Chapter : I'll Never Stop

The fortress was unnaturally quiet under the Blood Moon's ominous glow, the stillness broken only by the faint rustle of the wind through the trees. Rain and Soren moved through the shadows, their steps silent, their movements precise. Every breath was calculated, every flicker of movement a risk.

Rain's heart pounded as they approached the western wall, the weight of his decision pressing heavy on his chest. He had to leave. He had to break free, not just from Nathaniel's grasp but from the bond that clung to his soul like a shackle.

"We're almost there," Soren whispered, his voice barely audible as he gestured toward the gap in the patrol line. The faint flicker of torchlight illuminated the path ahead, but the guards had yet to circle back.

Rain nodded, his silver eyes scanning the area. His wolf stirred restlessly, its instincts screaming a warning Rain couldn't quite place. He shoved the feeling aside. There was no time for hesitation.

As they reached the base of the wall, Soren motioned for Rain to go first. Rain leapt, his claws digging into the stone as he climbed swiftly, his body coiled with the tension of the escape. His heart raced as he reached the top, his sharp eyes scanning the dark forest beyond.

Freedom.

Soren joined him moments later, landing beside him with a muffled thud. "We have to move quickly," he said, his voice low but urgent.

Rain nodded, but just as he turned toward the trees, the air shifted. A wave of power rolled over them, sharp and suffocating, and Rain's wolf froze.

"Leaving so soon?"

The voice was like a blade slicing through the quiet, deep and commanding, sending a shiver down Rain's spine.

Rain whirled around, his silver eyes blazing as Nathaniel stepped into the clearing, his towering frame bathed in the crimson glow of the Blood Moon. His amber eyes glinted with something dangerous, his presence filling the air with raw dominance.

"How—" Soren began, but Nathaniel's gaze snapped to him, silencing him instantly.

"Go, Soren," Rain growled, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him.

"I'm not leaving you," Soren said firmly, his stance shifting as he prepared to fight.

Rain turned to his beta, his voice low but commanding. "This isn't your fight."

Soren hesitated, his loyalty warring with his instincts, but one look at Rain's expression was enough. With a reluctant nod, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Rain alone with Nathaniel.

The Alpha King stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. "You really thought you could escape me, didn't you?"

Rain's claws extended, his wolf surging forward as his anger flared. "You don't own me, Castellan."

Nathaniel's smirk was cold, his amber eyes glowing faintly. "The bond says otherwise."

Rain lunged without warning, his claws aiming for Nathaniel's throat. But Nathaniel was ready. He caught Rain's wrist mid-air, his grip unyielding as he twisted, forcing Rain to the ground.

Rain snarled, his body twisting as he tried to break free, but Nathaniel's strength was undeniable. He pinned Rain beneath him, his weight pressing down, his breath hot against Rain's ear.

"Stop fighting me," Nathaniel growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Rain's silver eyes flashed, his chest heaving as he glared up at Nathaniel. "I'll never stop."

Nathaniel's hand tightened around Rain's wrist, the mark on their skin flaring to life. The bond pulsed between them, a searing heat that left them both breathless.

"You can lie to yourself all you want," Nathaniel said, his voice softer now, though no less intense. "But we both feel it. This connection. This pull."

Rain's jaw clenched, his body trembling beneath Nathaniel's as the bond roared in his veins. He hated how his wolf responded to the Alpha King's presence, how the bond made him feel things he didn't want to feel.

"This doesn't mean you win," Rain spat, his voice trembling with both fury and something he couldn't name.

Nathaniel's lips curled into a faint smirk, but there was no mockery in his gaze. Only a dark, burning intensity. "This isn't about winning, Rain. This is about fate."

The words hung heavy in the air, the weight of them pressing down on Rain like a physical force.

Nathaniel leaned closer, his amber eyes locked onto Rain's. "You can fight me, fight this bond, fight yourself—but it won't change what we are."

Rain's breath hitched as Nathaniel's words settled over him like a brand. The bond between them burned hotter, its heat searing away his resistance even as he struggled against it.

"I hate you," Rain whispered, though the words lacked the conviction they once held.

Nathaniel's expression softened, just for a moment, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "I know."

The honesty in his tone struck something deep within Rain, something raw and unguarded. And for the first time, Rain didn't know what to say.

Nathaniel released his grip, stepping back and allowing Rain to rise. The tension between them didn't fade—it only grew, thick and suffocating, as the bond pulsed between them like a living thing.

"This isn't over," Rain said, his voice firm despite the chaos inside him.

Nathaniel's smirk returned, though his amber eyes held an unspoken promise. "No, it's not."

As Rain disappeared into the shadows, Nathaniel watched him go, his expression unreadable.

The hunt wasn't over.

It had only just begun.

To Be Continued...