Rain paced his chambers, the soft glow of the Blood Moon spilling through the narrow window like a taunt. Every breath felt heavy, every thought a tangle of rage, confusion, and desire. He had faced countless battles, stared down death more times than he could count, but nothing had prepared him for this—this maddening pull that tore at his instincts and clouded his resolve.
Nathaniel Castellan was an enemy. A conqueror. The man who had stolen everything from him. And yet, the bond refused to let Rain forget the heat of his touch, the raw power in his voice, the unshakable dominance that made Rain's wolf ache in ways he despised.
"Damn him," Rain growled, slamming a fist against the stone wall. The impact sent a jolt of pain through his hand, but it wasn't enough to drown out the chaos inside him.
A soft knock on the door pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. Rain's silver eyes snapped toward the sound, his senses sharpening.
"Who is it?" he barked.
"It's me."
Soren's familiar voice brought a wave of relief, though Rain's tension didn't ease. He moved to the door and opened it just enough to let his beta inside, closing it quickly behind him.
Soren's sharp gaze swept over Rain, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. "You look like you're ready to tear someone apart."
Rain let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his dark hair. "That's because I am."
Soren leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Let me guess—Nathaniel?"
Rain shot him a withering glare. "Who else?"
Soren didn't flinch. He had known Rain long enough to weather his anger, even when it was misplaced. "You need to get a grip, Rain. This bond—"
"Don't," Rain snapped, cutting him off. "Don't lecture me about the bond. I know what it is. I know what it's doing to me."
"Do you?" Soren challenged, his voice calm but firm. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like it's eating you alive."
Rain turned away, his hands braced against the edge of the table as he tried to steady his breathing. "I can handle it."
"Can you?" Soren's tone softened, but his words were no less cutting. "You're walking a fine line, Rain. If you don't figure out how to control this, it's going to control you."
Rain clenched his fists, his claws digging into the wood. "What do you want me to do, Soren? Pretend it's not there? Pretend it's not pulling me toward him every second of the day?"
Soren's silence was heavy, his gaze unrelenting. "I don't know, Rain. But what I do know is that you can't let this bond define you. You're more than this."
Rain's chest heaved as he turned to face his beta, his silver eyes burning with frustration. "And if I can't break it? If it's stronger than me?"
Soren stepped forward, his hand gripping Rain's shoulder. "Then you fight it. Because that's who you are, Rain. You don't give up. You don't bow. Not to him. Not to anyone."
The words hit Rain like a blow, their weight settling deep in his chest. Soren's unwavering loyalty was a lifeline, a reminder of the wolf he had always been.
Rain nodded slowly, his resolve hardening. "You're right. I can't let this bond win."
Soren's grip tightened briefly before he stepped back. "Good. Now, what's the plan?"
Rain's mind raced, the spark of defiance reigniting within him. "We need to regroup with the pack. If there's even a chance they're still out there, we need to find them."
Soren nodded, his expression grim but determined. "And Nathaniel?"
Rain's jaw tightened. "I'll deal with him. On my terms."
Meanwhile, Nathaniel sat in his study, the room bathed in the warm glow of firelight. A half-empty glass of dark amber liquid rested on the desk before him, the only sign of the tension simmering beneath his composed exterior.
Rain's defiance was a constant thorn in his side, but it was also... intriguing. The Blood Moon Alpha had a fire that refused to be extinguished, no matter how much pressure Nathaniel applied.
And the bond—it was a living, breathing force that made Rain's presence impossible to ignore. Every time Nathaniel looked into those silver eyes, he felt it. The heat. The pull. The unspoken promise of something far more dangerous than submission.
He took a slow sip from his glass, his gaze fixed on the flames dancing in the hearth. Rain would fight him at every turn, of that Nathaniel was certain. But the Alpha King didn't intend to break him.
He intended to claim him.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts, and Nathaniel set the glass down with deliberate precision. "Enter."
Elena stepped into the room, her expression carefully neutral. "My King."
Nathaniel's amber eyes flicked to her, sharp and assessing. "What is it?"
"There's been movement near the northern forests," Elena said. "Small groups, likely remnants of Silvano's pack. They've been avoiding direct confrontation, but their presence is growing."
Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "They're testing us."
"It seems so," Elena agreed. "Shall I send a team to intercept them?"
Nathaniel's lips curved into a faint smile. "No. Let them move as they please. They'll come to me soon enough."
Elena hesitated, her sharp gaze studying him. "And Silvano?"
Nathaniel's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Rain will come to me as well. The bond will see to that."
Elena inclined her head, though her expression remained cautious. "As you wish, my King."
As she left, Nathaniel's gaze returned to the flames, his mind already working through the possibilities. Rain's resistance was admirable, but the Alpha King had learned long ago that resistance only made the inevitable more satisfying.
And the Blood Moon had already decided their fate.
To Be Continued...