The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna-Chapter 497 Acting As The Next Alpha King

The Alpha King could only hope Addison would not disappoint him.

So he waited.

He offered no advice, no opinion, no guidance. Through the communication crystal, he simply watched her with a calm, unreadable gaze, as though they were not discussing the possible downfall of their entire kingdom.

And Addison understood.

She recognized that look. Her father was not speaking to her as a parent, but as a king testing his heir.

This was a trial.

The weight of it settled heavily on her shoulders. Her breathing quickened even when she was doing her best trying to calm her nerves, but her eyes gradually hardened. She met his gaze through the crystal without flinching, refusing to look away.

"Indeed, we may not have much time," Addison said, her voice steady and resolute. "Our enemies all have their own agendas, and we may never be able to untangle every thread behind their actions."

She held her father’s gaze.

"But that is precisely why we must move one step at a time. Instead of digging blindly for answers, we should slow down and examine what is already in front of us. Many clues may be hidden in plain sight, details we’ve overlooked because we were trying too hard to look deeper instead of carefully digesting what we already know."

She wasn’t trying to sow doubt or make her father question his closest confidants in the Royal Court.

What she wanted was for them to become more observant.

To pay attention to the people around them, who might have motives to betray them, and who could still be trusted. Because if their enemies had already infiltrated the Royal Capital, it meant they had recruited many to their side... possibly even among the nobles.

Which meant that she and her father could only do one thing now, and that is to secure the loyalty of those who remained, gather trustworthy individuals to their side, and slowly rebuild their strength with the allies they still had.

As the saying goes, no man is an island. Addison knew that she and her family were never meant to face this alone. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

In fact, involving others might work to their advantage. Giving trusted individuals meaningful responsibilities would not only lighten their burden but also strengthen those people’s sense of purpose, deepening their loyalty and reinforcing their sense of worth in serving the crown.

This was exactly what they needed now, especially after realizing they were surrounded by enemies on all sides.

Addison had only come to this understanding recently, when Mary swore her loyalty to her. Before that, she had been doing everything wrong. She had been trying to fight alone, trying to prove her strength and worth as the heir apparent. She hadn’t even made proper use of her fated mates, who are powerful allies who stood firmly by her side.

She had been trying to show she could carry everything by herself.

But she finally understood that a monarch was never meant to stand alone.

A ruler was meant to lead. And to lead, one needed people to lead.

What was the point of being a future Alpha King if she had no followers?

With this realization, she knew she needed to gather more trustworthy people to her side, people who could share the burden, allowing her to focus on what truly mattered while extending her eyes and ears across the kingdom.

And she wanted her father to do the same.

At the same time, given their current predicament, they couldn’t simply accept everyone who wished to follow them. Spies could easily slip in among eager supporters, seeking to get as close as possible to Addison and those around her. From there, it would be far easier for the enemy to gather information and craft more precise schemes against them.

They had to be selective. Careful. Discerning.

And that would not be easy.

It would test Addison’s ability to recognize talent and sincerity, to find hidden gems among ordinary stones. For a future Alpha King, this was not just useful; it was essential.

In fact, she began to wonder if her father had been preparing her for this all along. Perhaps that was why he constantly pushed her to be more hands-on in managing the kingdom, assigning her more responsibilities, encouraging her to observe people directly.

So she could learn, with her own eyes, who was worth trusting... and who was worth bringing to her side.

After hearing Addison’s reasoning, the Alpha King’s stern expression softened slightly. He looked at her for a long moment before giving a small nod.

"I understand. We will proceed as you suggest... Addison."

His tone was still serious, but the deliberate use of her name told her everything. He was no longer speaking to her as a father, but as a king acknowledging his successor. He was listening, assessing, and taking her words with full weight.

Sensing the shift, Addison subconsciously straightened her back and lifted her chin, meeting his gaze without wavering.

"For now, my trusted aides and I will focus on securing the Royal Palace from any spies. We already know there is at least one, likely more, feeding information to our enemies..."

Before he could finish, Addison gently cut in.

"Father, I don’t think it would be wise to alert them just yet. It would be better to identify the spies first without raising suspicion. If they realize we’re moving against them, they’ll disappear."

Her eyes sharpened. "We should monitor them quietly... and use them to lead us to the rest of their network."

"So you intend to cast a wider net and catch them all at once," the Alpha King said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Not a bad idea."

He nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. He kept his expression carefully neutral, but inside, satisfaction welled up. Her words showed resolve, clarity, and caution, proof that she was treating this situation with the seriousness it demanded.

And he was pleased with what he saw.

More than that... he was proud.

For a fleeting moment, an old memory surfaced: a small, soft bundle of a child running through the gardens, tugging at his robes, calling out Father over and over with endless chatter.

Now, that same child stood before him, calmly discussing the fate of their kingdom.

Time had passed so quickly that he hadn’t even noticed until now.

"Yes, Father," Addison replied with a firm nod, her gaze sharp and unwavering. "I want to cast a wide net and root out every one of those spies. That way, when we finally act, none of them will be able to slip away and cause trouble later."

"I understand," the Alpha King said. "My people and I will handle this quietly. We’ll update you on our progress once you return to the Royal Capital."

He paused briefly before asking,

"When do you plan to come back?"

"Father, we’ve already evacuated everyone from the Golden Hue Pack and the neighboring packs, along with the livestock, grain stores, and harvested crops," Addison explained calmly. "Right now, we’re gathering the materials needed to construct a larger teleportation portal. Archmage Elric and his mages used a great deal of resources maintaining the barrier, so we need time to replenish what’s required."

She paused before continuing,

"It will likely take about three days before we can return. I hope you can prepare some people on your side to help transport the goods once the portal is opened."

"Indeed, Your Majesty," Archmage Elric said respectfully. "My disciples and I have expended a great deal of our resources maintaining the barrier. However, the materials we now require are neither rare nor difficult to obtain. Otherwise, it would take weeks to gather them, and we would be forced to travel on foot instead."

He straightened slightly.

"I can assure you that three days will be sufficient. By then, my disciples and I will be fully rested and ready to escort everyone and the supplies, safely back to the borders of the Royal Capital."

As he spoke, his long beard trembled faintly. He placed his right hand over his chest, above his heart.

It was not a casual gesture.

He was sealing his words with a mana oath, binding his promise with the very essence of his power. Such an oath could not be broken without severe consequences. At best, his mana level would regress; at worst, his mana core could shatter, leaving him powerless... or dead.

The Alpha King recognized the weight of that act immediately. He thought it was excessive, but he also understood why Elric had done it.

After everything he had just heard, the archmage was making his allegiance unmistakably clear.

He would never betray the father and daughter.

And since Archmage Elric had gone to such lengths, swearing a mana-bound oath when it wasn’t strictly necessary, both Addison and the Alpha King felt a mixture of awe and gratitude. They were deeply reassured that such a powerful mage had chosen their side without hesitation.