Chapter : Hot, Suffocating.

Rain's pulse pounded against his throat as Nathaniel's fingers tightened around his wrist, his grip unrelenting.

The space between them was thick, hot, suffocating.

He could feel the heat of Nathaniel's body—too close, too overwhelming—pressing against him, caging him in without even touching more than his wrist.

And his eyes—

Gold.

Blazing.

Drenched in an emotion Rain didn't want to name.

"Did. He. Touch. You?"

Nathaniel's voice was a growl, sharp with barely restrained fury, his breath uneven as if he were struggling to keep control of something deeper, something primal.

Rain wrenched his wrist back, but Nathaniel didn't let go.

His fingers only tightened.

A warning.

A claim.

It sent an unwanted shiver up Rain's spine.

He hated this.

Hated how Nathaniel could make his body react with just his presence.

With just one touch.

He gritted his teeth. "Let go."

Nathaniel's jaw tensed, but his grip didn't loosen.

"Rain," he growled.

A sound that shook the air around them.

His Alpha dominance surged forward like an unseen force, pressing against Rain's skin, sinking into his bones, daring him to challenge it.

Rain's breath hitched.

He hated this feeling.

This weakness.

The way Nathaniel's presence made his entire body feel alive against his will.

Nathaniel suddenly yanked him forward, forcing Rain to stumble into the heat of his chest.

He trapped him there—

One hand on his waist, the other gripping his wrist.

"You didn't answer me," Nathaniel murmured, voice dangerously low. "Did he touch you?"

Rain's heartbeat was a wild, erratic drum.

Not from fear.

From something else.

Something more dangerous.

More traitorous.

Aether hadn't touched him. Not really.

But Rain didn't want to answer.

Didn't want to feed into this possessiveness, this obsession, this sickeningly intoxicating claim Nathaniel kept trying to brand into his skin.

Instead, he tilted his chin up defiantly. "Why does it matter?"

Nathaniel's golden eyes darkened.

The grip on his waist flexed, fingers pressing into his skin, possessive.

"Because you're mine," he rasped.

Rain's breath caught.

A deep, scorching heat curled in his stomach at those words, at the sheer dominance in Nathaniel's voice.

But he refused to submit.

He pushed against Nathaniel's chest, a snarl rising in his throat. "I'm not yours!"

Nathaniel's expression shifted.

Something dangerous flickered behind his eyes.

A muscle in his jaw ticked.

And then—

His hand moved.

Not roughly.

Not cruelly.

But slowly.

Deliberately.

Fingers sliding up from Rain's waist—

Skimming along the side of his ribs, up his spine—

Until his fingers curled around the back of Rain's neck.

A claiming hold.

A wolf's way of reminding their mate exactly who they belonged to.

Rain shuddered.

His body reacted before his mind could.

A pulse of heat shot through him, his breath hitching, his legs suddenly weak.

Nathaniel's smirk was dark. Knowing.

"You're shaking."

Rain clenched his jaw. "Let go."

Nathaniel's fingers tightened ever so slightly.

"No," he murmured.

His voice was softer now.

Deadlier.

A whisper against Rain's lips.

"Not until you say it."

Rain's pulse hammered.

He could barely think with Nathaniel this close.

With his scent, his heat, his dominance clouding his mind.

"Say what?" Rain bit out, hating how breathless he sounded.

Nathaniel tilted his head.

And then—

He brushed his lips against Rain's ear.

Just the faintest touch.

A ghost of warmth.

And it made Rain's entire body lock up.

"I own you," Nathaniel whispered.

A sharp inhale tore through Rain's throat.

His wolf reacted.

The Blood Moon bond reacted.

Everything in him reacted.

A traitorous shiver crawled down his spine, his knees nearly buckling.

Nathaniel felt it.

Rain knew he felt it.

Because his grip tightened.

Because his lips lingered at his ear, his breath hot, teasing, promising things Rain couldn't afford to feel.

His stomach twisted.

He had to get away.

Now.

