Chapter 322: Chapter 322 Do I Look Handsome?
His senses sharpened until every brush of cloth on his skin heightened the tension coiling inside him. His cock twitched, straining with need as he stood there, bare before her.
"Damn," he growled under his breath, raking a hand through his hair. Right now, all he could think about was Addison, claiming her, mating with her, pouring every bit of himself into her.
But the reminder that they had more pressing matters to deal with kept him in check. He forced himself to let his body calm down, even though every nerve still burned with desire for Addison.
After finishing his wipe-down, he slipped into clean clothes, then returned to her side. Scooping her gently into his arms, he carried her back to where they had been before, moving as though nothing had happened.
Once settled, he resumed massaging her legs, thighs, and calves with steady, practiced motions, so seamless that it looked as if he had been doing this all along, not indulging in something far more intimate just moments earlier.
"Alpha Zion, the food is ready..." one of the warriors called out as he finally spotted Zion and Addison. He had been searching everywhere for them, yet somehow hadn’t noticed them here before.
’I swear, I passed this way earlier and they weren’t here... or did I just miss them?’ he thought, frowning in confusion. It was strange; Zion and Addison looked as though they had been sitting there all along.
Their clothes were nearly identical to what they’d worn earlier, only much cleaner, which made it even harder for him to believe they’d gone anywhere or done anything in between. For a moment, the warrior even began second-guessing his own memory.
But as the warrior drew closer to call them over, he froze midstep, just barely ten feet away from them, when Zion’s head snapped up and his piercing glare locked onto him. The murderous look made his wolf whimper deep inside, and a chill crawled over his skin, forcing the rest of his words back down his throat.
Only then did he notice Addison, fast asleep, her head tilted in peace while Zion carefully massaged her legs. Her small feet rested in his broad palms, completely dwarfed, as his thumbs worked the soles with surprising gentleness.
The warrior’s lips pressed into a thin line as understanding dawned. ’Of course... he’s being territorial. His mate is sleeping, vulnerable, and the last thing he wants is another man too close, or any noise disturbing Princess Addison’s rest.’
With that realization, the warrior wisely retreated, quietly instructing the cook to set aside food for both Zion and Addison.
Fortunately, the warriors, already accustomed to both Addison and Zion, readily agreed to set aside their own portions so the pair could eat whenever they were ready.
The meal was simple but hearty: steamed rice wrapped in banana leaves, paired with preserved meat sautéed in butter, pepper, and plenty of garlic, with carrots and potatoes added for balance.
To make it easier to carry and eat on the move, the cooks had stuffed the savory beef into the rice and shaped it into fist-sized balls, each warrior receiving four as their share.
With such food, one could easily eat even while traveling, so the cook didn’t ask questions and quietly followed the order. Meanwhile, Zion never left Addison’s side.
He continued massaging her sore body, and as the crease between her brows slowly smoothed away, he knew she was finally starting to feel better.
Riding horseback for hours was far from comfortable, and Zion could already imagine the soreness and likely bruises that would form on Addison’s inner thighs later. His worry lingered on her until, about fifteen minutes into her power nap, she stirred awake.
Stretching lightly and drawing in a deep breath of crisp, clean air, Addison looked more refreshed than before.
A soft hum slipped past her lips, pulling Zion from his thoughts. He bent down, gently slipping her shoes back onto her feet with practiced care.
"Awake?" Zion’s voice was low and tender, the first sound to reach her ears. It was so gentle it felt like it tickled, sending a pleasant shiver through her.
"Yeah," Addison answered softly, her gaze following the sound of Zion’s voice until it landed on him. He was still crouched in the same spot, as though nothing had happened earlier, like it had all been a beautiful dream.
But the faint difference in his clothes gave him away. The dust-stained fabric he’d worn before was gone, replaced by a clean set nearly identical to the first. Realizing this, Addison chose to pretend she hadn’t noticed and shifted her attention elsewhere.
All around them, people were resting, yet none dared settle too close. There was an unspoken agreement to keep their distance, not only out of respect but out of fear. Zion radiated a heavy ’Do Not Disturb’ aura, a pressure so sharp that anyone who lingered near felt as though he might detonate like a powder keg at the slightest provocation.
No one wanted to test the patience of a territorial Alpha, especially not one whose notorious reputation from the war against the vampires, even three years past, still lingered like a scar in everyone’s memory.
But the fear they felt around Zion was laced with respect. After all, he had proven his strength time and time again, and in the werewolf world, nothing commanded greater reverence than strength.
So, they silently agreed not to disturb the two. Even the cook, who had already set aside food for them, chose to rest nearby instead of approaching. He stayed within range, waiting patiently for Zion and Addison to either come on their own or show signs of stirring.
And though his body rested, his senses remained sharp, ready to detect the slightest movement so he could rise at once and offer their meal.
"Hungry?" Zion asked as he finished settling Addison’s remaining shoe, ensuring it was secure and wouldn’t slip off later.
"Um." Addison answered softly, her gaze lingering on Zion’s face. She had never really taken the chance to study his face before, since he had always kept his distance.
Of course, she knew he was handsome, but now, up close, she could finally trace the lines of his features and take them in. The realization stirred a jumble of emotions within her, leaving her momentarily dazed until Zion’s vivid emerald eyes lifted and locked with her golden ones.
"Do I look handsome?" Zion teased with a confident smirk. He already knew the answer; he was well aware of how strikingly handsome he looked, but he couldn’t resist reveling in the fact that his mate had been caught admiring him.
Addison didn’t know what to say. If she admitted it, Zion’s already smug face would only brighten into something even smugger, and the last thing she wanted was to feed his ego. She opened her mouth, hoping to find a way out of answering, but no words came.
Grumble...
Her stomach betrayed her, growling so loudly it could’ve been mistaken for a wolf’s growl. Addison’s face flushed crimson. She had been desperate to dodge Zion’s silly question, but now her body had chosen the worst possible escape route.
Being exposed as starving, like she hadn’t eaten in a week, was far more humiliating than just answering him.
Zion chuckled, clearly amused, watching how adorably she tried to mask her embarrassment. "Let’s go eat." He rose to his feet, brushing imaginary dust from his thigh before extending his hand toward her with a casual ease.
Addison glanced at his large hand for a moment before finally reaching out. The instant her fingers touched his, Zion pulled her effortlessly to her feet, making her feel almost weightless.
"There you go," Zion said softly. Yet even after helping her up, he didn’t release her hand. Instead, he held on and began leading her toward where the cook was resting.
Addison’s eyes lingered on their intertwined fingers. She considered pulling away but chose not to. The gentle warmth spreading through her palm sent tingling ripples deep inside her, soothing her in a way she couldn’t deny.
She knew it wasn’t just her imagination; it was the mate bond, quietly weaving their connection tighter with every touch.
Sensing Zion and Addison’s approach through the weight of Zion’s powerful aura, the cook opened his eyes and smiled warmly.
"Alpha Zion, Princess Addison, you’re here," he greeted. Reaching beside him, he picked up a bundle wrapped in broad banana leaves. Inside were neatly packed rice balls he had set aside just for them.
"Here, I’ve prepared extra portions for the two of you. Thank you for your hard work." His smile was generous as he offered the food with both hands, presenting it as though he were handing over a precious treasure.
"Thank you," Addison replied, while Zion simply gave the cook a firm nod. Fortunately, the cook had tied the banana-leaf bundle with string, making it easy for Zion to carry both portions in one hand. With another brief nod of acknowledgment, he led Addison back to where they had been earlier.