The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 192: Chapter 192 A Trap

Addison was about to rise from her seat and join her mates when Leon gently pulled her back down beside him. "Leave them be," he said smoothly, leaning closer. "This is simply part of our culture. Please don’t take offense. We Tigrens, are naturally sensual beings, a bit more free-spirited. Your Alpha mates are just too appealing to resist; it’s only natural that the women would want to touch them."

His words, meant to soothe, only stoked the fire raging inside her. Every word sounded like an excuse, weak and dismissive, and it infuriated her. Trying to suppress the burning jealousy in her chest, Addison reached for her cup and began to drink more without thinking. The fruity wine slid down her throat, doing little to calm her flaring emotions.

The more her anger simmered, the bolder the Tigren women became. Their eyes roamed hungrily over Zion and the others, practically undressing them with every lingering glance. Their touches became more suggestive, their gazes filled with desire. Addison’s chest tightened, and before she could stop herself, a low, warning snarl escaped her lips.

But instead of being intimidated, the Tigren women only grew more intrigued. Her reaction thrilled them. They’d never seen a mate bond in action before, never witnessed such raw, instinctual possessiveness, and now, they were excited to see just how far they could push her.

It felt almost intentional, like the women were doing it on purpose. Maybe this was their way of retaliating against her for "stealing" their Chieftain’s attention, punishing her not with direct confrontation, but by targeting her mates instead. And it was working, more than Addison wanted to admit.

Even though she still had mixed feelings about the mate bond, deep down, she knew this wasn’t something she could just run from. This wasn’t a bond she chose, one that could be severed with a decision and endured through a moment of pain. No, this was a fated bond, something sacred, bestowed by the Moon Goddess herself. And that made it different. Unbreakable. Irrevocable. Permanent.

"Stop drinking, Princess Addison," Leon said, reaching to take the silver goblet from her hand. But Addison held onto it tightly and took another long sip, ignoring his attempt. With a sigh, half exasperated, half indulgent, Leon relented and poured her another drink before refilling his own. He raised his cup and clinked it gently against hers, a wide grin tugging at his lips.

But Addison barely spared him a glance. Her eyes were fixed on her mates, tracking every movement they made. Jealousy clouded her thoughts, consuming her focus entirely and blinding her to everything else around her.noveldrama

As she drank, she noticed a strange, rusty, and fishy aftertaste in the wine, but she dismissed it, too distracted by the storm brewing in her chest. Unbeknownst to her, Leon drank too, his grin widening as he watched her over the rim of his goblet.

Then, the same woman who had tended to Addison earlier returned, but this time, she looked entirely different. Dressed in ceremonial black robes with a veil covering her face, her presence now carried an air of authority. Strange markings adorned her arms and neck, ones Addison hadn’t noticed before. Without a word, the woman stepped into the center of the gathering.

"Everyone," she announced, her voice calm but commanding, "our long-awaited union has already begun. The Chieftain and his mate have exchanged the sacred cup. Now, beneath the open sky and in the presence of our God, the God of War, we shall witness their bonding and pray he blesses this union."

A roar of excitement erupted from the crowd. The Tigren women, however, wore bitter expressions, their faces twisted in scowls. Meanwhile, Addison’s entourage became frozen in stunned disbelief. This was supposed to be a negotiation, yet somehow it had turned into a ceremonial union.

Zion, Maxwell, and Levi exchanged tense looks, a deep unease settling in their chests. Addison’s heart pounded violently against her ribs as she frantically tried to recall the events of the day. When had this all started? When did a simple drink turn into... this?

But before anyone could react, a sudden, searing heat flared around Addison’s left breast, so intense it felt like a red-hot blade was carving into her skin. Her body tensed, and she clenched her teeth to keep from crying out. Sweat trickled down her temples, and her vision wavered at the edges, but she fought to stay conscious.

Something wasn’t right, no, something was very wrong.

As her mind raced to connect the dots, a sickening realization began to dawn on her. This wasn’t a simple celebration or a welcome banquet. Everything, the dancing, the wine, the ceremony, was part of a ritual. And Leon... he had done something to her.

If her instincts were right, the woman from earlier, now cloaked and veiled like a priestess, wasn’t just a servant or guide. She was a witch. And Addison? She was being bound to the Tigren Chieftain in a ritual she hadn’t agreed to.

The women who had tried to seduce her mates, it was all a distraction. A calculated move to shift Addison’s focus and lower her guard around Leon. He knew that, regardless of her feelings, the mate bond would make her instinctively territorial. Watching other women drape themselves over Zion, Maxwell, and Levi was bound to stir jealousy in her, especially when they did it so brazenly.

Leon had banked on it. He understood that their views on finding mates were different, but he was certain that Addison would be too consumed by possessiveness to notice his true intentions. And he was almost right. If the Tigren women hadn’t openly challenged her or if Leon hadn’t pushed her with his veiled provocations, Addison might’ve kept her composure.

But the moment she let her emotions get the better of her, when her focus faltered and her guard slipped, that was when Leon struck. That was when the priestess, or witch, or whatever she truly was, began the real ceremony.

Then came Leon’s deep, magnetic chuckle, low and resonant beside Addison’s ear. She barely managed to lift her head, her vision swimming, just in time to see a glowing mark slowly etching itself into the skin of Leon’s bare chest. It appeared on the same spot where her own searing pain radiated from, just above her heart.

Unlike Addison, who was gritting her teeth through the pain, Leon looked elated. His expression softened with satisfaction, his eyes fixed on her with a mix of triumph and adoration, as if this was the moment he had long awaited.

"Our God has given his blessing to this sacred union," the priestess declared solemnly, her voice carrying through the firelit night. "Chieftain Leon and Princess Addison are now bonded until death do they part. As proof of the divine blessing, both now bear the mark of the God of War closest to their hearts, a binding insignia that cannot be broken by any force other than the God himself. May this bond bring strength to our tribe, bless our Chieftain, and grant him a descendant who will protect us for generations to come!"

A deafening roar erupted from the gathered Tigren. The men howled their approval while the women looked on with bitter eyes.