Chapter 475: Chapter 475 Preparation Before Taking Action

But Chase only chuckled, his deep, magnetic voice sounds like a melody to Addison’s ears. Hearing the two of them banter like this, free of growls and snarls from territorial mates, felt like a breath of fresh air. She realized that, although Chase appeared more serious than Maxwell and Zion combined, he was actually surprisingly laid-back and easy to get along with.

Or so she thought. She had no idea of the storm brewing inside him, the constant pull of wanting to possess and claim his mate entirely, like any Alpha would, but he pushed those thoughts away with sheer will, careful not to scare her.

“Alright, stop fooling around. There’s only an hour left before dawn breaks. If we don’t make a move now, you’ll be spotted, either by the warriors guarding the borders of the Golden Hue Pack, or by someone your master sent to monitor us, if there’s any.” Levi said, trying to salvage his dignity.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Chase’s expression turn thoughtful. What Levi said clearly struck a nerve, especially the last part. Chase slowly nodded. Now that he had officially become Addison’s mate and her insider on the enemy’s side, they had already discussed how often they could meet to exchange intel and the methods they would use.

That meant he had to be extremely cautious, especially now that he and Greg had failed the mission.

But just the thought of having to leave the moment he had finally met his fated mate felt like his chest was being torn apart. He didn’t want to go, couldn’t. For the first time, real jealousy and envy crept into his heart, directed at Zion, Maxwell, and Levi. They could stay by Addison’s side, protect her openly, support her, and be her strength whenever she needed it.

The realization stung, leaving a faint ache behind.

But Chase steadied himself and forced those feelings down.

’No. There are things only I can do, things Addison can rely on me for. My role is different… and just as important. I shouldn’t compare myself to them.’

Reassured by that thought, Chase looked at Addison’s beautiful face one last time. Then he leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips, as if imprinting the moment into his very soul.

After the kiss, Chase forced himself to pull away and spoke in a low, steady voice.”Alright. I’ll leave your safety to Levi, but you must protect yourself as well. Don’t act recklessly or put yourself in danger.”

He paused, his gaze darkening. “If anything happens to you, I will come running back, no matter what’s waiting for me afterward.”

There was a faint edge of threat in his words, not directed at her, but at fate itself. Addison understood his meaning clearly. She could only nod, a soft chuckle escaping her as warmth and reassurance filled her chest.

“Alright, don’t worry,” Addison said calmly. “You already know from our previous encounters that we’re not the kind of people who gamble blindly. We value our lives, but we don’t cling to them so tightly that we’re afraid to take risks when they matter.”

Her smile was light, yet the determination in her eyes was razor-sharp.

“We’re not gambling for the sake of gambling. We’re gambling to win, to end this war against your master. And now that you’re with us, the stakes may be higher, but so are our chances of victory.”

As she spoke, an air of authority and quiet confidence radiated from her, as though she were already looking far beyond the present and into a future she was certain to claim. She was like a spider lily, beautiful, elegant, and lethally resolute.

Seeing her like this, the tight knot in Chase’s chest finally loosened, his restless heart settling at last.

“Alright… I’ll listen to you,” Chase said softly.

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Addison’s forehead, then pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if he wanted to carve her warmth into his memory. He knew there would be days, too many of them, when he wouldn’t be able to see her even if he longed to, and this might be the only comfort he could carry with him.

“I’ll be going now…”

Reluctantly, Chase let her go. He lingered for a brief moment, committing her face to memory one last time, before turning toward the office window. Before Levi could offer even a single word of reassurance, Chase had already opened it and leapt out in one swift, fluid motion, so fast that Levi was left with his mouth half-open.

In the end, Levi simply closed his lips and said nothing.

As soon as Chase left, Addison felt a faint ache bloom in her chest, as if she had truly parted with him. Sadness, loneliness, and a quiet sense of loss crept in, as though a small piece of her heart had been torn away the moment he disappeared through the window. She took several deep breaths, steadying both her breathing and her wandering thoughts, forcing herself to regain composure.

While Addison was doing so, Levi had already left the room. He didn’t want her to begin what she had discussed earlier with him and Chase on an empty stomach, something he knew she was prone to doing. She would need every bit of strength and energy she could gather for what lay ahead.

Levi went straight to the kitchen. He filled a pot with water and set ten eggs to boil, five for himself, five for Addison. He then rinsed the rice and set it to steam, knowing the carbohydrates would help sustain her.

After that, he heated an iron pan and took out the chicken he had marinated earlier in soy sauce, black pepper, brown sugar, lemon, a touch of tomato paste, and lemongrass. It had been soaking for two hours, prepared in advance while Addison and Chase were still discussing how Chase would continue to stay in the enemy camp.

Levi wasn’t worried about missing their conversation. He knew that if he asked, Addison would tell him everything. Nor was he concerned that Chase would overstep while he was gone; their situation was far too dire for indulgence, and Chase had shown respect for Addison’s boundaries and judgment. He wasn’t reckless or opportunistic like Leon, who might seize any opening without restraint.

With that peace of mind, Levi could focus on the task at hand, and now, he could easily prepare breakfast in the kitchen because he had already done the groundwork earlier.

After heating the pot, Levi pulled out some of the firewood to lower the heat. He set the chicken onto the pan without adding oil, placing it skin-side down first. He covered it with a lid, letting the fat slowly render.

As the chicken skin began to release its oil, a rich aroma filled the air. Levi moved efficiently, already heating a second pan beside it. Once it was hot enough, he added a small amount of oil and tossed in the mixed vegetables, seasoning them with black pepper, oyster sauce, and a drizzle of sesame oil. He stirred them briefly, just enough to coat everything evenly, before setting the pan aside.

Returning to the first pan, Levi lifted the lid and turned the chicken, letting the other side sear in the rendered fat.

While Levi focused on preparing a hearty meal in the kitchen, Addison had steadied her emotions back in the office. She leaned against the leather chair, eyes narrowed as she reviewed the plan everyone had agreed upon. Again and again, she ran through the details, calculating the odds of success and weighing the dangers involved.

It was this very risk that had made both Levi and Chase oppose her plan at first. Yet with no viable alternatives, and with Addison firmly insisting on moving forward, they had no choice but to relent. In the end, the only thing Levi could do was prepare in his own way: by making sure she was fed, steady, and ready for what lay ahead.

’Aurora… I just hope you’re with me in this,’ Addison thought as she leaned heavily against the back of the chair, her gaze drifting up to the ceiling. If Aurora were here, this mission wouldn’t feel so overwhelming. There might even be another path, one that didn’t require her to attempt something bordering on the impossible.

But no matter how much she searched herself, there was no stirring within her, no familiar prickle crawling up her spine that signaled Aurora’s presence. Addison sagged back into the chair, deflating like melting ice, disappointment weighing heavily in her chest.

Then, not long after, a mouthwatering aroma drifted into her nostrils. Her stomach rumbled like distant thunder, breaking the silence. Almost immediately, Levi’s rich chuckle echoed down the hallway as he made his way toward the office, pushing a cart laden with food.

“Hungry?” Levi asked as he pushed the door open and pushed the cart inside.

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