The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 166: Chapter 166 When Desire Ignited

Even the Alpha King kept a neutral expression, pretending not to notice the silent exchange. After finalizing a proposed solution for the South, the discussion moved on to the Western territories, then to the North.

But much of what they discussed remained theoretical, possible strategies, and hopeful ideas. Nothing could be confirmed until implementation, especially in the complex case of the Southern region.

As for the West, the locust infestation had become so severe that the swarms were devouring every bit of vegetation in sight. Two drastic solutions were proposed: initiate a large-scale wildfire or deploy a biochemical agent in the affected areas. However, both options carried significant risks.

If they chose fire, it could reduce not only the locusts but the entire forest and farmlands to ash, wiping out the crops and livelihoods they were trying to protect. It might eliminate the threat, yes, but the cost would be catastrophic.

On the other hand, if they opted for a biochemical approach, there were too many unknowns. They couldn’t guarantee it would be safe for the animals, and there was no assurance the treated crops would remain edible. For now, that idea remained on the back burner.

Similarly, the plague affecting the North was also postponed for further review. They needed to wait for a full report from the Royal Doctor before moving forward. Until then, the territory-wide conference would need to be extended. The delay in the doctor’s report suggested two troubling possibilities: either the plague was far worse than anyone feared, or the Royal Doctor had yet to discover anything useful at all.

As soon as the meeting ended, Addison slipped away, quickly and quietly, even leaving her father behind with the excuse that she had something urgent to attend to. In truth, she was running. Avoiding Zion, Maxwell, and Levi.

She didn’t trust herself to face them, not when her body was practically humming with desire, desperate and aching to be touched, claimed, mated. The intensity of it scared her.

What terrified her most was the feeling of losing control. That in their presence, she might forget everything, her pain, her anger, her grievances, and simply give in to the lust clawing at her from the inside out.

”Ah!”

Unfortunately, someone had already anticipated her escape.

Before she could get far, a strong hand yanked her into a nearby room. The door slammed shut and locked behind her with a loud click. Addison spun around, breath caught in her throat, only to find herself caged against the door.

Zion.

He loomed over her, his forehead nearly touching hers, hot, ragged breaths washing over her skin. His arms braced on either side of her, effectively trapping her in place. His eyes were wild, pupils blown wide, drunk on her scent.

”Baby...” he breathed, voice magnetically husky and low.

Before he could finish whatever he was about to say, his mouth crashed onto hers.

Addison reacted instantly, shoving at his chest with all the strength she could muster. Zion grunted from the impact, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he devoured her lips with increasing hunger, unsatisfied with just the taste, his tongue pressed forward, demanding entry.

Addison’s head spun.

His scent, rich coffee laced with dark chocolate, wrapped around her like silk, making her dizzy. Her body was going soft against him, her resistance unraveling with each breath she took. Anger? Pain? Her past? All of it blurred into nothingness as her body screamed for more.

She gasped, Zion took the opportunity, plunging his tongue into her mouth, tasting her like he had all the time in the world.

”Mmm...” Her eyes fluttered.

Zion’s knee nudged between her thighs, gently prying them apart. A sharp inhale escaped him as her scent grew stronger, the thick, sweet scent of her arousal. His gaze darkened to something feral. One arm curled around her waist, the other cradled the back of her head, guiding her deeper into the kiss as if he couldn’t get enough of her.

Every touch of his ignited sparks along Addison’s skin, electric, ticklish, overwhelming. The sensation rippled through her body, from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head, tugging at her nerves, her senses... her heart. The pull of the mate bond was undeniable, raw and powerful, wrapping around her like an invisible tether.

Then she felt it, his hard cock, pressing against her stomach through the fabric of his pants as he ground himself slowly against her. The friction made her gasp softly.

”Fuck, Addison... you have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of this,” Zion whispered, voice thick with longing.

Addison could barely think.

She was swimming in a haze, her mind foggy, overwhelmed by the sensations flooding her system. Her instincts were taking the reins, drawn to everything that felt good, everything that felt right. A soft moan slipped past her lips before she could stop it, and Zion heard it. It echoed in his ears like permission, like acceptance. ℯℯ𝑙.

He had seen her and Maxwell earlier.

Seen the way Maxwell flirted, touched, and tempted her. It had nearly driven him mad with jealousy, with the fierce possessiveness burning in his chest. But he’d held himself back. He hadn’t wanted to overwhelm her, had promised himself he wouldn’t be that man again.

But his eyes had never left her.

He saw every twitch of tension, every flinch and flush. He knew Maxwell had touched her. He could sense it. And the thought of not being able to touch her the same way, of being denied that closeness, ate at him.

Now that he had her here, in his arms, feeling her respond to him?

There was no going back.

So the moment an opportunity presented itself, he took it, slipping away from Levi without a word. And just as he’d hoped, Addison tried to escape.

It gave him the perfect chance to intercept her.

He knew she resented him; hated him, even. But his need for her, the craving that had been gnawing at him day and night, drowned out everything else. He couldn’t get her out of his head. Not even for a moment.

Especially not after last night.

The rut had nearly overwhelmed him; even after being injected with that suppressant, he could still feel it. His body ached, burned, throbbed with a hunger that wouldn’t let up. And he knew, without needing to ask, that he hadn’t been the only one. All three of them, he, Maxwell, and Levi, had suffered. They’d woken up drenched in sweat, cocks hard and unrelenting, straining with the need for her, for a taste, a touch, even just the barest breath of her scent.

It was torture.

To want her this badly, to need her this fiercely... and still be unable to have her.

This—this—was so much harder than when he saw her in his dreams. Because back then, at least he knew it wasn’t real. But now? With her so close, yet feeling impossibly far... it was torture beyond anything he’d ever imagined.

He’d told himself he’d stay calm. That when the time came, he would show her how much he regretted everything. That he’d earn her forgiveness piece by piece, word by word, he’d even rehearsed the apology for years, a three-page confession of guilt and sorrow.

But the moment their eyes met, it all unraveled.