Chapter : Chained Hearts, Burning Bond

The forest was alive with the sounds of night—rustling leaves, the distant howl of wolves, and the faint whispers of wind threading through the trees. Rain moved through the shadows, his steps light but urgent. Every breath was a battle, the bond between him and Nathaniel tugging at him like a leash that refused to break.

Soren trailed behind him, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. Neither spoke. The tension between them was heavy, weighted by the silent understanding that their escape had been a narrow one. But Rain could feel it—Nathaniel wasn't far behind.

He wouldn't stop.

"He let you go," Soren finally said, his voice quiet but edged with frustration.

Rain didn't turn around, his silver eyes fixed on the path ahead. "No. He's hunting me."

Soren's jaw tightened. "Then why didn't he stop you back there? He could've dragged you back to that fortress, and we both know it."

Rain's chest tightened at the memory of Nathaniel's touch, the way his amber eyes had burned into his own. "Because he doesn't need to," Rain said, his voice bitter. "The bond does his work for him."

Soren's footsteps faltered for a moment before he caught up. "You can fight it, Rain. You've always fought. You're stronger than this."

Rain wanted to believe him. He wanted to believe that his will was enough to sever the tie between him and Nathaniel. But the bond wasn't just a chain. It was alive, pulsing in his veins, its heat wrapping around his soul like a vice.

And the worst part? A small, treacherous part of him didn't want it to go away.

Nathaniel stood at the edge of the forest, the crimson light of the Blood Moon casting long shadows across his face. His amber eyes glowed faintly as he stared into the darkness, his wolf stirring restlessly within him.

He could still feel Rain—his defiance, his fury, his fire. The bond pulsed between them, a searing thread that connected them no matter how far Rain ran.

Elena approached from behind, her sharp gaze studying Nathaniel carefully. "Do you want us to pursue him, my King?"

Nathaniel's lips curved into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained fixed on the trees. "There's no need."

Elena frowned, her posture stiffening. "He'll regroup with his pack. If they gather their forces—"

"They won't," Nathaniel interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "Rain is too consumed by the bond to focus on anything else. He can try to run, but he'll come back to me. He always will."

Elena hesitated, her expression wary. "And if he doesn't?"

Nathaniel's smirk faded, his amber eyes darkening. "He will."

There was no doubt in his tone, no room for argument. The Blood Moon had bound them together, and Nathaniel knew better than to fight the will of the goddess. Rain could run, but he couldn't hide—not from the bond, and certainly not from Nathaniel.

Rain and Soren reached the outskirts of an abandoned village, the crumbling buildings standing like silent sentinels under the Blood Moon's eerie glow. It was a place Rain had passed through before, during his battles against Nathaniel's forces. Now, it felt like a ghost town, its emptiness a reminder of all that had been lost.

"We'll rest here," Rain said, his voice low.

Soren hesitated, his sharp eyes scanning the area. "Are you sure it's safe?"

Rain nodded, though his instincts screamed otherwise. "We don't have a choice."

As they settled into one of the more intact structures, Soren busied himself with checking the perimeter while Rain leaned against the cold stone wall, his body heavy with exhaustion.

The bond flared again, its heat coursing through him like fire. Rain clenched his fists, his claws digging into his palms as he fought to suppress the pull.

He could feel Nathaniel. His presence was like a shadow, pressing against the edges of Rain's mind. No matter how far he ran, the Alpha King was always there, lingering just out of reach.

"Damn it," Rain muttered under his breath, slamming a fist against the wall.

The sound echoed in the empty room, and Soren appeared in the doorway, his expression hard. "What is it?"

Rain shook his head, his silver eyes flashing. "He's close."

Soren's jaw tightened, but he didn't question Rain's instincts. "Then we need to keep moving."

Rain hesitated, his body trembling with the effort of resisting the bond. "No. We fight."

Soren stared at him, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Rain, you can't—"

"I'm done running," Rain growled, his voice sharp. "If he wants me so badly, he can come and take me."

The determination in Rain's voice left no room for argument, and Soren reluctantly nodded.

Nathaniel arrived at the village just as the Blood Moon reached its peak. The crimson light bathed the crumbling buildings in an otherworldly glow, casting long shadows that danced in the flickering light.

He moved silently, his wolf coiled just beneath the surface, his senses sharp. Rain was here. He could feel him, the bond pulling him closer with every step.

As Nathaniel stepped into the center of the village, Rain emerged from the shadows, his silver eyes blazing with defiance.

"Finally decided to stop lurking in the shadows, Castellan?" Rain spat, his claws extending.

Nathaniel's smirk was cold, his amber eyes locked onto Rain's. "I told you, Rain. You can't run from me."

Rain growled low in his throat, his body tensing as he prepared for the fight. "Then stop talking and fight me."

Nathaniel's gaze darkened, his wolf surging forward as he stepped closer. "You don't want to fight me, Rain. Not really."

Rain lunged without warning, his claws aiming for Nathaniel's chest. But the Alpha King was faster, catching Rain's wrist mid-air and twisting, forcing him to his knees.

The bond flared between them, its heat searing through both of them as their bodies collided.

"You feel it, don't you?" Nathaniel murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "The bond. The fire. It's not just me, Rain. It's us."

Rain snarled, his body trembling as he fought against Nathaniel's grip. "I'll never be yours."

Nathaniel leaned closer, his breath warm against Rain's ear. "You already are."

The words sent a shiver down Rain's spine, and for a moment, his defiance faltered.

The bond roared in his veins, a living force that refused to be ignored. And as Nathaniel's amber eyes bore into his, Rain knew one thing for certain:

This wasn't over.

It was only just starting...

To Be Continued...