CHAPTER 276: CHAPTER 276 TEMPEST OF EMOTION AND DESIRE

Yet, as if sensing her fleeting glance, both Maxwell and Levi grew even more aroused. It had been days since they last tasted the bliss of mating, and before that, they could usually manage their desires, even with Addison standing right in front of them.

Sure, their instincts would stir, but they were still able to keep them in check. Now, after experiencing her, that hunger had only deepened, and resisting the urge to claim her again was becoming nearly impossible.

Addison could feel the weight of their darkening gazes, heavy with desire, and her own body began to heat in response. Their lustful eyes traced every inch of her, making her squirm as a tingling sensation spread across her skin.

If she didn’t hold herself together, she feared a soft moan might slip past her lips. Her lashes fluttered, but she forced herself to feign indifference, pretending not to notice or feel anything.

Deep down, though, fear lingered, that what had happened the other day might happen again. She still didn’t know how to control the vitality she drew from her mates if they ended up tangled beneath the sheets.

Back then, her other wolf had been in control. Now that she was fully aware and in command of herself, the thought of giving in left her flushed with embarrassment.

She couldn’t even imagine taking the first step now without feeling utterly embarrassed.

’Forget it, there’s no need to rush. Just calm down,’ Addison reminded herself over and over as she carefully set the map aside. Then, distracting herself, she began cleaning up the used cups. Seeing her busy with the task, Levi immediately stood and hurried over to help her.

"Addie, let me handle this. You just sit and relax," Levi said gently, taking her hand and guiding her to the chair by the window. He cracked the window open, and the cool night breeze brushed against her skin, easing the heat still lingering in her body.

Yet, along with the wind came a strange warmth. It wasn’t summer yet, but the days had grown unbearably hot, and weeks had passed without rain, likely due to the La Niña forming in the south.

Now seated by the window, Addison felt her thoughts, which had begun drifting into unholy territory, slowly quiet down. Still, she couldn’t ignore the weight of Maxwell’s unblinking stare pressing against her, nor Levi’s subtle glances as he cleaned the table, his eyes returning to her again and again. She pretended to be too tired to notice, though her heart told her otherwise.

"Thank you, Maxwell, Levi, for coming and brainstorming with me. We still have a lot to do tomorrow, so you two should head back and get some rest as well," Addison said. She didn’t notice the faint hoarseness in her voice, but Maxwell and Levi caught it instantly; their attention was fixed so closely on her that even the smallest change in her tone didn’t escape them.

Maxwell didn’t respond right away. His gaze lingered on Addison, tracing every detail—her face, her soft red lips, and the graceful line of her flushed, swan-like neck, faintly glistening with sweat.

He caught the subtle motion of her throat as she swallowed, her scent filling his senses and stoking the fire within him. The longer he looked, the more his restraint frayed.

His eyes drifted lower, lingering on her chest, and memory assaulted him—the way it had felt against his palm: warm, soft, soothing in a way that left him aching to feel it again.

Unconsciously, he glanced at his own hand, almost as if it still held the memory, before his gaze returned to her. He let it roam over her toned yet supple waist, the curve of her hips, and down the length of her legs.

A lump caught in his throat, forcing him to swallow. His mouth parted as his breathing grew heavier, and in his darkening eyes swirled a tempest of desire and emotion he could no longer mask.

Addison felt the tension thickening in the air, charged by Maxwell’s unrestrained gaze. Part of her wanted to dismiss them, to put distance between herself and the heat building in the room, but deep inside, an aching anticipation tugged at her.

’She wanted it too.’

Or at least, she thought she did.

That was the problem; she couldn’t tell if the desire was truly hers, or if it was the mate bond compelling her... or perhaps that shadowy black wolf within her, clamoring to be fed. The uncertainty made her hesitate.

Maxwell, Zion, and Levi had been nothing but devoted, always trying to meet her needs and comfort her. As her mates, they were attentive and unwavering. Yet in the quiet corners of her heart, a question gnawed at her: how much of their devotion came from genuine choice, and how much was just the mate bond’s pull?

Addison let out a heavy sigh.

’I’m overthinking again,’ she scolded herself. Maybe it was her past with Zion that left her this way, always second-guessing, unable to fully trust a relationship with the opposite sex without questioning how much of their feelings were genuine and how much were not.

She gave her head a small shake, as if to scatter the thoughts before they swallowed her whole. Her gaze drifted toward the window. Outside, only a few lamps flickered against the darkness, their light casting long shadows of patrolling guards in the distance.

The night air carried faint murmurs of the watch, accompanied by the steady chorus of crickets and the occasional low call of an owl.

While Addison struggled to calm the heat rising in her body under Maxwell and Levi’s predatory stares, Zion was dashing through the forest at full speed. His first stop was one of the locations marked on the map; he remembered every mark Addison had carefully drawn.

Although they had already chosen a primary site for the temporary settlement of the surrounding packs, Zion knew plans could easily change.

Time and weather might have altered the terrain, and if their first choice turned out unsuitable, it would be too risky to send others scouting again; any movement could attract unwanted eyes lurking in the shadows.

So, instead of relying on chance, Zion resolved to check every marked site in one sweep. With his speed, he could cover them all and return quickly with a full report.

But fate seemed to be on his side—he caught sight of the same grey wolf that had led the attack on their caravan just days ago. Controlling his breathing, he stayed quiet and careful not to let his paws strike the ground too heavily.

Zion slowed his pace and trailed the wolf as it slipped into a nearby clearing. His midnight-black fur melted into the darkness of the forest, making him one with the night. With his eyes narrowing, he crouched low in the bushes, hiding his large frame with the patience and precision of a stalking puma.

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A huge thank you once again to Emily_Jade_4552, Lucky_Sookie, Maurkaila_Bull, lovefirecracker, Jackie_Bourke, Mary_ML, JET_5264, gmartina0309, Eulalia1978, Jenni_Toney_9894, Domari, and last but certainly not least, vws_Tule. 💖 Your support, gifts, and Golden Tickets mean so much to me—I truly, deeply appreciate every single one of you!