With all the strength he had left, Rain shoved at Nathaniel's chest, ripping himself free from his grip.

The moment broke.

The tension snapped.

Rain stumbled back, breathing hard, his entire body buzzing.

Nathaniel just watched him.

Smirking.

Like he knew.

Like he had already won.

Rain's hands curled into fists.

Anger burned in his throat.

Because Nathaniel wasn't supposed to affect him like this.

Because no matter how much he denied it—

The bond wanted him.

He wanted him.

And it was driving him insane.

Without another word, Rain turned and stormed off, heart hammering, his body burning from the inside out.

Nathaniel didn't stop him.

But Rain knew.

Felt it in his bones.

That this wasn't over.

Not even close.

Rain barely remembered how he got back to his chambers.

His pulse still thundered in his ears, his breath unsteady, his body betraying him with every lingering sensation Nathaniel had burned into his skin.

His fingers twitched.

The ghost of Nathaniel's grip on his nape still lingered.

Rain squeezed his eyes shut, dragging a shuddering breath into his lungs.

Damn him.

Damn that arrogant Alpha and his insufferable need to control everything—including him.

The memory of Nathaniel's lips brushing his ear sent an involuntary shiver down his spine. His gut twisted in frustration.

He hated this.

Hated that no matter how much he pushed Nathaniel away, his body reacted anyway.

It was the Blood Moon bond.

It had to be.

That was the only explanation.

Only bonded wolves reacted this way to their mate's dominance.

And yet…

A traitorous part of him craved it.

The intensity.

The heat.

The unbearable, suffocating pull that made his knees weak every time Nathaniel got close.

Rain exhaled sharply and strode toward the washroom, stripping his shirt off as he went.

Maybe a cold shower would wash away the sickening warmth curling in his stomach.

Maybe—

A sharp knock cut through his thoughts.

He stiffened.

A beat of silence.

Then—

Another knock.

More forceful this time.

Rain swallowed. His throat was dry.

He already knew who it was.

And he wasn't ready.

Not after what had just happened.

Not when his body was still reacting to Nathaniel's touch.

Ignoring the warning bells in his head, he crossed the room and pulled the door open—

Only to freeze.

Nathaniel stood on the other side, golden eyes dark, his expression unreadable.

But the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw clenched, the way his hands were shoved into his pockets as if restraining himself—

Rain recognized that look.

It was the look of an Alpha barely holding himself back.

A surge of unease curled in Rain's chest.

"Nathaniel," he bit out, gripping the edge of the door. "What do you want?"

Nathaniel didn't answer immediately.

His gaze flickered down Rain's bare chest.

Heat flared in his eyes.

Rain tensed.

He should've put another shirt on.

A muscle ticked in Nathaniel's jaw before he exhaled through his nose.

"I gave you space," he murmured. "I didn't chase you after what happened earlier."

Rain's fingers twitched against the wood.

He had noticed that.

Nathaniel could've easily followed him. Could've forced the conversation.

But he didn't.

And that made this even more dangerous.

Nathaniel took a step forward.

Instinctively, Rain stepped back.

His heart slammed against his ribs.

Nathaniel's lips pressed into a thin line. "Let me in, Rain."

"No."

Silence stretched between them.

A tension so thick it nearly choked the air out of the room.

Rain's chest rose and fell rapidly, his grip tightening on the door as he tried to keep himself from shaking.

Nathaniel tilted his head. His golden eyes darkened.

"You're trembling," he murmured.

Rain stiffened.

"I'm not."

Nathaniel's gaze lowered to his hands.

The slight tremor in his fingers was barely noticeable—

But Nathaniel saw it.

And the bastard smirked.

Rain felt heat crawl up his neck. "Leave."

Nathaniel exhaled slowly, then reached out—

And grabbed the doorframe.

Not forcefully.

Not pushing inside.

But just enough to keep Rain from slamming the door in his face.

"Talk to me."

The softness in his voice sent a sharp pang through Rain's chest.

He hated that softness.

Hated that Nathaniel had the ability to be gentle when he wanted to be—

And even worse, that it affected him.

