horses are well-fed and rested, and we’re ready to leave at any moment. The former Luna and former Gamma have also prepared breakfast for us, hoping you could join. Should I accept their offer, or would you prefer we depart right away?" Lance asked.

Addison rubbed at her temples before answering, her voice low and hoarse with sleep."Please let them know we’ll be joining them for breakfast. Just give me a few minutes to wash up, and I’ll be down."

"Alright, take your time. Don’t rush and end up leaving shampoo in your hair," Lance teased lightly.

When he glanced up, however, he was met with three pairs of eyes glaring daggers at him. It was far too early in the morning for him to be shamelessly flirting with someone else’s mate.

Yet, instead of backing down, Lance only smirked, returning their glares with a bold look of his own before turning on his heel and striding away.

Addison, on the other hand, caught the scent of her mates the moment they stepped out of their rooms. Even through the gaps in the doors, their distinct fragrance slipped through, stirring her groggy mind awake.

Still sluggish, she went straight to the shower without noticing anything unusual or bothering to examine herself too closely. Since her wolf had yet to fully return, it wasn’t surprising that her body remained vulnerable, prone to light fevers like an ordinary human whenever she pushed herself too hard. She didn’t dwell on it.

After a quick shower, she slipped into comfortable pants and a shirt, towel-dried her hair, and tied it into a high bun. Just as she prepared to head downstairs, her eyes fell on the bundle of clothes. Pausing, she loosened it slightly to peek inside, then froze.

’Where are the dark fairies?! Did they wake up while I was asleep and fly away?!’ Addison’s heart lurched as panic set in. She sniffed the air, desperate to catch any trace of an intruder who might have slipped into her room to steal them. But there was nothing, no unfamiliar scent, no sign of the windows being opened, not even the curtains had been disturbed.

Her anxiety spiked as she tore through the room in a frantic search. ’Where are they?!’ The words nearly burst from her lips, but she bit them back, afraid of waking anyone and exposing the secret of the dark fairies.

Her mind, still clouded and fragile from last night, felt tangled and restless. She knew there was something important she needed to share, something she should have said last night, but her thoughts wouldn’t settle.

Disoriented, overwhelmed, it was as if every emotion within her had been magnified, dragging her into a storm of overthinking and turbulent feelings.