The forest burned around him.
Flames licked at the ancient pines, turning them into towering infernos that illuminated the dark night sky.
The stench of smoke and blood filled the air, mingling with the anguished howls of the fallen.
Rain Silvano, the Blood Moon Alpha, crouched low among the chaos, his chest heaving as he surveyed the battlefield.
This wasn't just a battle—it was a massacre.
His warriors fought valiantly but they were outnumbered.
The sheer force of the Alpha King's army had descended upon them like a tidal wave, crushing all resistance in its wake.
Nathaniel Castellan, the ruthless conqueror himself, led the charge, his massive black wolf cutting through enemies with merciless precision.
The stories were true; Nathaniel was a monster.
His power was unmatched, his presence overwhelming, and his intent clear—submission or annihilation.
Rain's lip curled as he caught sight of the Alpha King's imposing figure in the distance, standing atop a ridge like a specter of doom.
Even in his human form, Nathaniel exuded raw dominance.
His dark eyes glinted in the firelight, and his broad shoulders were draped in a crimson cloak, a symbol of his unrelenting reign.
Nathaniel didn't fight for freedom or honor.
He fought for power.
And Rain would rather die than kneel.
A growl rumbled deep in Rain's throat as he turned back to his dwindling pack.
They couldn't hold out much longer.
Retreat was no longer an option; they were surrounded.
He clenched his fists, his claws itching to shift into his wolf form, but he knew it wouldn't matter.
Even if he fought until his last breath, Nathaniel's forces would overwhelm them.
Unless…
"Alpha!" a familiar voice called out.
Rain turned to see Soren, his beta, bloodied and limping toward him. "We're losing ground. We need to fall back now!"
"There's nowhere to fall back to," Rain snapped, his silver eyes narrowing. "We stand and fight, or we die here. There is no middle ground."
Soren's expression wavered between desperation and sorrow. "We can't win this, Rain. Not against him."
Rain's jaw tightened.
He hated it, but Soren was right.
His pack was brave, but bravery wasn't enough against the might of Nathaniel Castellan.
The Alpha King didn't leave survivors.
Surrender wasn't just defeat; it was a death sentence.
And yet, as Rain looked at the burning forest around him and at the faces of the wolves who had followed him without question, his resolve hardened.
If this was their end, they would face it with pride.
"We fight until the last wolf stands," Rain growled, his voice steady. "And we make them pay for every drop of blood they spill."
Soren nodded, his shoulders squaring despite the exhaustion etched into his face.
Together, they turned back toward the fray.
But before Rain could leap into the chaos, a deafening roar shattered the air.
The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the pack's howls fell silent as all eyes turned toward the ridge.
Nathaniel Castellan had shifted.
His massive black wolf stood silhouetted against the inferno, its glowing amber eyes fixed on Rain.
Even from a distance, Rain could feel the weight of his gaze, like a predator sizing up its prey.
A cold shiver ran down his spine, but he pushed it aside.
Fear was a luxury he couldn't afford.
The black wolf descended the ridge with terrifying speed, weaving through the battlefield with deadly grace.
Wolves scattered before him, unwilling to face the full force of the Alpha King's fury.
Rain's heart pounded as Nathaniel closed the distance, his steps heavy with purpose.
This wasn't just a battle anymore.
This was a hunt.
Rain shifted in an instant, his silver-gray wolf bristling as he stood his ground.
He wasn't going to run.
If Nathaniel wanted him, he would have to fight for it.
The two alphas collided with a thunderous crash, their claws and fangs tearing into each other as the world burned around them.
Rain fought with everything he had, his movements fueled by desperation and rage.
But Nathaniel was stronger. Faster. Relentless.
Within minutes, Rain found himself pinned beneath the Alpha King's massive paw, his muzzle bloodied and his body trembling from exertion.
Nathaniel's glowing eyes bore into his, and for the first time, Rain felt the crushing weight of true dominance.
He growled weakly, refusing to submit, but the mark was already forming.
A searing pain flared on his wrist, and Rain's eyes widened as he realized what it was.
The unmistakable crescent of a mating mark burned into his skin, its glow mirrored on Nathaniel's wrist.
The Alpha King's eyes flickered with something unreadable, his grip tightening as he leaned closer.
"You belong to me now," Nathaniel growled, his voice low and commanding. "Fate has decided it."
Rain's heart thundered in his chest, his mind reeling.
Fate?
He didn't believe in fate.
He believed in freedom.
And if Nathaniel thought this mark would make him submit, he was sorely mistaken.
"I'd rather die than belong to you," Rain snarled, his voice defiant despite the pain.
Nathaniel's lips curled into a dark smile. "Then you'll have to fight me for it."
And just like that, Rain's world shifted.
He wasn't just fighting for survival anymore.
He was fighting against a bond that defied reason, against a force that neither of them could control.
Against a fate that neither of them could escape.