Chapter 355: Chapter 355 Where Are You Looking?
"But if I, in my weakness or failure, wrong you unjustly, then may the Moon Goddess punish me and my bloodline down to the eighteenth generation, to atone for my sin and my incompetence to lead."
As she spoke, Addison gently placed her hand upon Mary’s head, then on her shoulder, a solemn gesture of acceptance and blessing in the name of the Moon Goddess.
"Now, my servant, rise with confidence and stand tall like an arrow. May your path be illuminated by the Moon Goddess’s blessing, and may success follow you in all that you do."
Addison concluded the simple ceremony with a solemn blessing before stepping back to give Mary room to rise. As soon as Addison moved away, Mary lifted her head, meeting Addison’s gentle gaze and warm smile.
"Thank you, my lord. I will do my best to live up to your expectations," Mary said softly. She then reached out, taking Addison’s hands in hers, and pressed a reverent kiss to the back of her hand, a gesture of loyalty and devotion, sealing her vow to her new lord... her new king.
After a brief moment, Mary straightened and bowed once more. "My lord, please bestow upon this servant your first command."
Addison felt her eyebrow twitch. She wasn’t particularly fond of such formal etiquette, perhaps because she had grown used to the indifference of the people from the Midnight River Pack.
Or maybe it was because she had long forgotten what it was like to be treated as a princess. Either way, the display of such formality made her feel oddly stiff and uneasy, as if even her face had forgotten how to react naturally.
Still, she reminded herself to maintain her composure. "First, let’s continue on our way so we can return to your pack as soon as possible and proceed with the evacuation," Addison said calmly.
Mary nodded. "Understood." She turned and rejoined the others, taking her place in formation as they prepared to depart.
Just then, Zion returned after confirming that the route ahead was clear. He had already devised an alternative path and came back to discuss it with Addison, only to sense something unusual in the air between her and Mary.
His eyes followed Mary’s retreating figure before shifting to Addison, catching the fleeting hint of awkwardness in her expression before she quickly regained her composure.
Even though it lasted only a moment, Zion noticed.
"I scouted a new route and made sure there are no monster nests or dwellings nearby. The others have confirmed it as well, and we’re ready to depart at any time. Do you have anything you’d like to add before we move out?" Zion said as he approached Addison.
His body still glistened with sweat, his chest rising and falling steadily after running at full speed for quite some time. Hearing his voice, Addison instinctively turned toward him, only to freeze for a moment.
He was wearing nothing but grey sweatpants, his tanned skin slick with sweat that traced the lines of his abs before disappearing beneath the waistband.
Her gaze followed one stray droplet, and before she realized it, her eyes had wandered a little too low. The faint outline beneath the fabric made her throat tighten, and she quickly swallowed the lump that formed there. For a brief moment, her mind went completely blank, forgetting everything she was about to say.
Meanwhile, Zion watched her reaction with barely concealed amusement, his lips curving into a knowing smile as he took in every flicker of her expression.
"My face is up here," Zion drawled with a teasing smirk. "Or... did you want to come closer for a better look?"
He shifted slightly, the movement causing a noticeable stir beneath the thin fabric of his pants. Of course, he wasn’t wearing anything underneath; he hadn’t bothered, knowing he’d be changing again before they set out.
Addison felt her face heat up at Zion’s teasing words, realizing with mortification that he had noticed exactly where her gaze had lingered. She quickly snapped her eyes up to his face before turning away, clearing her throat in a futile attempt to regain composure.
"Alright then... just lead the group. We’re moving out," she said briskly, her tone a little too firm, as if trying to run away from the moment itself.
She marched back toward the caravan and stopped at the front, completely forgetting that she didn’t have a horse or any mount with her. She stood there, looking unintentionally lost, which only made Zion burst into hearty laughter.
He never expected to see this flustered, slightly clumsy side of Addison, and to his surprise, he found it absolutely adorable.
Still chuckling, Zion slipped behind a nearby tree, tugged off his sweatpants, and shifted into his wolf form. Moments later, he padded over to Addison, ready to serve as her mount once more.
When Zion appeared in his wolf form, Addison couldn’t help but notice the teasing glint in his eyes. He couldn’t speak, of course, but that look alone was enough to make her face burn even hotter. Pretending not to notice, she focused instead on climbing up as Zion lowered himself for her.
Addison gripped his thick fur and carefully swung herself onto his back. Once she was seated comfortably, she glanced behind them; the others were already in position, and the coachmen stood ready, reins in hand, waiting for her command.
Seeing that everything was set, Addison gave a firm nod.
"Let’s move!" she ordered.
At her signal, Zion began to stride forward, his powerful frame leading the group. The warriors followed closely, keeping just a step behind him. After the encounter with the ogre and the goblins, everyone had become far more vigilant of their surroundings.
Though Addison was strong, she was still their princess, and without her personal guards present, and since Lance had been left behind to guard the border, only Zion stood as her protector.
Recognizing this, the warriors instinctively moved nearer, positioning themselves so they could shield her at a moment’s notice if another ambush occurred. Mary, meanwhile, took up the rear, watching their surroundings with sharp eyes.
Because of Addison’s contributions this time, especially her generous supply of healing potions, the warriors’ loyalty toward her grew stronger than ever. Even without Mary urging them to show more respect, their admiration and gratitude came naturally.
Seeing this, Mary felt a wave of relief. She was certain now that offering herself to Addison had been the right choice. A quiet happiness warmed her chest as she realized her pack members understood her intentions and shared her respect for their new lord.
Not far ahead, Zion noticed the subtle shift in the group’s attitude. Seeing them offer their protection to his mate, he said nothing, only continued marching forward, a faint, satisfied glint in his eyes.
Since they had lost so much time fighting and resting, Zion quickened their pace. Soon, they were running again, the rhythmic thud of wooden wheels striking the rocky ground echoed through the air, accompanied by the rattling of crates inside the carts.
No one spoke. The group moved in silence, each step steady and alert. Even the children riding in the mule cart stayed quiet, their wide eyes scanning their surroundings with vigilance. It was as if the encounter they had just survived had forced them to grow up overnight.
"Kids, you should try to sleep while we’re on the road," one of the elders said gently, his voice soft as he tried to coax the children to rest.
They had all been terrified during the attack, crying and screaming in fear as chaos unfolded around them. The memory of bloodied faces and people being attacked was heartbreaking enough. Now, though, the children sat quietly, eyes wide and alert, watching their surroundings with an unnatural vigilance.
At their age, fear should have been fleeting, replaced by curiosity or play. But after what they’d witnessed, none of the adults could blame them. All they could do was hope that the children wouldn’t carry the weight of that fear for too long, that they wouldn’t be scarred too deeply by the horrors they’d seen.
"I’m not scared. I know the Goddess of War was with us. We just wanted to help keep watch," one of the children said, his small voice steady despite the lingering fear. The adults turned toward him, surprised by his words.
"That’s right! The Goddess of War was with us, there’s nothing to be afraid of!" another child chimed in with innocent conviction.
The adults exchanged glances, their expressions softening. Mary, who had come over to check on them, couldn’t help but smile as she overheard the exchange. She had thought she was the only one who’d witnessed Addison’s heroic side earlier, but to realize that even the children had seen and been inspired by her left her deeply moved.
The fear that once filled the children’s eyes had now been replaced by awe and excitement. They spoke of Addison with admiration, as if she were a hero they longed to become one day.