Chapter : An Alpha

Rain snapped out of it.

His pulse was hammering, his skin felt hot where Nathaniel touched him, and the bond was demanding—pulling at something primal inside him that he refused to acknowledge.

This wasn't real.

This was the bond.

This was manipulation.

And he would not let Nathaniel win.

With a sharp inhale, Rain jerked his chin free from Nathaniel's grip, taking a step back.

Nathaniel let him go.

Easily.

Too easily.

The smirk that curled at the corner of the Alpha King's lips was infuriating.

He knew what he was doing.

He knew exactly what game they were playing.

"I'm not your toy," Rain bit out, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him.

Nathaniel chuckled—low, rich, dangerous.

"No," he agreed, taking a slow step forward. "You're my mate."

Rain's stomach twisted.

His wolf purred in satisfaction at the possessive claim, but Rain shoved the feeling down, hard.

He refused to let this break him.

He refused to be another one of Nathaniel's conquests.

With every ounce of defiance he had left, Rain turned on his heel and walked away.

Not running.

Not breaking.

Just walking.

And he did not look back.

Rain forced himself to breathe.

His head was spinning by the time he reached the training grounds, but at least here—away from him—he could focus.

He needed an outlet.

Something to burn this frustration out of his body before it drove him insane.

The guards sparring in the open arena barely glanced at him as he approached. Most were bigger than him, towering Alphas built for war, but Rain wasn't afraid.

Not of them.

Not of anyone.

A familiar face caught his eye.

Soren.

Rain's heart clenched.

The beta stood at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed, watching a group of warriors practice their stances. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders told Rain everything.

He was trapped, just like Rain.

And he hated it.

Taking a breath, Rain made his way toward him.

Soren noticed him instantly, eyes narrowing slightly before his posture relaxed.

"Didn't expect to see you here," Soren murmured, his voice quiet enough that no one else would overhear.

Rain smirked. "Needed a change of scenery."

Soren scoffed. "You mean you needed to get away from him."

Rain's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it.

He didn't have to.

Soren sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He's not going to stop, you know."

Rain exhaled. "I know."

Silence hung between them.

A heavy, unspoken truth.

They were both playing a game where the rules had already been written.

Where Nathaniel had all the power.

But that didn't mean Rain had to lose.

"Train with me," Rain said suddenly.

Soren blinked. "What?"

"I need to hit something," Rain muttered, rolling his shoulders. "And you need to get your mind off whatever's bothering you."

Soren studied him for a long moment.

Then—

He smirked.

"Fine. But don't cry when I beat your ass."

Rain huffed a laugh. "You wish."

They started slow.

Circling.

Testing each other's movements.

Soren was fast, but Rain was faster.

He dodged the first few swings with ease, muscles moving on instinct, footwork sharp and precise.

But Soren was relentless.

A feint to the left, a sharp kick aimed at Rain's ribs—he barely dodged in time, twisting his body midair and landing in a crouch.

Soren grinned. "Sloppy."

Rain gritted his teeth. "Smug."

They moved again, faster this time, and for the first time in days, Rain felt like himself.

No bond.

No heat crawling under his skin.

Just him.

Just the fight.

Until—

A sharp pulse.

A low growl.

And suddenly, everything stopped.

The air shifted.

The warriors around them stiffened, their movements halting.

A presence loomed.

Dark.

Commanding.

Rain's breath caught as a familiar scent filled his lungs—

Damn it.

Slowly, he turned.

Nathaniel stood at the edge of the training grounds, golden eyes glowing, watching.

Watching him.

The world seemed to narrow.

The heat from before rushed back, slamming into Rain's chest, making his vision blur for half a second.

His wolf whimpered.

Nathaniel's gaze flicked to Soren.

And his expression darkened.

A slow, deliberate step forward.

"Enough."

The command was quiet.

Deadly.

Soren tensed but didn't move.

Rain clenched his fists. "We're just training."

Nathaniel didn't look at him.

Didn't acknowledge the words.

His gaze remained locked onto Soren.

Unyielding.

Dangerous.

Possessive.

Rain's heart pounded.

The tension was suffocating.

And suddenly, he realized—

This wasn't just about training.

Nathaniel wasn't just watching.

He was staking his claim.

