Chapter : This isn't Over

Rain's back pressed against the cold stone wall, but he barely felt it.

The heat radiating between their bodies was all-consuming, burning hotter than the flames of his rage or the ice of his defiance.

Nathaniel's hands gripped his waist with a possessive strength, the bond thrumming like a living thing between them, binding them closer even as Rain's mind screamed at him to push away.

But he didn't.

Rain growled against Nathaniel's lips, his claws raking down the Alpha King's back hard enough to tear fabric and skin. Nathaniel hissed in response, his grip tightening, his amber eyes glowing as he pulled back just enough to meet Rain's gaze.

"You fight so beautifully," Nathaniel murmured, his voice low and rough, filled with both amusement and something darker. "But you're losing, Rain."

Rain's silver eyes blazed with fury, his chest heaving. "I haven't lost yet."

Nathaniel's smirk deepened, his gaze dropping to the faint glow of the mark on Rain's wrist. He lifted Rain's hand, his thumb brushing over the sensitive skin where the bond pulsed with molten heat.

"This mark says otherwise," Nathaniel said, his tone soft but unrelenting.

Rain jerked his hand away, the defiance in his eyes burning brighter. "This doesn't mean you own me."

Nathaniel leaned in, his lips brushing against the shell of Rain's ear. "No, but it means you're mine."

The words sent a shiver down Rain's spine, his wolf stirring beneath his skin. The pull of the bond was unbearable, a magnetic force that left him trembling with both fury and desire.

He hated how his body reacted to Nathaniel, how his instincts betrayed him, but the fire between them refused to die.

Rain's hand shot out, grabbing Nathaniel by the throat and shoving him back against the opposite wall. The move was fast, fierce, and filled with the raw power of an Alpha determined to reclaim control.

Nathaniel's smirk didn't falter, even as Rain's claws pressed against his skin. If anything, the glow in his amber eyes intensified, the dominance in his posture unshaken.

"Still fighting," Nathaniel said, his voice strained but laced with approval. "Good."

Rain snarled, his lips pulling back to reveal sharp canines. "I told you before, Castellan—I'll never bow to you."

Nathaniel's hand shot up, gripping Rain's wrist with a force that sent a jolt through his body. He pushed Rain back with ease, flipping their positions until Rain was the one pinned against the wall once more.

"I don't want your submission," Nathaniel growled, his voice darker now, edged with frustration. "I want your fire. Your strength. Your everything."

The words struck something deep within Rain, something primal and raw that he couldn't name. His breath hitched, his defiance faltering for just a moment as Nathaniel's gaze bore into his.

For a heartbeat, the air between them stilled, the weight of their bond pressing down on them like a living force.

And then the fire ignited again.

Rain surged forward, capturing Nathaniel's lips in a kiss that was just as fierce and unrelenting as the war raging within him. Their bodies collided, the force of it sending a nearby table crashing to the ground. Neither of them cared.

Nathaniel's hands roamed Rain's body with a possessive urgency, his touch igniting every nerve.

Rain's claws scraped against Nathaniel's chest, his growl vibrating between them as he bit down on Nathaniel's bottom lip hard enough to draw blood.

Nathaniel groaned, the sound low and primal, as if the pain only fueled his desire. He pressed Rain harder against the wall, his lips trailing down Rain's jaw to the sensitive spot where his neck met his shoulder.

Rain stiffened as Nathaniel's teeth grazed his skin, his wolf snarling in response. "Don't you dare—"

Nathaniel chuckled darkly, pulling back just enough to meet Rain's gaze. "Relax. I wouldn't mark you without your permission."

Rain's heart pounded, his breath coming in uneven gasps as he glared at Nathaniel. "You already have," he said, his voice bitter.

Nathaniel's expression softened, though the intensity in his eyes didn't waver. "The moon marked us, Rain. Not me. But if I were to mark you—" He leaned closer, his lips brushing against Rain's ear. "You'd know it was my choice. Just as it would be yours."

The words sent a shiver through Rain's body, his wolf howling in confusion and frustration. The bond flared again, a searing heat that left him trembling, but this time it wasn't just anger or desire. It was something deeper, something that scared him more than he wanted to admit.

Nathaniel stepped back, his chest heaving, his gaze locked onto Rain's. "This isn't over," he said, his voice low and steady.

Rain didn't respond, his silver eyes burning with a mix of emotions he couldn't untangle.

Nathaniel turned and left the room, the door closing softly behind him.

Rain sank to the floor, his body still trembling as he pressed a hand to his chest. The bond was alive, pulsing with a heat that refused to fade.

"This can't happen," Rain whispered to himself, his voice raw. "I won't let it."

But even as he said the words, he knew the truth.

The fire between them was already too strong to extinguish.

To Be Continued...