Chapter : She Touched You

The night was thick with tension, the air heavy with a storm of power that sent shivers racing down Rain's spine. Nathaniel stood just beyond the firelight, his presence a dark force that made the entire forest feel smaller, suffocated beneath the weight of his fury.

His amber eyes gleamed dangerously, locked onto Althea like a predator closing in on its prey.

Rain barely had time to register the shift in the air before Nathaniel moved.

Faster than a whisper of wind, he was there—standing between them, his body a wall of heat and raw dominance. His energy crackled through the space, pressing against Althea with suffocating force.

"Step away from him."

The command was low, steady—deadly.

Althea, to her credit, didn't flinch. She merely tilted her head, amusement dancing in her dark eyes. "You're predictable, Alpha King."

Nathaniel's lips curled, sharp canines flashing. "And you're reckless."

Rain felt the space around them tighten. The weight of Nathaniel's presence was suffocating, his fury barely leashed. He had never seen the Alpha King like this before—not just angry, but something deeper, something primal.

Possessive.

Althea let out a slow breath, her fingers grazing the hilt of the blade at her hip. "I could kill him right now," she mused, her voice light, almost teasing. "Would you really be able to stop me in time?"

Nathaniel's hand shot out, lightning-fast.

His fingers wrapped around her wrist in an iron grip, stopping her before she could even think about unsheathing the weapon.

The air crackled.

Nathaniel leaned in, his voice a whisper of danger. "Try."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Rain's pulse hammered in his throat as he watched, his body tense. He wasn't sure what would happen next, but one thing was clear—Nathaniel wasn't just playing protector.

He was claiming his territory.

And Rain was at the center of it.

Althea smiled—slow, knowing. "So it's true."

Nathaniel's grip tightened, but she didn't seem bothered. "You don't even realize it, do you?" she murmured, tilting her head toward Rain. "How deep it already runs?"

Rain felt something shift in the air.

Nathaniel's jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

That silence was more dangerous than any threat.

Althea exhaled, almost disappointed. "You should have let me finish what I started, Alpha King."

Then she moved.

A sharp flick of her wrist, a sudden twist—Nathaniel's grip loosened for just a fraction of a second, and that was all she needed.

The moment shattered.

Rain barely had time to react before she was gone, vanishing into the trees like a ghost slipping between worlds.

Silence fell.

Only the sound of their breathing remained, uneven and sharp.

Rain turned to Nathaniel, his chest tight.

"You should have killed her."

Nathaniel didn't look at him right away. He was still staring at the space Althea had disappeared into, his shoulders rigid, his fists clenched.

Then—slowly—he turned.

And Rain's breath caught.

Because for the first time, Nathaniel wasn't smirking.

He wasn't teasing.

There was something raw in his gaze, something dark and unrelenting.

Something that sent a slow, burning heat curling through Rain's stomach.

Nathaniel stepped forward, closing the space between them.

"You think I don't want to?" His voice was low, rough—dangerous.

Rain swallowed hard.

Nathaniel reached out, fingers grazing Rain's chin—just a touch, but it felt like fire.

"She touched you."

Rain's breath hitched. "So?"

Nathaniel's eyes burned.

"I don't like it."

The words were simple. Quiet. But they sent a wildfire racing through Rain's veins.

Because they weren't just words.

They were a promise.

A warning.

A claim.

The storm had only just begun

To Be Continued..