The Alpha's Regret Return Of The Betrayed Luna (Addison) novel Chapter 561

Chapter 561: Chapter 561 Welcome Banquet 3

After everything that had happened in the Midnight River Pack, she had already told her parents the entire story. They knew what Claire had done to her. They should have been furious. If anything, they should have despised Claire.

There was no way they would simply overlook what happened and allow her to sit at the main table as though nothing had happened.

Her parents had shown obvious displeasure toward Zion when they first met him, despite him trying to atone for his past mistakes. Compared to Claire’s actions, Zion’s offenses pale in comparison, as she was the mastermind behind all the misunderstandings and chaos.

So even if her parents chose not to punish Claire directly, they certainly shouldn’t have welcomed her into such an important gathering.

Yet there she was, seated among them as if she belonged.

The more she thought about it, the less sense it made.

So why was Claire here in the first place?

What displeased her even more was the sight before her.

Claire was openly staring at Zion with undisguised hunger and longing in her eyes, no longer making any effort to conceal her covetous gaze. Meanwhile, Zion deliberately ignored her, acting as though he hadn’t noticed a thing. He knew exactly what Claire was doing, but the last thing he wanted was for Addison to misunderstand the situation.

Zion took the initiative to serve Addison food, taking advantage of the fact that he was seated closest to her. With Maxwell and Levi sitting on his other side, he found himself in the perfect position to monopolize at least a little of Addison’s attention. Under normal circumstances, he would have been quite pleased with the arrangement.

Unfortunately, it seemed even fate had other plans.

Throughout the meal, he could feel Claire’s lingering gaze fixed on him. The attention irritated him more than he cared to admit, but this was neither the time nor the place to address it. They were seated before his future parents-in-law and surrounded by nobles, each harboring their own ambitions and hidden agendas. Causing a scene would only create unnecessary complications, so he forced himself to ignore it.

Then, through their mate bond, he sensed a flicker of annoyance from Addison.

Understanding the source almost immediately, Zion finished serving her before discreetly slipping his right hand beneath the table. Reaching over, he gently squeezed her thigh in a silent attempt to reassure her that she had nothing to worry about.

What he hadn’t anticipated, however, was the effect his gesture would have.

The touch, innocent in intention, felt far more sensual and intimate than he expected. A faint shiver ran through Addison as warmth bloomed within her body. It was as though a handful of sparks had landed upon dry grass, igniting a small flame that threatened to grow with every passing second. She kept her expression composed, but deep inside, her heart was no longer as calm as before.

"Zion, what are you trying to do?" Addison whispered, her voice barely audible above the conversations around them.

Her eyes locked onto his, and Zion immediately turned toward her when he heard her sharp intake of breath.

"I..." he began, intending to explain himself.

But the words never came. The moment their gazes met, something in Addison’s eyes flickered, a flash of emotion that caught him completely off guard. His thoughts stalled, and the explanation sitting on the tip of his tongue vanished. Suddenly, his throat felt unbearably dry.

For a brief moment, reason and instinct clashed within him.

Then instinct won.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify