The mont Levi pushed the door open, Addison felt all her worries lt away at the sight and sll of food. Her stomach clenched with sudden hunger, and she nearly felt ready to wolf everything down on the spot.
"Yeah... pretty hungry, actually," she admitted with an eager smile.
Levi wheeled the cart to the side of the desk and slowly lifted the lid. Steam billowed out, carrying a rich, comforting aroma that made her mouth water. He set down a plate of stir-fried mixed vegetables that looked colorful and glossy, and perfectly appetizing. Beside them lay slices of marinated chicken, and on her plate, he placed two deboned thigh pieces, which were the most tender and juicy parts.
Before Addison could even swallow the saliva gathering in her mouth, Levi placed a bowl of rice in front of her, followed by another bowl holding five neatly peeled hard-boiled eggs.
"Eat slowly," Levi reminded her as he picked up a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice and poured her a glass.
"And where’s yours?" Addison asked, arching a brow. "Eat with , right here at the sa table. No matter how hungry I am, I won’t enjoy it if I’m eating alone. After all, what’s the fun in that?"
She shot him a playful smile and tugged her chair aside, making room for him to set his plate and utensils beside her.
Levi, familiar with Addison’s temperant, chuckled and began setting his utensils beside hers. When he was done, he stepped out of the door and returned seconds later with a chair from the cafeteria that he placed just outside the door.
Addison’s eyes crinkled at the sight. It was obvious Levi had fully expected her to insist he eat with her at the sa table instead of settling on the sofa. The realization made her chuckle, as if there were no urgent mission awaiting them, no danger lurking just beyond this brief calm.
But what could she do? The closer danger crept, the more she wanted to savor monts like this, to live fully in them, so there would be no regrets later. It wasn’t that she believed she would die, nor that she was bracing herself to sacrifice everything. It was simply that choosing a lighter mindset helped steady her heart, and perhaps, in its own way, improved the outco as well.
"Thank you, milady, for allowing this humble servant to dine at your table," Levi joked.
Despite the teasing words, the smile in his eyes was gentle and calming. Like Addison, he didn’t want to dwell on what ca next. Thinking too far ahead would only breed anxiety, and the more unsettled he beca, the more it would affect her. If it weighed on Addison, it could influence her decisions, and that was the last thing he wanted.
So Levi did what he could best. He buried his fear and unease deep in his heart and focused on the present, eating with her earnestly, sharing the quiet warmth of the mont.
"Your cooking is still the best..." Addison mumbled.
She speared a piece of marinated chicken and followed it with a spoonful of rice, letting the soft, slightly sweet grains ld with the savory, juicy at. The rice llowed the richness of the chicken, balancing the flavors perfectly, so simple, yet quietly addictive in how good it tasted.
"As long as you like it, I’ll make it for you," Levi replied softly.
He had been by Addison’s side for three years, serving as her Gamma. And being a Gamma didn’t just an protecting her in battle; it ant taking care of her, sotis in the quietest, most ordinary ways.
Addison was a workaholic, soone who dulled her pain by burying herself in endless tasks, refusing to let her mind rest. Levi couldn’t stand by and watch her destroy herself like that.
Back then, she had grown so thin it felt as though a strong gust of wind might carry her away. altis were no refuge either. The forr Luna made things difficult for her at every turn, while the rest of the pack looked at Addison with disdain, as if she were a sinner unworthy of kindness. In that environnt, she could never truly eat. Slowly, she wasted away until she turned into little more than skin and bones.
So Levi learned to cook from the ogas, in stolen monts between duties. At night, he would prepare simple als and bring them to her, making sure she ate sothing, anything. It was his way of keeping her alive, of giving her enough strength to keep moving forward, so she wouldn’t wither away like an unwatered plant.
Because of all that, Levi slowly morized Addison’s food preferences and eating habits until catering to them beca second nature. Watching her enjoy a al he had cooked with his own hands filled him with a simple, childlike happiness, like being praised for doing well in class.
Without hesitation, he speared nearly half of his own marinated chicken and placed it onto Addison’s plate. He’d done this many tis before, long before he beca her mate, so Addison only looked at him with a wide smile, her eyes crinkling with fond familiarity.
"Thank you..." she murmured softly, prompting Levi to ruffle her hair in response.
They ate their fill, and when they were done, Levi rose and cleared the dishes. There was no ti to properly wash them, he simply rinsed away the scraps, then stored the plates and kitchenware into his magic bag. Everything has already been packed away. This ti, they were truly moving into action.
Before Levi had cooked, the warriors had filled their stomachs with dried rations like jerky and stale bread, just enough to keep them going. So had already headed to the dungeon to evacuate the prisoners.
When Levi returned to the office, Addison’s sweet smile had faded, replaced by a calm, serious resolve. Together, they left the pack house, carefully closing and securing every door and window behind them.
The mont Addison locked the door and turned around, Levi was already in motion. In one swift sequence, he stripped off his clothes, stored them in his magic bag, and shifted into his wolf form. By the ti Addison descended the steps, Levi was crouched low, steady and ready, offering his back without a word.
She climbed on, settling firmly behind his shoulders.
The instant she did, Levi burst forward, sprinting toward the locust swarm’s location. Everyone would be waiting for them. The hot air balloon had already been fully assembled, standing ready for use.
By the ti Addison and Levi arrived, the guards had just begun filling the hot air balloons. Several of them were positioned dozens of ters apart, each attended by its assigned team as they worked efficiently to heat and stabilize the balloons. Nearby, warriors were stacking the biochemical agents to one side in careful, organized rows.
Not long after, Lance and his team arrived as well.
"Addie!" Lance called out brightly. "My team already ran a full sweep around the territory, one complete circuit. Everything’s clear." His eyes crinkled as he reported, unable to hide his eagerness.
He was clearly enjoying the chance to show off in front of her, especially with her other two mates absent. In Lance’s mind, his real competition had always been Maxwell and Zion.
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