The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna
Chapter 169 His Job

Chapter 169: Chapter 169 His Job

Seeing the worry on her face, Lance’s heart softened. Without thinking, his hand reached out to gently pat her head, just like he used to. Surprisingly, Addison didn’t flinch or pull away. The familiar gesture seemed to comfort her, and that simple acceptance filled Lance with quiet joy.

"No," he said, his voice gentler now. "Nothing like that. I was called to discuss the logistics of the wheat and grain harvest from the South. We’re coordinating the transport of crops and livestock to minimize the damage from the locust swarm. Your father just wanted to go over the final plans."

"Wait, isn’t the harvest season still a bit far off?" Addison asked, brows slightly furrowed.

"The Alpha King suggested an early harvest," Lance explained with a shrug. "It might affect the quality, sure, but it’s better than letting everything go to waste, don’t you think?"

His voice softened as he looked at her, his gaze gentle.

"That makes sense..." Addison murmured. "Actually, I’m also being summoned by my father, but I need to stop by my palace first. You can go ahead—"

She turned to leave, but just as she took a step, Lance’s hand shot out like an arrow and gently caught her wrist.

"C-Can we go together?" Lance asked, his voice soft and hesitant. "I’ll wait for you outside your palace... and we can head there together. Is that okay?"

He looked almost painfully tense, his eyes pleading, like he feared she might hate him. When he realized he was still holding her wrist, he let go reluctantly.

Seeing him like that made Addison’s heart tremble. She still couldn’t remember much about him, but the sense of familiarity, the warmth she felt around him, was undeniable. And somehow, seeing him look so sad and lonely stirred something deep inside her.

So, she nodded.

They soon walked side by side toward her palace. As they moved in silence, a thought occurred to Addison: Why was her father seeking Lance’s help with logistics? Was it to assign him and his team to escort the caravan transporting the supplies?

Noticing her puzzled expression, Lance let out a soft, refreshing chuckle that broke the silence. Addison glanced up, meeting his eyes just as he looked down at her.

Then Lance began to explain. "My father is the appointed Royal Merchant; this kind of work is right up his alley. But he’s tied up at the moment and couldn’t come to the palace, so he asked me to step in."

"Besides, I’m the current Vice Captain of the border patrol, and I have extensive combat experience. There’s probably no one better suited for planning safe routes and overseeing logistics. So I agreed without hesitation, and the Alpha King had no objections."

But the truth was far from that simple.

Lance’s father had actually been prepared to handle the matter himself. He had never relied on Lance when it came to official duties. After all, Lance had always resisted stepping into his father’s shoes as Royal Merchant. From day one, he’d been fixated on one thing: serving as the Royal Princess’s bodyguard.

So, he had assumed today would be no different, until Lance surprised him.

Out of nowhere, Lance volunteered to attend the meeting with the Alpha King regarding the logistics to the South. Of course, his real motivation had nothing to do with grains or trade routes. Lance would seize any chance to be closer to Addison. Going to the Royal Palace gave him the perfect excuse for an "accidental" encounter.

And that’s exactly what the earlier collision had been, no accident. Lance had been waiting, watching, timing his move. He was nervous, knowing how sharp Addison usually was, how quickly she could piece things together.

But when she appeared distracted, even flushed, her cheeks puffed out with what looked like frustration, he knew she wouldn’t suspect a thing. She seemed far too consumed by whatever had just happened.

Still, he hated it. Hated the scent clinging to her skin, faint but unmistakable. He knew exactly who it belonged to.

Zion.

Even if it pained him, Lance couldn’t fault her. Fighting a mate bond was almost impossible. She was being pulled toward Zion like a bee to honey, and there was little she could do to resist.

But it didn’t make it any easier.

The thought of another man touching her, holding her, loving her, when Lance had spent years wanting nothing more than to be that man, twisted something inside him. His fists clenched at his sides, but he kept his expression neutral, letting the conversation flow naturally.

If nothing else, if he could just stay by her side a little longer, maybe, just maybe, he could keep her mind from drifting too far toward someone else.

"Oh? So your father was actually the Royal Merchant?" Addison raised a curious brow, looking up at Lance with a teasing glint in her eyes. "And you’re not planning to succeed his legacy? Help the kingdom’s economy thrive?" she asked, her tone light yet thoughtful. "You do know that the Royal Merchant holds significant power, right? Control over trade, resources, the livelihood of the people—it’s no small position."

She tilted her head slightly, smiling, but there was genuine wonder behind her words. Now that she had found out that Lance was actually the son of the Royal Merchant, even back then... why did he walk away from that path?

He could have had real influence in the Royal Court, more than most. It just feels like such a waste of potential. Addison chuckled softly. ’After all, where the money flows, power follows.’

"Well, my family used to come from a long line of powerful Alpha warriors," Lance began, a trace of pride in his voice. "But that changed when some of my ancestors got into business. They used their strength to escort caravans, and over time, they got used to the job, eventually becoming merchants. That shift brought ambition. They wanted status, not just strength. So, they started arranging marriages with noble families, trading power for influence."

He glanced off to the side, his tone turning a bit somber. "It worked. Our family’s reach grew, but so did the cost. The bloodline thinned; some of the daughters married into our family were weak with weaker wolves, unwanted by their own families, exchanged for money to save their declining names. It tainted what we used to stand for."

Lance looked back at Addison, a spark returning to his gaze. "But I didn’t want to be like them. I wanted to protect something pure. I wanted strength, not status, and then I met you. Back then, I was caught in an identity crisis, rebellious, always clashing with my father. But you..." He smiled gently. "You were like sunlight in my gray, pointless life, strong, brave, sharp. I didn’t need a title. I just knew I wanted to be your knight in shining armor."

He grinned, though there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes. He could tell Addison didn’t remember him, not really. He didn’t know why, but he could guess. Maybe something happened during her abduction, some trauma that erased parts of her past. It wasn’t unheard of. And so, he told himself: if she had forgotten, it was his job to help her remember, every moment they once shared.