The Alpha's Regret: Return Of The Betrayed Luna

Chapter 451: Chapter 451 He Wasn’t Too Bad Himself

He now knew that Addison held him in her heart; otherwise, she wouldn’t have worried about how he would feel if she came down facing Chase alone, especially when she already possessed a trump card that could protect her from him. That realization eased something deep in Levi’s chest.

After holding her for a while longer, Levi finally released her. Only then did he realize he was still naked. He stiffened instantly, acutely aware of Addison’s warm body pressed against his cold skin.

He had only just managed to suppress his raging desire after plunging into the cold lake, calming it had taken far longer than he cared to admit, and only once the heat subsided had he been able to relax.

That fragile calm was shattered when a warrior came looking for him with urgent news, and that was that they had captured one of the attackers from the previous day.

In an instant, Levi shifted into his wolf form and bolted at full speed, leaving the messenger behind as he raced back toward the pack house, back to where Addison was waiting.

He was terrified she might rush down to the dungeon the moment she heard the report. The thought of Addison leaving him behind to face Chase alone clawed at his chest, and fear drove him harder than reason ever could. He didn’t even realize he had already surpassed his usual speed limit, sprinting at full force without restraint.

When he reached the pack house, he didn’t slow down. He followed Addison’s scent straight through the corridors until it led him to Alpha Hue’s office. There, he found her sitting calmly in the leather chair, as if she had all the time in the world, quietly waiting for him.

Only then did his wildly pounding heart ease, just a little.

But relief was fleeting. The moment he remembered who she was about to face, worry surged back with frightening intensity. Chase carried Alpha blood in his veins, blood that made him dangerous, powerful, and unpredictable.

Levi’s anger flared, tangled with fear and a bitter sense of helplessness. He understood all too well that against someone like Chase, someone who might rival even Maxwell or Zion, his own strength might not be enough to protect Addison the way he desperately wanted to.

And that realization mocked him from within.

But the moment Addison said she would face Chase with such calm confidence, something in Levi finally eased. His racing heart slowed, soothed by the certainty in her voice, by the fact that she clearly had a plan.

More than that, the realization that she had waited for him, that she had thought about how he would feel if she went down alone, warmed his chest in a way he hadn’t expected.

Even now, his confidence in his own strength was low, but unlike the night before, he wasn’t drowning in despair. Perhaps he had been carrying too much weight on his shoulders, constantly measuring himself against Maxwell and Zion, letting those two’s standard hollow him out.

This time, though, Addison saw straight through him. She understood what was troubling him, and she had no intention of doing anything that would push him deeper into that abyss.

She wanted Levi to trust her, but more importantly, she wanted him to trust himself.

And this was also why Addison had called for Levi to come with her. She wanted to show him that in moments of danger and uncertainty, she would still choose to stand at his side, because she trusted him and his judgment. They had faced countless dangers and impossible situations before, and each time, they had survived together.

More than that, she wanted to remind Levi of something he had long forgotten, and that was, he was not weak.

Compared to Zion and Maxwell, Levi possessed something far steadier, and that is a clear and disciplined mind. As a Beta, he was not burdened by a volatile pride or ego and temper that often came with Alpha blood.

Where the others were easily provoked, taunted, or driven by wounded ego, Levi, on the other hand, could remain calm, observant, and composed. He would not rush headlong into conflict simply because he was challenged; he would think, weigh his options, and act with restraint.

Though Maxwell and Zion were exceptional even among Alphas because they are rarely swayed by taunts and possess a clarity of mind that sets them apart, Levi was by no means lacking. In his own way, he was just as formidable.

Being a Beta was not a disadvantage; it was his greatest strength.

Addison wanted Levi to see that. To understand that while brute force could win battles, clarity and control were what carried people through war. And in that regard, Levi stood on equal footing with any Alpha, if not above them.

Bringing Levi to the dungeon to face Chase was like having an exceptionally capable partner at her side, someone who could read her micro-expressions and grasp her intentions without a single word being spoken.

Their understanding was instinctive, honed through countless dangers they had already survived together. With this level of tacit coordination between them, how could Chase possibly outmaneuver them so easily?

After floundering for a moment, Levi suddenly bolted from the office, slamming the door shut behind him with a loud bang. Addison froze, momentarily stunned, unable to process what had just happened. It wasn’t until the painting beside the door tilted crookedly from the force that realization struck her that Levi had fled.

Due to embarrassment.

He must have run off before his raging desire spiraled out of control again.

The moment the truth clicked, Addison burst into laughter, her eyes crinkling as she covered her mouth, thoroughly amused by his reaction.

Meanwhile, Levi had already sprinted a good distance away. And even though the Alpha’s office was well soundproofed, designed precisely so no sound would leak during sensitive discussions, he didn’t need to hear her laughter to know it was happening. He could picture it all too clearly: her laughing freely, probably finding his panic both ridiculous and endearing.

That thought alone made his face burn even hotter as he rushed off to change, cursing himself while simultaneously feeling oddly pleased.

After all... being laughed at by her wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

No one could really blame him. He had only just managed to force his surging desire back under control, and they were about to deal with something far too important for his body to betray him now.

Standing naked in front of Addison only made him hyperaware, too aware, of her presence, her warmth, and where her eyes might linger, and that alone was enough to send his thoughts spiraling in unholy directions he couldn’t afford.

So the moment he put some distance between them, he stopped, pulled a clean set of clothes, pants, and boots from his magic bag, and dressed with quick, practiced movements. Only after he was fully clothed did he return to the office.

The instant he opened the door, he met Addison’s teasing gaze. She had her arms crossed over her chest, one brow slightly raised, clearly amused. Levi pressed his lips together and deliberately looked away.

He didn’t need to meet her eyes to know she could read him like an open book right now, and that realization only made his ears burn hotter.