Chapter 224: Chapter 224 Heading To The West

The other man didn’t even stir; he was sleeping so deeply that Maxwell didn’t worry about waking him. With practiced efficiency, Maxwell stripped off the used sheets and replaced them with clean ones. Then, with a hint of magnanimity, he helped the still-sleeping Levi back onto the bed and tossed a blanket over Zion.

Only after making sure everything was taken care of did Maxwell return to the bathroom. He gently dried Addison’s body with a soft towel before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her back to bed.

The moment Addison was laid down on the bed, she caught the crisp, sun-dried scent of the freshly changed sheets. As she rested, Maxwell took a smaller towel and gently began drying her hair.

His touch was surprisingly delicate for someone so tall and strong. There was something soothing in the way his fingers moved—tender, careful, almost like a feather brushing against her skin.

Addison, comforted by the warmth of the bed and Maxwell’s attentive care, slowly drifted off without realizing it. His presence and touch lulled her into sleep.

Maxwell didn’t notice at first how gentle he had become. But when he heard Addison’s soft, steady breathing, he glanced down and saw her peacefully asleep. A smile tugged at his lips. After checking on Zion and Levi, who were still out cold, he tossed the towel aside, slipped under the covers, and pulled Addison into his arms.

Only when he felt her securely nestled against him did he finally relax. The tension in his body eased, and the warmth of her presence allowed him to slip into sleep. His protective embrace also seemed to calm Addison further, as both of them sank into a deep, peaceful slumber.

When Addison came to, it felt like her world was swaying. She could hear the rhythmic clatter of horse hooves striking the ground, followed by the loud neigh of a horse. Blinking away her drowsiness, she tried to move, only to be met with a wave of soreness that made her wince.

Her body ached in places she hadn’t even noticed last night, and the soreness in her thighs made her tremble just from shifting slightly. This definitely wasn’t a dream, but she had no idea what was happening.

“You’re awake?” Maxwell’s deep voice drew her attention, and as he leaned closer, Addison blinked again, his handsome features coming into focus, much too close and much too real.

“What’s going on?” she rasped, her voice hoarse. After the night she had—moaning, screaming, and giving herself over completely—it was no surprise her throat was raw and dry.

Maxwell handed her a water flask made of animal skin and carefully helped her drink. Only after she’d had her fill did he begin to explain.

“Have you forgotten? We’re heading to the Western Region to help deal with the locust swarm. Last night, the Royal Alchemist managed to extract samples of the biochemical agent without breaking any of the bottles. So, the Alpha King gave us clearance to move out immediately. Since we can’t teleport directly to the West, we teleported to the nearest checkpoint and joined the caravan that’s transporting the harvested crops there.”

’We?’ Addison thought in confusion. As far as she remembered, it was supposed to be just her and Lance. But now… we? She even suspected that Levi and Zion might be with them too.

Noticing the skepticism and confusion written all over her face, Maxwell let out a soft chuckle before explaining, “Levi, Zion, and I tagged along. After all, the more hands on this mission, the better. Besides, how could we sit back in the palace while our mate does all the work? Honestly, if we stayed behind, we’d probably end up arguing over who worried about you more. So instead, we came along, just to make sure you’re safe.”

As he spoke, Maxwell gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Addison’s face. Only then did she realize she’d been sleeping in his arms, cradled on his lap. He had been holding her the entire time while seated at the back of the large cart.

Instead of letting her sleep on the hard wooden floor, where the constant jolting and rattling would have left her bruised and sore, Maxwell had quietly taken the discomfort upon himself. He bore the shaking and bumps so that she could rest peacefully in the safety of his arms.

Addison glanced around and saw Levi and Zion sleeping soundly on the other side of the cart, completely out cold like logs. Now she was certain: she must have drained far too much of their vitality last night. It seemed only Maxwell had managed to come out of it somewhat normal. Thankfully, they had stopped before he ended up like them, or he’d also be fast asleep beside them.

As for how they got here… well, it was all thanks to Maxwell knowing his limits, even if his wolf had been grumbling in protest all morning.

He had been woken earlier by Addison’s attendant, who came bearing a message from the Alpha King. But when she arrived, Addison had been fast asleep, looking so peaceful that Maxwell didn’t have the heart to wake her. Instead, he asked the attendant to relay the message to him directly so he could deliver it when Addison woke up.

The attendant was hesitant at first, after all, protocol dictated that important messages from the Alpha King be delivered only to the intended recipient. She’d already gotten in trouble last night, and she didn’t want to risk another misstep.

But when she peeked inside and saw the small bundle under the covers, Addison, fast asleep and clearly exhausted, it became obvious why Maxwell was being so protective.

Realizing the urgency, the attendant relented.

“The Alpha King has sent word: the Princess is to depart for the Western region within the hour,” she informed him.

Maxwell nodded and stepped aside to let her in. At first, the attendant looked confused by the state of the room.

Then Maxwell said, “Help me dress my mate. I’ll take care of the two sleeping beauties.”

He didn’t wait for the attendant to respond. She blinked in surprise as Maxwell hauled Zion off the sofa, still buried under the blankets he’d tossed over him the night before. But then he paused; he had forgotten that Zion and Levi had no spare clothes.

With a resigned sigh, Maxwell gritted his teeth and used some of his own clothes to dress the two men.

The attendant, doing her best to maintain her composure, kept her gaze fixed on Addison. She avoided looking at the naked Levi or the half-dressed Zion, focusing instead on her task. Addison’s skin was covered in light love marks, hickeys, and faint bruises, not severe, but enough to reveal what had transpired the night before.

Still, the attendant stayed in her lane and dared not let her thoughts wander. She focused on gently dressing Addison, who remained fast asleep.

Just as she finished, Maxwell wrapped things up with the other two.

“Help me pack some of my mate’s clothes,” he instructed. “Add extra pants and shirts so she can travel comfortably. Also, pack her favorite snacks and food, we don’t know how long we’ll be staying out there.”

His thoughtful instructions made the attendant smile. Without a word, she began hurrying around the room, gathering everything he’d requested.

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