The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna-Chapter 502 Stirring

Perhaps this aspect of Addison stemmed from her time in the Midnight River Pack, when she lived at the very bottom of the hierarchy as an omega. She had experienced firsthand how difficult it was to be overlooked, oppressed, and made to feel insignificant.

Because of that, part of her felt it was important to show kindness whenever she could, to let others know they were seen, valued, and appreciated, and to help restore their confidence and sense of self-worth.

Even before she lost her memory, Addison had already been an exceptional and capable leader. But having lived through life at the lowest rung of the hierarchy gave her something more, and that is a deeper understanding of people across every level, and a stronger, more genuine connection to them.

Before, Addison was aware of the struggles faced by those at the bottom of the hierarchy, but she could never truly grasp them because she had never lived through them herself. It was only after she experienced that life firsthand that she began to understand it on a deeper level. That experience made her feel more connected to them, and her kindness became more genuine rather than something that could be mistaken for distant sympathy.

After all, people often say you cannot truly understand hardship until you have endured it yourself. Others may believe they understand and offer sympathy, but when real difficulties arise, those same people may still take things for granted, assuming that such burdens are more fitting for those at the bottom simply because they are "used to it."

After settling the arrangements for the next day, Addison quickly ended the call with her parents, reminding them one last time to stay vigilant without bringing up the children again.

Archmage Elric then excused himself to brief his disciples on the plan, assess their condition, and determine who was still fit enough to assist with the gathering task if needed.

"How are you feeling?" Zion asked, his gaze warm but searching.

God knew how terrified he had been when Addison collapsed. The sight had shaken him so badly that he never wanted to witness it again. But now that she was awake and steady, he forced himself to remain calm.

He didn’t want her to see how close he had come to losing control; his temper was never the best, and he feared frightening her or stirring painful memories. Thankfully, even Shura had kept unusually quiet, equally concerned about Addison’s condition.

"I’m fine now. Don’t worry..." Addison said with a reassuring smile, sensing the depth of his concern.

Zion nodded, though the worry hadn’t left his eyes. "Alright. I’ll ask some healers to come later and transfer a bit more energy to you, just to be safe."

"Really, there’s no need," Addison said gently. "I just overused the Power of Light. It’s still new to me, and my body hasn’t fully adjusted yet. Other than that... hmm..."

She trailed off as she bit off a moan that almost escaped her lips.

A familiar sensation stirred deep within her, subtle but unmistakable. That quiet hunger began to coil in the pit of her stomach, making her feel oddly restless. It was still manageable, for now, but she could feel it growing, pressing at the edges of her awareness.

The same craving from before resurfaced, whispering at the back of her mind, urging her to devour her mate’s vitality. She could suppress it, push it down with sheer will, but it kept returning in fleeting flashes, refusing to let her settle.

It wasn’t as intense as last time, yet it lingered longer, like a small seed taking root inside her, waiting to be nourished.

A faint, unwelcome warmth pooled low in Addison’s body, and she instinctively pressed her thighs together, trying to steady herself. The last thing she wanted was for Zion, who was sitting so close beside her, to notice anything unusual or catch a whiff of her aroused scent. This was neither the time nor the place for that kind of distraction.

"Are you sure?" Zion asked again as he leaned closer, gently tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.

His breath brushed her skin, warm and close, and the simple contact sent a shiver through her. The restless sensation within her flared, growing more insistent. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though that strange presence inside her was whispering the same words again and again to consume... to devour...

She forced the thought down, tightening her composure, but she couldn’t stop herself from becoming acutely aware of Zion’s presence beside her.

"Addie, are you okay?" Zion asked again, worry deepening in his voice when he noticed her distant expression. He mistook her silence for discomfort or hidden concern. "Tell me if you don’t feel well..."

As he spoke, he gently brushed the tip of his nose against her cheek, a quiet, instinctive gesture, the same way a wolf would comfort its sick mate. As a werewolf, the action came naturally to him, driven by both instinct and genuine worry.

But to Addison, Zion’s closeness felt dangerously different.

It was like placing fresh prey before a starving wolf.

The hunger stirring inside her had already begun to test the limits of her restraint, and now the very person she was trying not to focus on was right beside her, warm, close, and unaware that he had become the greatest trial to her control.

To steady herself, Addison gently pushed Zion’s face away and nodded quickly.

"I’m really fine. I just have a lot on my mind. I only need a moment to sort out my thoughts, and I’ll be alright. And... yes, maybe you should call a healer, just in case."

Her words came out a little too fast, a little too nervous, as she deliberately avoided looking at him. If a healer could channel some energy into her, perhaps it would help settle whatever was stirring inside her. It felt as though that presence only wanted energy, nothing more.

She didn’t understand why it had suddenly begun to awaken from its dormancy. Perhaps overusing the Power of Light had drained her more than she realized, forcing her to tap into that hidden energy source. Or perhaps it was connected to the vitality she had siphoned from Zion, Maxwell, and Levi not long ago.

What she needed now was to distance herself from Zion, before whatever was stirring inside her fully awakened like last time, and she lost control again.

So Addison did the only thing she could think of. She pretended to be weaker than she actually was, as if she truly needed rest, hoping it would be enough to send Zion away.

She couldn’t talk to him about this. With Zion’s personality, he would take the matter far too seriously and insist once again on the idea he had mentioned before, setting a schedule for the three of them to mate with her so she could "feed" properly.

She had brushed it off then, and the thought still made her uncomfortable now. Scheduled mating sounded less like affection and more like an obligation, like a duty meant for producing heirs rather than nurturing their bond.

She didn’t want their relationship to feel like that.

She knew too well what it felt like to be treated without care, without consideration. Despite her many concerns, she was trying her best to open up to them in her own way, while slowly working through the trauma and scars of her past. Thankfully, they had all been patient and understanding. Even Zion, temperamental as he was, had been trying hard to change and not add to her burdens anymore.

"Alright. You need to rest more. I’ll call a healer to check on you and stay until you’re treated. After that, I’ll return to patrolling the area and brief the warriors who’ll be coming with me tomorrow," Zion said.

He noticed the faint flutter of Addison’s long lashes and the way she seemed to shrink slightly from his touch. She looked exhausted, more than she was letting on, and though a small ache formed in his chest at her quiet avoidance, he told himself it was only because she was too tired to be disturbed.

So he gave her one last lingering look.

He almost leaned down to kiss her, but stopped himself. Instead, he straightened up, turned away, and left reluctantly, letting her rest in peace.

Only when the tent flap fell shut did Addison finally release the breath she had been holding. Her heart was still pounding wildly in her chest, and heat began to creep through her body, slow and insistent, like the onset of an unwanted in heat.

The tingling sensation rose from the pit of her stomach, threading through her nerves and clouding her thoughts. She shifted restlessly on the bed, unable to find comfort as the warmth coiled tighter within her.

"Not now... please..." she whispered to herself, as if she was praying that the thing stirring inside her could hear her plea and show mercy by sinking back into dormancy before it caused her any more trouble.