The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna-Chapter 501 Zion’s Change

"If we provoke all the nearby monsters and wild animals, they could even band together in a coordinated attack, which could result to a beast tide. With our current defenses, we might not be able to hold them off."

He paused, letting the weight of the possibility sink in. "Beast tides aren’t unheard of, especially when monsters feel wronged. Most of them are highly vengeful and won’t hesitate to strike back if they see an opportunity."

And right now, the site of their temporary shelter was a prime location, ideal for anyone looking to settle. It was only a matter of time before other humanoid monsters took notice, like goblins, ogres, cyclopes, and others displaced or driven to migrate by the biochemical mist would surely eye this area as a potential new home.

"Then how about I send some mages with you when you go out to gather the materials?" Archmage Elric suggested. "They could help you identify what we need more easily, and in dangerous situations, they could cast protective spells like barriers, concealment of your scent, and the like. Other mages could perform these kinds of spells as well."

He understood just how dangerous the wild had become. Even though Zion and Maxwell were strong, constantly having to fight every monster they encountered would be exhausting, and what Zion warned about could very well happen if they didn’t take precautions.

Although the idea of beast tides, monsters banding together to attack, seemed extreme, it wasn’t impossible. It usually occurred when all the creatures shared a common enemy or when hunger drove them to venture beyond their territory in search of food, sometimes targeting human settlements or other species.

Werewolves hadn’t personally experienced such coordinated attacks, but they had heard stories from weaker species. After all, werewolves were strong, and with their beastly traits when shifted, most wild animals and monsters preferred not to challenge them.

This was also why Archmage Elric had forged an alliance with the werewolves. Their strength made them invaluable allies, and positioning the Mage Tower closer to werewolf territory provided an added layer of security. With their protection, the mages could continue their studies in peace, safe within the Tower, without constantly having to fend off unnecessary threats.

And Addison’s thoughts made sense. The longer they stayed here, the higher the likelihood that monsters would notice their presence, especially given the large number of people in the area.

While the monsters and wild animals might hesitate to attack because of the humans’ numbers, this land wasn’t officially claimed by anyone, allowing all kinds of creatures to thrive here. These monsters and wild animals knew the terrain intimately, which made them even more dangerous.

On top of that, they had many young and elderly pack members to protect, along with the farm animals. Since this was only a temporary shelter, facilities were minimal, forcing everyone, and the animals, to live in close quarters, leaving little room to maneuver if danger struck.

Archmage Elric also had to consider the safety of his disciples. While mages were powerful, they typically fought at long range and would be like fish out of water in close combat, leaving them vulnerable.

He didn’t want to wait for a dangerous situation to arise before stepping in to help. Beyond that, he had a close relationship with the Alpha King and had grown fond of Addison during their time in the Sacred Land, treating her almost like a granddaughter.

He decided to send his disciples to assist, but if it weren’t for Addison and her father, he might have simply stood aside and let others handle the situation until they returned home. He and his disciples had already done their best during their time with the Golden Hue Pack, and most were still recovering from mana depletion. By now, they all needed rest, including him. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Archmage Elric, are you sure? I know you and your disciples have already spent too much mana and endured so much this morning trying to achieve the impossible. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done, so you don’t need to push yourselves any further..." Addison said, worry lacing her voice.

Although Archmage Elric remained silent, she could see it in his pale, exhausted expression that he had already given so much. Asking him to assist her with contacting her parents was a lot, yet they had no other choice. He was the only mage she could truly trust right now, and while it was unlikely, she couldn’t ignore the possibility that their enemies might have infiltrated the Mage Tower too.

But the fact that he offered his help despite everything moved her deeply.

Seeing her worry for him and his disciples, Archmage Elric felt a warmth in his chest. It showed him that Addison truly understood the struggles he and his mages were enduring, and that alone spoke volumes about her character.

She genuinely cared for her people, considered their well-being, and never took them for granted. This reassured Archmage Elric that his alliance with the werewolf kingdom would remain strong even when Addison eventually took over. She reminded him of her father, and he realized that his judgment of her had never been wrong.

In response, his voice softened, gentle yet firm. "There’s no need to worry so much about us. The sooner we gather the materials and return home, the sooner we can get back to the Mage Tower and recover our strength. And I know all the mages I brought share the same thought; they won’t oppose this plan."

"Thank you so much, Archmage Elric. If that’s the case, please do inform your disciples," Addison said, her eyes filled with genuine gratitude as she looked at him.

"Then I’ll bring the mage you arranged with me tomorrow morning when I switch shifts with Maxwell. I’ll also make sure he’s informed of this arrangement, so nothing catches him by surprise," Zion interjected, showing his support. He couldn’t help but nod at Archmage Elric with quiet appreciation.

During his stay with Addison, Zion might not have realized that he was changing without even noticing it. He used to be overbearing and arrogant. Before, he wouldn’t have looked at Archmage Elric appreciatively.

If anything, he might have seen the mages’ involvement as a simple necessity, purely for efficiency, and he may even have demanded their participation to speed up the gathering process with minimal casualties. He cared only about results, not the process, as most Alphas did, and never saw reason to think otherwise. But now... things were different.

And spending time with Addison had opened his eyes in ways he hadn’t even noticed. Though she was the heir apparent to the throne, she never acted arrogantly or took her people’s efforts for granted.

Instead, she genuinely appreciated them, showing it through her actions. And because of that, her people were willing to go above and beyond to demonstrate their loyalty, a concept new to Zion.

He had always taken loyalty for granted, believing it was owed to him simply because he was their Alpha and he was strong, expecting others to bow in obedience. But with Addison, it was different. Slowly, he began to understand the value of showing appreciation, offering small gestures of kindness here and there.