The night deepened, and Rain sat at the edge of his cot, staring at the faintly glowing mark on his wrist. The pulsing rhythm of the bond was maddening, like an unseen tide pulling him toward Nathaniel with every passing moment. The bond wasn't just physical—it was inescapable, rooted deep in his core.
He clenched his jaw, pressing his palm over the mark as though sheer force could erase it. It wouldn't. It was a scar of fate, one he couldn't outrun.
A soft knock at the door broke through his spiraling thoughts. Rain's eyes narrowed as he straightened, his instincts sharpening.
"Who is it?" he growled, his voice low and tense.
The door opened slowly, revealing Soren's familiar form. His beta stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. The dim light of the room cast shadows across Soren's worn features, but his eyes remained sharp.
"You're still up," Soren said, his tone more observation than question.
Rain let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. "Hard to sleep when you're marked by the Alpha King."
Soren's gaze flicked to Rain's wrist, where the faint glow of the mark pulsed like a heartbeat. "It's stronger tonight."
"It's the Blood Moon," Rain muttered. "It amplifies everything. The bond, the pull... even the madness."
Soren hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Then you need to stay focused. The bond is messing with your instincts, Rain. If you're not careful, it'll consume you."
Rain stood abruptly, pacing the room like a caged animal. "You think I don't know that? Every time he's near, it's like—" He stopped, his fists clenching. "It's like my wolf wants to submit to him."
Soren stepped closer, his voice steady. "But you haven't. That's what matters. You're still fighting."
Rain's silver eyes met Soren's, the fire within them dimmed by exhaustion. "For how long? How long before this... thing takes over?"
"As long as it takes," Soren said firmly. "You're not alone in this, Rain. The pack is still out there, waiting for your lead. They believe in you. I believe in you."
Rain's chest tightened at his beta's words. Soren's loyalty had never wavered, even in the face of impossible odds. It was a reminder that, despite everything, Rain wasn't completely alone.
He nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. "We'll figure this out. One way or another."
Nathaniel Castellan stood on the balcony of his private quarters, the crisp night air brushing against his skin. The Blood Moon bathed the stronghold in its eerie red light, its power thrumming in his veins.
He could feel Rain's presence, even from across the stronghold. The bond was a living thing, a thread of energy that refused to be ignored.
For a man who had built his empire on control, the bond was an unwelcome complication. Yet it was also fascinating. Rain Silvano was unlike anyone Nathaniel had ever encountered—wild, fierce, and untamed. The Alpha King had seen countless wolves break under his rule, their spirits crushed by his power.
But Rain? Rain was different.
Nathaniel's lips curved into a faint smile as he thought about their earlier confrontation. The fire in Rain's eyes, the defiance in his voice—it was infuriating and intoxicating all at once.
He didn't just want to claim Rain. He wanted to understand him, to unravel the mystery of the wolf who had become his equal in ways he hadn't anticipated.
A knock at the door drew Nathaniel from his thoughts.
"Enter," he called, his voice steady.
The door opened, and Elena, his second-in-command, stepped inside. Her sharp eyes scanned the room before settling on him.
"My King," she said, her tone respectful but tinged with urgency. "There's been movement near the northern border. Small groups of rebels, likely remnants of Silvano's pack."
Nathaniel turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. "How many?"
"Not enough to pose a direct threat," Elena replied. "But enough to cause disruption. They've been avoiding direct confrontation, moving under the cover of night."
Nathaniel nodded slowly, his mind already working through the possibilities. "They're testing our defenses."
"Most likely," Elena agreed. "Shall I send a patrol to intercept them?"
Nathaniel considered her suggestion, his gaze drifting back to the balcony. The northern forests were vast and treacherous, a haven for those who knew how to navigate their shadows. Sending a patrol could risk spreading his forces too thin.
"No," he said finally. "Let them move for now. They'll reveal their purpose soon enough."
Elena hesitated, her brow furrowing. "And Silvano? Do you believe he's behind this?"
Nathaniel's amber eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight. "Rain isn't the type to hide in the shadows. If he were leading this, we'd know."
Elena nodded, though her expression remained wary. "Understood."
As she left, Nathaniel turned back to the balcony, his thoughts returning to Rain. The bond between them was more than just a nuisance—it was a source of power, one that neither of them fully understood.
But one thing was certain: the Blood Moon had chosen them for a reason.
And Nathaniel intended to uncover why.
In the quiet of his room, Rain sat at the edge of his cot once more, staring out the small window at the crimson-lit sky. The bond hummed in his veins, a constant reminder of Nathaniel's presence.
But beneath the anger, the defiance, and the confusion, there was something else—a question that refused to leave his mind.
Why him?
Why had the Blood Moon chosen to bind him to the Alpha King, the man who had caused so much pain and destruction?
Rain didn't have the answers. But he knew one thing: he couldn't afford to let the bond define him.
With a deep breath, he stood, his resolve hardening. The fight wasn't over.
It was only just beginning.
To Be Continued...