And Rain—

Rain was caught in the middle of it.

Again.

The air was thick.

Charged.

Every warrior on the training ground had gone silent, their gazes flicking between the three of them—Nathaniel, Soren, and Rain.

But Nathaniel's golden eyes were locked onto one person.

Soren.

A slow, deliberate step forward.

Soren didn't flinch. Didn't back down. His posture remained steady, unreadable, but Rain could see the flicker of caution beneath his usual confidence.

Not fear.

No one in their right mind would be stupid enough to fear Nathaniel.

But respect?

Awareness of who—what—he was?

That was unavoidable.

Nathaniel was the Alpha King.

And right now, he was seething.

The tension pressed against Rain's skin, suffocating, possessive, unrelenting.

"Did I give you permission to lay hands on what's mine?"

Nathaniel's voice was calm. Too calm.

A deadly sort of calm that made the hairs on the back of Rain's neck stand up.

Soren tilted his head slightly, exhaling through his nose. "We were sparring."

Nathaniel smiled.

A mockery of a smile.

"Were you?"

Soren's fingers twitched at his sides, but his expression didn't waver.

Rain had to stop this before it escalated.

He refused to be the cause of another power struggle—another fight over him.

Because that's what this was.

This wasn't about training.

This wasn't about respect.

This was about him.

About Nathaniel's claim.

And Rain had had enough.

He stepped between them.

Not backing down.

Not running away.

Holding his ground.

"Enough."

Nathaniel's gaze snapped to him instantly.

Searing.

Overpowering.

His wolf howled in satisfaction at being acknowledged, but Rain shoved the feeling down.

Soren exhaled through his nose, stepping back just slightly—an unspoken agreement to let Rain handle this.

Rain turned to Nathaniel fully. "I don't belong to you."

The words were sharp. Defiant.

And the moment they left his lips, the air around them seemed to drop—

A shift in power so sudden, so absolute, that even the warriors watching from the sidelines stiffened.

Nathaniel's smile faded.

And then—

He laughed.

A deep, low sound that sent a shiver down Rain's spine, his body betraying him in ways he hated.

Then, in one smooth movement—

Nathaniel closed the distance between them.

Too fast.

Too close.

And Rain didn't have time to move before a firm, calloused hand wrapped around his throat.

Not choking.

Not hurting.

But holding him there.

Holding him in place.

Possessing.

Controlling.

Rain's breath hitched, his pulse hammering wildly against Nathaniel's palm.

He felt trapped.

Not just physically.

But by the bond.

By the way Nathaniel's golden eyes darkened as they locked onto him—

By the heat flooding his veins, burning him from the inside out.

"You don't belong to me?" Nathaniel murmured, his voice almost mocking. "Then tell me, Rain—"

His grip tightened just slightly.

Enough to make Rain feel it.

To make him ache with something dangerously close to pleasure.

"Why do you react like this?"

Rain's breath shuddered out of him.

His hands clenched at his sides.

His wolf was purring, thrumming under his skin, craving the touch.

But his mind—

His pride—

It refused to yield.

With every ounce of strength he had left, Rain ripped himself free.

Nathaniel let him go.

But barely.

Rain staggered back, his throat burning where Nathaniel's fingers had been.

He refused to touch it.

Refused to acknowledge the way his body screamed in protest.

Instead, he straightened.

Met Nathaniel's gaze head-on.

And smiled.

A mocking, bitter smile.

"You think a bond means ownership?" Rain whispered, his voice hoarse but steady.

Nathaniel watched him.

Unmoving.

Unblinking.

Then he leaned in.

Just enough to make Rain feel his presence again.

To make his wolf submit.

But Rain didn't.

He wouldn't.

Nathaniel's lips barely brushed against his ear as he murmured—

"I think a bond means you can't fight me forever."

The words sent a violent shiver down Rain's spine.

But he didn't move.

Didn't react.

He wouldn't give Nathaniel the satisfaction.

Not now.

Not ever.

Instead, he stepped back.

Turned away.

And walked off the training grounds.

Not looking back.

Not running.

Just walking.

And if his pulse was still racing, his skin still burning—

He pretended not to notice.

Got it! We'll keep escalating the tension, layering in the slow-burn struggle between Rain and Nathaniel while weaving in new threats.

