Chapter : Damn the Bond!

The door had barely closed behind Nathaniel, but the heat of his presence lingered, suffocating the air in Rain's chamber. Rain sat on the floor, his knees pulled up, his hands braced against the cold stone.

His breaths were shallow, uneven, as if his body couldn't decide whether to recover or to remain poised for another battle.

Battle. That's what it had been. That's what every moment with Nathaniel felt like—a war waged on every front. Physical. Emotional. Primal.

Rain clenched his fists, his claws retracting and extending as his wolf churned within him. The bond was relentless, pulling at his instincts, trying to sway him to a path he didn't want to take. His lips still tingled from Nathaniel's kiss, his body betraying him with the lingering heat of their collision.

He slammed a fist into the wall beside him, the sharp pain grounding him for a moment. "Damn him," Rain growled, his voice low and rough. "Damn that bond."

The door opened again, startling him. Rain shot to his feet, his silver eyes flashing, but it wasn't Nathaniel who entered. It was Soren.

The beta froze for a moment, his sharp gaze sweeping over Rain. His expression darkened. "What happened?"

Rain turned away, running a hand through his hair. "Nothing."

Soren stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Don't lie to me, Rain. You look like you've been through hell."

Rain let out a bitter laugh, pacing the room like a caged animal. "Hell would be kinder."

Soren's brow furrowed as he approached, his voice quieter now. "The bond again?"

Rain nodded sharply, his shoulders tense. "It's like... it's alive, Soren. Every time I try to fight it, it pulls harder. And he—" Rain's voice broke off, his hands clenching into fists. "He knows it. He uses it."

Soren's expression hardened. "Then we have to act fast. If the bond is affecting you this strongly, it's only a matter of time before it controls you completely."

Rain stopped pacing, his silver eyes locking onto Soren. "I won't let it control me. No matter what it takes."

Soren hesitated, his voice measured. "What are you planning, Rain?"

Rain took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "We need to find the rest of the pack. If there's even a chance they're still out there, I have to get to them. The bond might pull at me, but it doesn't own me. Not yet."

Soren's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "You know I'll follow you. But Nathaniel won't let you go easily. If he finds out what we're doing—"

"I'll handle him," Rain interrupted, though his tone lacked confidence.

Soren studied him for a long moment, his loyalty unwavering despite the storm brewing in Rain's eyes. "Then we'd better move soon. The longer we wait, the harder it'll be to escape."

Nathaniel paced the length of his study, his amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He could still feel Rain—his fire, his defiance, the way their bond roared to life every time they were near.

The memory of Rain's lips on his, of the way he fought even as he surrendered, sent a jolt through Nathaniel's chest. He hated how deeply Rain had burrowed under his skin, how the bond made him crave what he shouldn't want.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Enter," he barked, his voice sharp.

Elena stepped inside, her expression cautious. She carried a stack of parchments, but it was clear from the tension in her posture that this wasn't a routine visit.

"My King," Elena said, bowing slightly. "We've received more reports from the northern border. The remnants of Silvano's pack are on the move."

Nathaniel's jaw tightened, his gaze darkening. "How many?"

"Enough to cause trouble if they regroup," Elena replied. "We've tracked their movements, but they've been avoiding direct confrontation. It's likely they're waiting for their Alpha's signal."

Nathaniel's lips curled into a smirk. "Rain doesn't give signals. He leads."

Elena hesitated, her sharp gaze flicking toward Nathaniel. "Then it's possible he's planning something."

Nathaniel's expression hardened. "Rain's planning nothing without me knowing. The bond won't let him hide from me."

Elena's brows furrowed, but she didn't question him. "What are your orders?"

"Keep the borders secure," Nathaniel said, his voice calm but firm. "Let them think they're slipping past us unnoticed. When they gather, we'll strike."

Elena nodded, though her expression remained wary. "And Silvano?"

Nathaniel's smirk returned, colder this time. "Leave him to me."

Rain stood on the balcony of his chambers, the cool night air brushing against his heated skin. The Blood Moon hung heavy in the sky, its crimson glow casting long shadows across the stronghold.

He could feel Nathaniel even now, the bond pulling at him like a chain. But beneath the heat and tension, there was something else—a growing sense of unease. Nathaniel was watching him, waiting for him to slip, to give in.

But Rain wouldn't.

Not when his pack was still out there, scattered and vulnerable. Not when the rebellion still had a chance to rise from the ashes.

Rain closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He would find a way to fight the bond, to reclaim his freedom. No matter the cost.

But as the night deepened and the Blood Moon's power grew, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.

To Be Continued...