228 Chapter 228 Being Treated Right
228 Chapter 228 Being Treated Right
And that alone was enough to make Levi happy. A roguish grin tugged at his lips, his eyes crinkling with joy. The flickering campfire cast a warm glow across his face, and for a moment, the flames reflected in his eyes, making them gleam like fireflies dancing in the dark. The sight made Addison smile softly in return.
Zion winced.
Without a word, Levi moved to the food area and picked up a bowl of mushroom soup for Addison before grabbing his own portion. He also took the time to collect food for Zion and Maxwell. Since the servings were placed on large leaves, he tied them all together into a neat bundle for easier handling, while carefully balancing the four bowls in both of his large hands.
Shura’s voice cracked, laced with a raw pain that made Zion’s chest tighten. “All I know is, it’s because of you, damn it!”
“I don’t know–fuck! I don’t know!” Shura growled, pacing inside Zion’s mind like a caged beast. Its fur bristled, eyes blazing with restless rage. “I feel like there’s something more. Like something is calling to me. And every time I hear their laughter and giggles, it’s like I’m dying inside, like my heart’s being carved out of my chest and hollowed out!”
“And don’t forget the decaying mate bond that tortured her.” Shura’s voice echoed sharply in his mind, laced with a bitter snarl. It was a brutal reminder that, while they both suffered from the effects of the decaying mate bond, Zion had his Alpha blood and Shura’s strength to help him bounce back; he hadn’t endured even a fraction of what Addison had.
Their quiet moment was abruptly broken by Maxwell, who returned holding a large, glistening leaf, cradling freshly roasted rabbit and fish. “Am I interrupting something?” he asked, his voice laced with barely concealed jealousy. His lips were pressed into a tight line, and though his words were casual, the undertone of self–mockery and hurt was unmistakable.
“What do you mean?” Zion asked, frowning. He knew Shura was losing its temper, but something in its tone unsettled him. It wasn’t just anger; there was something deeper behind it.
228 Chapter 228 Being Treated Right
Shura wasn’t just angry, he was grieving. He could feel Zion’s pain, but what truly unhinged him was imagining her suffering all that time. The desolation. The helplessness.
And worst of all, Shura had been unable to help her.
Little by little, Zion was beginning to understand what Addison must have felt when he deliberately flaunted Claire in front of her–when he pampered Claire openly, stayed by her side with gentleness and affection, while turning cold and distant toward Addison.
“Dumbass, it’s more than just a mess you made!” Shura snarled. If it could, Shura would’ve sunk its fangs into Zion’s throat just to end his pathetic spiral of regret.
A wolf like Shura didn’t get to choose his human. And sadly, fate had paired him with a dumbass.
With quiet care, Maxwell began deboning the rabbit, his movements gentle and practiced, making sure to shred the meat into bite–sized pieces so Addison wouldn’t struggle to eat. Once finished, he handed her the leaf holding the rabbit, then turned his attention to the fish, peeling away the charred skin and separating the bones with equal attentiveness.
Watching him, Addison felt a quiet warmth bloom in her chest. She smiled as she accepted the rabbit meat, touched by his silent care.
“Addie, are you sure you’re okay?” Levi leaned in, his voice gentle but firm as he studied Addison’s face. Behind them, Zion was still lost in his own inner turmoil, but Levi’s focus was solely on her.
He couldn’t even begin to fathom how painful that must’ve been for her.
“How would you know how much it hurt?” Shura growled, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “You didn’t even care enough to ask.”
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Addison stared at the simple gesture, her heart quietly melting. It was the first time she truly felt cared for by her mates. Though she’d formed mate bond before, she had
<228 Chapter 228 Being Treated Right
never experienced this kind of tenderness. For the first time, she realized how good it felt–being looked after, cherished… treated like a queen.
All he knew was that Shura’s pain was a reflection of his own guilt and self–pity, amplified by the ache of being rejected by his mate.
Addison, catching on to what he was doing, let out a small chuckle and gave a soft nod. There was real warmth in her gaze as she replied, “Yeah. I’ve got more important things to do than doubt my self–worth.”
“I know, I messed up,” Zion muttered, responding to Shura’s growing frustration and fury.
Once Maxwell finished preparing Addison’s meal, Levi stepped in and began distributing the rest. He handed Zion and Maxwell their food, then gently placed a bowl of mushroom soup in front of Addison.
Zion felt every ounce of Shura’s torment–restlessness, anguish, and rage—and it mirrored his own. But what made it worse was the helplessness. He didn’t know what was happening, didn’t know how to fix it.
“Ahem.”
*
It’s a brand new month, and you’re already showering me with love. I’m beyond grateful. Thank you, my Goddesses, truly!
He knew how good she was at pretending to be fine, at burying her pain behind a brave
front–just like she used to. So, he searched her eyes for any trace of the old habit.
She had been cursed. Her wolf sealed. Alone. Vulnerable. And she had borne the pain of a decaying mate bond for three years.
This… this searing jealousy coursing through his blood and clouding his thoughts, this aching hollowness gnawing at his chest, it was unbearable. And it had only been a few seconds. Yet he had subjected Addison to this torment for days, and his cold
indifference had lasted three long years.
Startled, Addison instinctively released Levi’s face, as if caught in something she shouldn’t be doing. She looked up at Maxwell just as he crouched in front of her without saying another word.
228 Chapter 228 Being Treated Right
By the time Levi returned to the campfire, Maxwell had just finished deboning the fish.
Levi, noticing the shift in atmosphere, rolled his eyes subtly at Maxwell. He could tell the guy was acting out of jealousy, trying to win Addison’s attention with quiet gestures of care. But Levi didn’t comment. Instead, he stood up just as the camp cook called everyone over to get their meals.
As if sensing his thoughts, Addison cupped his face in her hands and added quietly, “What happened between us last night… I wanted it. Every part of it.”
She didn’t need to say more. Those simple words were enough to send a surge of emotion crashing through Levi’s chest. His heart pounded, his thoughts spun, because in that moment, it felt like Addison was choosing him. Like she was acknowledging him as her mate.
Her words reassured Levi. He could tell she truly wasn’t lingering on last night or on Zion’s turmoil. A part of him ached at how lightly she seemed to take what happened between them last night, but more than that was a growing pride. Addison had changed, and for the better.
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