Rain didn't stop walking until the weight of Nathaniel's presence was far behind him.

Only then did he let himself breathe.

His hands clenched at his sides, his skin still tingling from where Nathaniel had touched him.

The way he had held him—

Like he was something to be owned.

His heart thumped in his chest, anger and something far worse crawling beneath his skin like a sickness he couldn't shake.

He hated this.

Hated the bond.

Hated how his body reacted to that arrogant, domineering bastard.

But no matter how much he fought it, no matter how much he tried to deny it—

He could still feel him.

Still feel the echo of Nathaniel's grip on his throat.

Still feel the warmth of his breath against his ear.

It made him sick.

He needed out.

He needed to find a way to break free of this twisted connection before it destroyed him.

There has to be a way.

A rustle in the trees ahead snapped him out of his thoughts.

Rain's instincts flared.

His body went rigid.

Someone was watching him.

His eyes narrowed as he turned sharply—

And came face to face with a man he did not recognize.

Tall.

Lean but strong, with sharp silver eyes that glowed faintly under the dim afternoon light.

An Alpha.

But not one from Nathaniel's pack.

His scent was different.

Rain took a slow, measured step back.

The man didn't move.

Didn't speak.

He simply watched him.

Calculated.

Assessing.

Then—

A slow, amused smirk curled on his lips.

"So," the stranger murmured, tilting his head. "You're the one causing all the trouble."

Rain's breath hitched.

His wolf bristled.

But he kept his voice steady. "Who the hell are you?"

The man's smirk widened.

"Call me Aether."

Something about his voice sent a chill down Rain's spine.

It was too smooth.

Too controlled.

Like someone who was used to getting what he wanted.

And right now—

His eyes were locked onto Rain like a hunter studying his prey.

Rain's pulse pounded.

Every instinct screamed at him that this man was dangerous.

That he needed to get the hell out of here.

But before he could move—

Aether took a step forward.

Casual.

Unhurried.

But there was something in his movements—

Something calculated.

"You smell…interesting," Aether murmured. "I can see why the Alpha King is so obsessed with you."

Rain stiffened.

Aether chuckled. "But I wonder—" His silver eyes gleamed. "Is it really the bond that ties you to him… or something more?"

The words sent a shiver down Rain's spine.

He didn't know.

That was the problem.

That had always been the problem.

But he wasn't about to show weakness in front of a stranger.

So he forced himself to smirk. "You talk too much."

Aether's smile didn't falter.

If anything, it deepened.

But before he could respond—

A feral growl ripped through the air.

The temperature dropped.

A shadow moved at the edge of his vision—

And then—

Nathaniel was there.

Faster than Rain had ever seen him move.

Faster than anyone should be able to move.

And his eyes—

His golden eyes—

Were glowing.

Burning.

The raw, unfiltered rage in them sent a wave of heat crashing through Rain's chest.

Aether's smirk remained, but his posture shifted just slightly.

Subtle.

Barely noticeable.

But Rain felt it.

A silent acknowledgment.

A silent warning.

Nathaniel didn't speak.

Didn't move.

For a long, suffocating moment, the two Alphas simply stared at each other.

And then—

Nathaniel's voice came out low.

Deadly.

"I suggest you leave. Now."

Aether chuckled. "So possessive."

Nathaniel's muscles tensed.

His hands curled into fists.

Aether took a slow step back. "Relax, Alpha King. I was just curious."

His gaze flicked back to Rain.

Something unreadable passed through his silver eyes.

Then, with a lazy smirk—

He turned and disappeared into the trees.

Gone.

Vanished like a ghost.

But his presence lingered.

A threat.

A promise.

And Nathaniel—

Nathaniel was still seething.

His gaze snapped to Rain.

Wild.

Uncontrolled.

Burning with something dark.

And before Rain could react—

Nathaniel grabbed him.

His grip was unrelenting.

Not gentle.

Not careful.

Just pure, raw dominance.

And when he spoke—

His voice was hoarse.

Dangerous.

"Did he touch you?"

Rain's breath caught.

His heart pounded against his ribs.

And for the first time—

He wasn't sure if he could handle the storm brewing behind Nathaniel's golden eyes.