The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 443: Chapter 443 Unlocking A Different Side Of Him

That deep, familiar hunger stirred again; it was hot, insistent, and Addison felt panic clawing up her spine.

She knew this feeling too well.

It was the same craving that had once driven her past the point of control, the same reckless pull that had made her drain Zion nearly dry. Her breath hitched as fear tangled with want, because Levi wasn’t Zion. He wasn’t an Alpha built to withstand that kind of strain, that kind of devouring need. If she lost herself again and if she let the hunger take over, she could hurt him. Break him even.

Was that why Levi was acting like this? Why he looked torn between restraint and surrender, as if something inside him was screaming to claim her while another part of him knew the danger?

Maybe. Or maybe not.

Right now, Addison didn’t know what was going through Levi’s mind.

All she knew was that if she didn’t stop him soon, she wouldn’t stop herself either.

The mate bond burned hot and tight around her chest, urging her closer, whispering that he was hers, that she should take, taste, consume. And beneath it all, that hunger — slow, vicious, and aching — scraped at her insides, begging to be unleashed, to feed, to drown both of them in something wild and irreversible.

And the terrifying truth was... part of her wanted to let it happen.

”L-Levi, we can’t...” Addison gasped, her voice trembling with heat and strain. ”Th-that entity... it’s trying to take control of me again...”

Her chest rose sharply as she fought for breath, even as Levi continued to rain desperate kisses along her lips and jaw, chasing her mouth as if he couldn’t bear to let her go. Addison turned her head aside, denying him, not because she didn’t want him, but because she wanted him too much.

They were out in the open. The moment was wrong. And worse, the thing inside her was stirring.

That entity that feeds on a man’s vitality, thriving on carnal desire and surrender, was waking again, and it was drawn to Levi’s closeness. Fear tightened her grip on reality. What if the sudden blaze of want in Levi wasn’t entirely his own? What if the mate bond, or that hunger coiling inside her, had reached out its claws and pulled those feelings from him without his knowing?

Was that even possible?

She wasn’t sure. As far as Addison knew, compared to Zion or Maxwell, Levi possessed far more restraint and reverence toward her. He was not the type who would touch her lightly or think of mating in the open; his respect for her ran far deeper than the fleeting thrill of sex.

That was precisely why his current behavior felt so... different. It was this subtle shift, this unfamiliar intensity, that made Addison entertain such thoughts in the first place.

And that thought hurt more than the restraint.

Because Addison didn’t want Levi’s desire if it was something that was pulled out from within him, summoned, or stolen by forces beyond him.

But at the same time, that burning desire was what fulfilled her. Perhaps she was being too greedy, wanting everything at once. Was this truly her own longing, or was it the influence of the entity within her?

She couldn’t tell. The contradiction overwhelmed her, her thoughts churning until her head felt light, as though two opposing voices were clashing endlessly inside her, neither willing to yield.

But... if she was going to make amends... if she was going to give herself to him... then she wanted his clearest thoughts. His truest emotions. Not passion warped by instinct, magic, or a ravenous entity whispering between them.

And no matter how badly she ached for him... she couldn’t accept anything less.

”Addie...” Levi murmured again, nuzzling his nose against her cheek while coaxing her to turn toward him. His movements were slow and unguarded, his desire so evident that he seemed almost drunk on it, unable to stop himself. Yet the more he acted this way, the more Addison felt the urge to pull back.

Levi was still unstable right now, still shaken by his earlier deep emotions. It would be far too easy to sway him in this state, and she didn’t want him to ever feel that he had been manipulated or controlled, even if it was unintentional. Although she believed there was truth in what he had said earlier, that truth didn’t justify taking advantage of his vulnerability.

At the same time, she couldn’t deny the restless stirring within her either, the troublesome pull that refused to be ignored. Both things were real: Levi’s sincerity and the unsettling emotions rising inside her. And because of that, she knew she had to stop before either of them crossed a line that might cause more misunderstanding or rift in their emotional state.

”Addie... stop thinking and just focus on me, will you?” Levi murmured softly. ”I want your eyes...”

He paused as he leaned closer, and instinctively, Addison let her lashes flutter shut. Levi pressed a gentle kiss to her eyelids before whispering again, ”To look only at me now... and I want your ears to listen only to my voice.”

His lips drifted from her eyelid, tracing a slow path down her cheek to her jaw. His warm breath brushed against her skin, sending a shiver through her as his mouth lingered there, unhurried and reverent. He followed the curve of her jaw to her ear, his lips grazing her earlobe before giving it a teasing nibble, then a soft suck that made her whole body tremble.

Levi knew, somehow, he always knew that her ears had always been her weakness. Perhaps it was because they had spent so much time together, because she had never tried to hide herself from him.

With his keen, observant nature, he had learned the little things about her, the things no one else would notice unless she told them, or unless they paid enough attention to feel her reactions.

A low chuckle slipped from him as he flicked his tongue out, tracing the delicate edge of her ear. Addison’s knees nearly buckled, her breath catching as the sensation rippled through her.

”L–Levi—” Addison gasped softly, her voice dissolving into a breathy moan.

But Levi wasn’t finished teasing her. His thumbs found their way to her lips, brushing over them gently, almost reverently. Every small touch sent her senses spiraling, sharpening her awareness until anticipation coiled tight in her chest. Her heart fluttered wildly, each beat echoing inside her ear.

____

Hi everyone! I’ve just returned from Shanghai, and I want to sincerely apologize for not being able to update even a single Chapter while I was in China. Things were quite hectic, but I’ll do my best to make up for it before the month ends.

I also have some wonderful news to share: ”The Alpha’s Regret: Return of the Betrayed Luna” has won the WSA Bronze Award!

This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without all of you who have loved this story, stayed with the characters, and followed their journey to where it is now.

Thank you so much for your constant support, encouragement, and love. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. I hope you’ll continue to walk alongside Addison and support her journey as she searches for her happiness all the way to the very end.