"There's nothing to talk about," Rain muttered.

Nathaniel's fingers curled against the wood. "Then why won't you look at me?"

Rain's throat closed up.

Because if he looked at Nathaniel now—

If he met those golden eyes still heavy with possession, still burning with something deeper—

He wouldn't be able to lie.

And Rain refused to give Nathaniel that power.

So instead, he did what he did best.

He stepped back.

And shut the door in Nathaniel's face.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

A slow, quiet exhale from the other side of the door.

And three words.

Soft.

Laced with something dangerous.

Something final.

"This isn't over."

Then the footsteps faded, and Nathaniel was gone.

But Rain really knew this time, he felt it.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.

The moment Nathaniel left, Rain pressed his back against the door, heart pounding violently against his ribs.

Damn him.

Damn that arrogant, infuriating Alpha.

Rain clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms.

He could still feel the heat of Nathaniel's presence lingering in the air, the way his voice curled around his senses like an invisible leash—tightening, pulling.

This isn't over.

His breath hitched.

Of course, it wasn't.

Nathaniel wasn't the type to let things go.

The Alpha King was a predator, and Rain was his chosen prey.

His mate.

And that made everything so much worse.

Rain pushed off the door, stalking toward the washroom, shoving all thoughts of Nathaniel aside.

He needed control.

He needed to bury this suffocating heat inside him before it unraveled him completely.

But just as he reached the doorway, a knock sounded again.

Rain froze.

His stomach clenched.

No.

It couldn't be Nathaniel. He had just left.

Unless—

Another knock.

Lighter. Hesitant.

Not Nathaniel's.

Rain exhaled and pulled the door open—

Only to blink.

Soren.

The rogue stood there, arms crossed, golden-brown eyes scanning him sharply.

"What?" Rain muttered, already exhausted.

Soren arched a brow. "You look like hell."

Rain scowled. "Thanks."

Soren pushed past him, stepping inside without permission. "You're shaking."

Rain instinctively curled his hands into fists. "I'm fine."

Soren ignored him, surveying the room before exhaling through his nose.

"Nathaniel was here," he muttered.

It wasn't a question.

Rain stiffened but didn't answer.

Soren let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "You know, I saw him storm off just now. He looked… tense."

Rain scoffed. "Nathaniel's always tense."

"Not like that."

Rain hated that Soren's eyes were too damn perceptive.

He turned away, crossing the room toward the window, gripping the frame hard.

The cold night air did little to soothe the fire in his veins.

Soren sighed behind him.

"You can't keep pushing him like this," he said after a moment.

Rain's jaw tightened. "Why not?"

Soren leaned against the desk, his gaze sharp. "Because I've seen what happens when an Alpha like him is denied something he's already claimed."

Rain's breath hitched.

Something dark slithered through his chest, something he didn't want to name.

Soren's voice dropped lower.

"Tell me the truth."

Rain didn't move.

Soren stepped closer. "Did he hurt you?"

Rain exhaled sharply. "No."

Soren didn't look convinced. "Then what the hell happened?"

Rain swallowed.

He wanted to tell him.

Wanted to say everything—that Nathaniel was suffocating, overwhelming, that his presence made Rain's body react in ways he couldn't control—

That it was the Blood Moon bond, warping him, consuming him.

That despite every instinct screaming at him to run, a small part of him wanted—

Rain clenched his jaw.

No.

He wouldn't say it.

Wouldn't admit it.

"Nothing happened," he muttered.

Soren gave him a long, unreadable look.

Then—

"Liar."

Rain whipped around. "Soren—"

The rogue raised his hands in surrender. "Fine. Keep your secrets."

He stepped back toward the door.

"But if you think ignoring it will make it go away…"

Soren's gaze darkened.

"You're an idiot."

Then he was gone.

Leaving Rain alone.

Alone with the echo of Nathaniel's touch still burning into his skin.

Alone with the war raging inside him.

And the terrifying realization that no matter how much he fought—

He was already losing.