Rain's breath stuttered as Nathaniel's lips claimed his with ruthless possession. It wasn't a kiss meant to coax or persuade—it was a declaration, a battle, a storm of raw dominance that sent fire licking up his spine.
Rain struggled, hands pressing against Nathaniel's chest, but the Alpha didn't budge. He absorbed every ounce of resistance, molding it into something sharper, something more dangerous. His fingers curled around Rain's wrists, dragging them down and pinning them at his sides as he deepened the kiss, his tongue demanding entry.
Rain bit down in defiance, but Nathaniel only growled, the sound reverberating through both of them like a primal warning. "Still fighting me?" Nathaniel murmured against his lips, his tone darkly amused, almost indulgent. "Good. I prefer it that way."
Rain yanked his head to the side, panting. "I hate you."
Nathaniel's smirk was slow, knowing. He trailed his lips down Rain's jaw, tracing the rapid pulse at his throat with the barest scrape of teeth. "Say it again."
Rain trembled as his body betrayed him, the heat between them unbearable. But before he could hurl another curse, the air around them shifted—thickening with something colder, more dangerous.
Nathaniel stiffened. His golden eyes flickered with sharp awareness, his grip on Rain tightening. Rain felt it too—that unsettling sense of being watched, of an unseen force slithering through the air like a warning.
And then, the scent hit him.
Blood.
It was faint, but unmistakable. And it wasn't either of theirs.
Nathaniel was already moving before Rain could process what was happening. He grabbed Rain by the waist, lifting him effortlessly and placing him behind him in one swift motion.
"Stay close," he ordered, his voice low, dangerous.
Rain barely had time to argue before the shadows in the corner of the room stirred. A flicker of movement—too fast, too unnatural.
Then a whisper, soft as death itself.
"You're running out of time, Alpha."
The voice sent a chill down Rain's spine. It wasn't human.
Nathaniel didn't hesitate. In a single, fluid motion, he hurled a dagger from his belt into the darkness. A sharp hiss of pain echoed, followed by a rustle of movement as whatever lurked in the shadows retreated.
But the message was clear.
They were being hunted.
Nathaniel's jaw clenched, his entire body coiled like a predator ready to strike. "They're getting bolder."
Rain swallowed hard, his pulse hammering. "Who was that?"
Nathaniel didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the darkness, his mind already working through a dozen possibilities. Then, finally, he turned to Rain, his expression unreadable.
"We're not alone in this war."
To Be Continued...