Chapter : You Suddenly Care?!

Rain's claws flexed at his sides, the sharp tips grazing his palms as he stared at Nathaniel.

The Alpha King's amber eyes gleamed faintly in the firelight, his towering form casting long shadows across the walls of the cave. Every inch of Nathaniel radiated power, his wolf's presence rolling off him in waves that made Rain's wolf bristle with equal parts defiance and unease.

"You're lying," Rain spat, his silver eyes narrowing.

Nathaniel's smirk faded, replaced by a calm, measured expression. "Why would I lie, Rain? The bond is as much a curse for me as it is for you."

Rain's chest heaved, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "You expect me to believe you're here to help? That you suddenly care about what happens to me?"

Nathaniel took a slow step forward, his gaze locked onto Rain's. "I don't care what you believe. But whatever this bond is—whatever it's tied to—it's not something either of us can ignore."

Soren moved closer, his posture tense as he positioned himself slightly in front of Rain. "And we're just supposed to trust you?"

Nathaniel's eyes flicked to Soren, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "I don't need your trust, Beta. I need Rain to listen."

Rain growled low in his throat, his wolf pacing within him. The bond was thrumming again, its heat coiling in his chest and clouding his thoughts. It wasn't just the pull—it was something else, something more primal.

"Start talking, Castellan," Rain said, his voice sharp. "What do you know about the bond?"

Nathaniel's gaze shifted back to Rain, his expression unreadable. "Not enough. But I know it's tied to the Blood Moon—and to something far older than either of us."

Rain's silver eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

Nathaniel took another step closer, his tone lowering. "The bond isn't just a mark of fate. It's a chain. And something is pulling on the other end of it."

Soren frowned, his sharp eyes flicking between Rain and Nathaniel. "You're saying someone—something—is controlling it?"

Nathaniel inclined his head slightly. "Not controlling it. But using it. The Blood Moon's power amplifies everything—the bond, our instincts, our connection. And whoever sent Althea knows that."

Rain stiffened at the mention of Althea, his claws digging into his palms. "She said she didn't answer to you."

Nathaniel's amber eyes darkened, his expression hardening. "She doesn't. But that doesn't mean she isn't dangerous."

Soren crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "Why would someone send her after Rain? What do they gain?"

Nathaniel's gaze lingered on Rain for a moment before he spoke. "The bond ties us together. It's more than just a connection—it's a source of power. And if someone can sever or manipulate it, they could destroy us both."

The weight of his words settled heavily in the cave, the crackling fire the only sound in the tense silence.

Rain's chest tightened, his wolf growling low in his throat. "Then why not let them? If you think this bond is a curse, why stop them from breaking it?"

Nathaniel's lips pressed into a thin line, his amber eyes burning with intensity. "Because if they succeed, it won't just destroy the bond. It'll destroy you."

The firelight flickered, casting shadows across Rain's face as he processed Nathaniel's words.

His instincts screamed at him to distrust the Alpha King, to push him away and keep running. But the bond pulsed again, a steady, relentless reminder of the connection they shared.

Soren shifted uncomfortably, his sharp gaze darting to Rain. "What's the plan, Alpha?"

Rain didn't answer immediately, his silver eyes locked onto Nathaniel's. The air between them was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken truths pressing down on them both.

Finally, Rain spoke, his voice low but firm. "If you're lying to me, Castellan, I'll make you regret it."

Nathaniel's smirk returned, though it was faint and humorless. "I'd expect nothing less."

The cave was quiet, the fire reduced to glowing embers as the three wolves sat in uneasy silence.

Rain leaned against the wall, his silver eyes fixed on the faint glow of the bond's mark on his wrist. It was a constant reminder of everything he was trying to escape—and everything he couldn't.

Nathaniel sat across from him, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp. He was watching Rain, studying him with a quiet intensity that made Rain's wolf bristle.

"What are you staring at?" Rain growled, his voice breaking the silence.

Nathaniel's lips curled into a faint smirk. "You."

Rain's claws flexed, his anger bubbling to the surface. "If you think—"

"You're different," Nathaniel interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "Every other Alpha I've encountered has bowed to me. But not you."

Rain's chest tightened, his defiance flaring. "Because I'm not like them."

Nathaniel's amber eyes burned brighter, his gaze unyielding. "No, you're not."

The words hung heavy in the air, their weight pressing down on Rain. He didn't know whether to feel insulted or... something else.

Soren cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "So what's the next move?"

Nathaniel's gaze didn't leave Rain's as he spoke. "We find Althea. She's the key to all of this."

Rain scoffed, his silver eyes narrowing. "And what makes you think she'll tell us anything?"

Nathaniel's smirk widened, his voice laced with quiet confidence. "She will. Because she wants the same thing we do—to survive."

Rain's chest heaved, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. He didn't trust Nathaniel. He didn't trust the bond. But deep down, he knew they couldn't ignore the threat Althea posed—or the secrets she held.

"Fine," Rain said finally, his voice sharp. "But don't think for a second that this means I trust you."

Nathaniel's smirk softened, though his amber eyes remained intense. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

The bond pulsed faintly between them, a quiet reminder of the fire that refused to die.

And as the three wolves prepared to face whatever lay ahead, Rain couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

To Be Continued...