Noticing her father's subtle probing, Addison quickly realized he likely knew more than he was letting on. It was becoming clear that telling her parents the truth was inevitable. Still, this wasn't the right time—certainly not in front of everyone present, many of whom were outsiders, and definitely not in the middle of dinner.
Meeting his gaze, Addison offered a teasing smile and replied lightly, "Father, why would I be nervous? It's your birthday celebration, not mine."
She added a pointed look, silently telling him, 'We'll talk later.'
The Alpha King caught the message in her eyes, and with a satisfied hum, he returned to his meal. Truthfully, he hadn't intended to bring it up so openly—he'd told himself he wouldn't reopen old wounds.
But lately, his thoughts had spiraled into endless speculation. The uncertainty was beginning to weigh on him, and asking Addison directly seemed the only way to keep his imagination from running wild with baseless conclusions.
