Zion let out a deep, weary sigh, the sound heavy enough to ripple through the quiet air. His chest tightened as that familiar knot of frustration and longing twisted inside him.
The mark, the one thing that should’ve bound them before the world, still hadn’t been sealed. No ceremony, no public acknowledgnt. Everyone knew he and the others were Addison’s fated mates, yet without the Marking Ceremony, without that sacred bite before witnesses, his claim ant nothing.
It gnawed at him more than he wanted to admit. The thought that his place beside her wasn’t secured, that soone could still challenge him, made his blood stir with a mix of jealousy and fear.
He wanted to believe Addison was just taking her ti, that she wasn’t rejecting the bond, just... waiting. But doubt was a cruel thing, whispering in the back of his mind every ti he looked at her.
Maybe that’s why he couldn’t stop himself tonight. Why he needed to feel her, to bury himself so deep inside her that no one else could ever erase him. He needed to believe she was his, even if the mark on her neck was still missing.
Zion pressed a soft, lingering kiss against the spot on Addison’s neck where his mark should have been, that tender patch of skin that both tempted and tornted him. There was longing in the touch, but also resignation.
He lingered there for a mont, breathing her in, before forcing himself to pull away and resu washing her body, wiping away sweat, water, and the dangerous thoughts clouding his mind.
He knew that if he let those thoughts spiral, if he let his frustration over the unsealed bond consu him, he might say or do sothing he couldn’t take back. Their relationship was fragile enough already, and the last thing he wanted was to push her away by demanding what she wasn’t ready to give.
So he exhaled slowly, grounding himself, and chose to trust instead, to believe that when Addison’s heart, mind, and spirit aligned, she would stand beside them for the Marking Ceremony on her own terms.
After convincing himself to let go of his restless thoughts, Zion finished washing both their bodies with gentle, practiced motions. When he was done, he stepped out of the shallows, the early chill of dawn brushing against his damp skin.
He wrapped Addison in a soft woolen towel, careful not to wake her, and carried her toward their temporary shelter where their tent stood quietly amidst the faint whisper of the river.
The sky had begun to pale, dawn was only minutes away, and that was the only reason he stopped. If not for the coming sunrise and the fact that they were still outdoors, he would’ve kept going, exploring every inch of Addison’s body until she was trembling and spent again beneath him.
The hunger still pulsed in his veins, but reason finally won. They both needed rest; soon, they would have to return to the Golden Hue Pack to bring the remaining evacuees... and maybe find out what was really happening with Addison’s other two fated mates.
Just thinking about his two rivals stirred a storm of emotions in Zion. He knew he couldn’t have Addison all to himself because the Moon Goddess had gifted her more than one fated mate for a reason.
That reason, he believed, was tied to her safety... and her destiny. No matter how strong he was as an Alpha, it wasn’t enough. The thought stung his pride, a brutal reminder that Addison’s path would be fraught with danger, and what they were facing now was only the beginning.
Still, knowing it didn’t make it easier. His instincts as an Alpha scread to claim her, to keep her, to bare his teeth at anyone who dared touch what was his. Suppressing that primal urge took everything in him.
It was a battle he’d have to fight every day, against his own nature. But at least he wasn’t alone in that struggle. He knew Maxwell and Levi were fighting the sa instinct, learning, just like him, how to coexist for Addison’s sake.
If he didn’t try to make things work, it would be Addison who’d end up caught in the middle, torn and burdened by the tension between her mates. That was sothing Zion refused to let happen. So, he could only do his best, no matter how much it tested him.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts as their tent ca into view, the largest one in the entire temporary camp. By now, most of the workers had retreated to their own shelters for so rest.
Only a few guards remained on patrol, keeping watch against any stray monsters or wild beasts that might slip through the unfinished periter walls.
Coming from the riverside, Zion didn’t need to circle around the barricades. No one noticed him as he quietly made his way back, completely naked, the cool air brushing against his skin while he carried Addison’s sleeping form wrapped snugly in a woolen towel.
She looked small and fragile in his arms, a stark contrast to the raw intensity they had just shared under the rushing river.
After making his way back to the tent, Zion gently dressed Addison in a clean set of clothes before towel-drying her hair, his movents slow and careful so he wouldn’t disturb her peaceful sleep. She looked utterly serene, her lips parted slightly, the faint rise and fall of her chest calming the lingering restlessness in him.
Only after she was settled did he finally tend to himself, slipping into his own clothes before stepping outside for a brief mont. The sky had already begun to lighten, as dawn was drawing near. He sighed, knowing he’d only get a few short hours of rest before they had to return to the Golden Hue Pack.
Quietly, he returned to the tent and lay down beside Addison. The mont he pulled her close, feeling her soft warmth press against his body, the tension in his chest eased. Her scent still clung faintly to him — wild, sweet, and intoxicating.
With his arms wrapped protectively around her, Zion’s eyes grew heavy, and for the first ti in a long while, he drifted into sleep with a peaceful smile on his lips.
「anwhile, in the Golden Hue Pack...」
"Hurry! Call the healer! Beta Levi is bleeding too much! Prepare blood bags; if there aren’t enough, find soone with the sa blood type!" The Golden Hue Pack’s dical team ran in all directions, shouting orders as they scrambled to keep Levi alive.
The scene around them was total chaos, smoke billowed into the air, and the faint crackle of burning buildings echoed through the ruins of what had once been their ho. The devastation was everywhere. No matter where they looked, all they could see was defeat, and the weight of it pressed heavily on their hearts.
"Report the aftermath," Maxwell ordered, his voice low but carrying the weight of authority and rage. He had just returned from the front lines, where the bloodshed was at its worst. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, and the oppressive aura clinging to him made everyone around instinctively recoil.
The sheer intensity of his bloodlust was suffocating; it was so thick it felt like it could tear through skin.
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