Chapter : A Traitor

The east wing of the fortress was quiet, save for the faint rustling of curtains stirred by the cold night breeze. Nathaniel's boots echoed against the polished marble floors as he strode toward Rain's chamber, his fury a quiet storm brewing beneath the surface.

Soren. A traitor.

Nathaniel's grip on control was razor-thin. Rain was his—marked, bound, fated—yet the wolves closest to him plotted in the shadows, feeding him lies, perhaps even conspiring to turn him against his own mate.

It was unacceptable.

Nathaniel pushed open the heavy doors without knocking, stepping inside with a predator's grace.

Rain stood by the open balcony, bathed in moonlight. His silver hair was loose, cascading over his shoulders, the strands catching the dim glow of the torches lining the chamber walls. He wore nothing but loose silk pants, his bare chest exposing faint scars, remnants of past battles.

Nathaniel's breath hitched for a fraction of a second.

Beautiful. Even in defiance, Rain was stunning, untamed.

The Alpha didn't turn to acknowledge him, but Nathaniel knew he was aware of his presence. The way Rain's shoulders tensed, the slight shift of his stance—it was subtle, but it spoke volumes.

"You move like a ghost," Rain murmured, voice cool. "Should I be flattered or concerned?"

Nathaniel smirked, though the fire in his veins did not fade. "Concerned, perhaps. But only if you've been keeping secrets from me."

At that, Rain did turn, his silver eyes meeting Nathaniel's golden ones, unreadable and yet piercing.

"Secrets?" he echoed. "If you have something to say, Alpha, say it."

Nathaniel closed the distance between them in three slow steps. He didn't touch Rain, but the space between them crackled with tension.

"Your loyal beta," Nathaniel said, voice smooth but edged with steel. "He's been playing a dangerous game."

Rain's eyes narrowed. "Explain."

Nathaniel studied him for a moment before tilting his head. "Would you believe me if I told you Soren has aligned himself with a faction that wants you dead?"

A flicker of emotion crossed Rain's face—doubt, suspicion, then something darker.

"I don't trust blindly," Rain said after a moment. "But I don't trust you either."

Nathaniel exhaled sharply, his patience thinning. He reached out, grasping Rain's wrist—not hard, but firm enough that the omega couldn't ignore him. His thumb brushed against the mark on Rain's skin, sending a shiver through both of them.

"You should," Nathaniel murmured. "Because I am the only thing keeping you alive."

Rain yanked his wrist free, glaring. "I don't need you to protect me."

Nathaniel's expression darkened, but instead of responding with words, he acted.

He moved fast, too fast for Rain to react, pinning him against the stone wall. Their bodies pressed together, heat seeping between them, breaths mingling.

Rain sucked in a sharp breath, but Nathaniel didn't miss the way his heartbeat quickened.

"You don't get to decide that," Nathaniel growled. "You are mine. And I don't share."

The omega's pupils dilated, his breath uneven. But his defiance did not waver. "And if I refuse to be owned?"

Nathaniel leaned in, lips brushing against the shell of Rain's ear. "Then I'll remind you exactly what it means to be my mate."

The air between them was thick, electric. Rain's lips parted slightly, as if to retort, but Nathaniel's hand slid down his side, his grip possessive, teasing, claiming.

He could feel the heat radiating from Rain's skin, the tension coiling between them like a storm waiting to break.

"Tell me," Nathaniel whispered, his voice dark, intoxicating, "do you really want to fight me on this?"

Rain's breath hitched.

But before either of them could take it further, a sudden knock shattered the moment.

Nathaniel closed his eyes, exhaling sharply, before stepping back. Rain looked equally affected, though he masked it well.

"Enter," Nathaniel commanded, his voice cold once more.

The door opened, and Alec stepped inside. His eyes flicked between them, his expression unreadable.

"We have a problem," Alec said, his tone clipped. "Soren has vanished."

Nathaniel's jaw tightened.

Rain's hands curled into fists.

And just like that, the fragile moment between them shattered completely.

To Be Continued...