Chapter : Firelight Hunters

The silence that fell over the abandoned village was deafening, broken only by the sound of Rain's ragged breathing and the faint rustling of the wind through the crumbling buildings.

He was on his knees, pinned beneath Nathaniel's unrelenting grip. The Alpha King's hand was firm around Rain's wrist, the mark on their skin glowing faintly as the bond pulsed between them.

Rain's silver eyes burned with defiance, even as his body trembled with the effort of resisting the pull. The heat of the bond was unbearable, a searing fire that coursed through his veins, threatening to consume him.

Nathaniel's amber eyes were steady, his expression unreadable. He didn't smirk this time, didn't taunt. Instead, he studied Rain with a quiet intensity that was almost worse than his usual arrogance.

"You're exhausted," Nathaniel said softly, his voice low but resonant in the still air. "Why do you keep fighting me?"

Rain's chest heaved as he snarled, his claws digging into the dirt beneath him. "Because I'll never let you win."

Nathaniel tilted his head slightly, his amber gaze flickering with something unreadable. "You're not fighting me, Rain. You're fighting yourself."

The words struck a nerve, and Rain's growl deepened. "Don't pretend to understand me, Castellan. You don't know anything about me."

Nathaniel's grip loosened just slightly, though his presence remained as imposing as ever. "I know enough."

The bond flared again, a sharp pulse that left Rain breathless. He hated how his body reacted to Nathaniel, how his wolf stirred every time the Alpha King was near. It was as if the bond had its own will, forcing him to confront feelings he wanted nothing to do with.

Nathaniel's free hand reached out, his fingers brushing against Rain's jaw. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it sent a jolt through Rain's body. His wolf responded instinctively, a low rumble building in his chest that he couldn't suppress.

"Stop," Rain growled, his voice trembling.

Nathaniel's fingers lingered for a moment before pulling back. "Why?"

Rain's silver eyes locked onto Nathaniel's, blazing with anger and something far more dangerous. "Because I don't want this."

Nathaniel's gaze didn't waver, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—understanding, perhaps, or frustration. "The bond doesn't care what you want, Rain. It just is."

Rain shoved at Nathaniel's chest, forcing the Alpha King to release him. He scrambled to his feet, his body coiled like a spring as he put distance between them.

"This isn't fate," Rain snapped, his voice sharp. "It's a curse."

Nathaniel stood slowly, his movements calm and deliberate. "You can call it whatever you want. It doesn't change the fact that we're bound."

Rain's claws flexed at his sides, his wolf pacing restlessly beneath his skin. He wanted to run, to escape the suffocating weight of Nathaniel's presence, but the bond was a chain that refused to break.

Nathaniel stepped closer, his amber eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. "You can hate me all you want, Rain. But you can't deny what's between us."

Rain's chest tightened as Nathaniel's words settled over him like a brand. He wanted to argue, to lash out, but the bond pulsed again, and his resolve faltered.

"I'll never be yours," Rain said, his voice low but firm.

Nathaniel's lips curved into a faint smile, though there was no humor in it. "We'll see."

The silence stretched between them, heavy with tension and unspoken words. Rain's silver eyes darted to the forest beyond the village, his mind racing. He needed to get away, to regroup, to find a way to sever this bond before it consumed him entirely.

But as Nathaniel's gaze bore into his, Rain couldn't shake the feeling that escape was impossible.

Soren watched from the shadows, his heart pounding as he took in the scene before him. He had stayed behind, unwilling to leave Rain to face Nathaniel alone. But what he saw now left him torn between anger and confusion.

Rain was his Alpha, his leader, his friend. Soren had fought by his side for years, through every battle, every loss. But this... this was something else entirely.

The bond between Rain and Nathaniel was a living thing, crackling with energy that Soren could feel even from a distance. It wasn't just a mark on their skin—it was a force that connected them, whether they wanted it or not.

And Soren hated it.

He hated the way Nathaniel looked at Rain, as if he owned him. He hated the way Rain's defiance faltered under the weight of the bond. And most of all, he hated that there was nothing he could do to break it.

Soren clenched his fists, his claws biting into his palms as he forced himself to stay hidden. He couldn't interfere—not yet.

But he wouldn't let Nathaniel win.

Nathaniel finally stepped back, his amber eyes never leaving Rain's. "Go ahead, Rain. Run. Fight. Do whatever you need to do to convince yourself that you're free."

Rain's silver eyes narrowed, his body tense as he prepared to bolt.

"But know this," Nathaniel continued, his voice low and steady. "No matter how far you go, no matter how hard you fight, the bond will always bring you back to me."

Rain's heart clenched at the words, his wolf snarling in frustration. But he didn't respond. Instead, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, his movements quick and precise.

Nathaniel watched him go, his expression unreadable.

Elena emerged from the trees, her sharp eyes narrowing as she approached the Alpha King. "Why did you let him go?"

Nathaniel's gaze remained fixed on the spot where Rain had vanished. "Because he'll come back."

Elena frowned, her posture stiff. "And if he doesn't?"

Nathaniel's smirk returned, colder this time. "He will. The bond won't let him stay away."

As the Blood Moon hung heavy in the sky, Nathaniel turned and strode back toward the fortress, his mind already working through his next move.

To Be Continued...