Chapter : Intruders!

Rain's breath caught in his throat.

Nathaniel stood in the doorway, his towering frame casting a long shadow over the room. His golden eyes gleamed—not with anger, but something far worse.

Amusement.

Like he'd expected this.

Like he'd been waiting for it.

Soren moved first, subtly shifting in front of Rain as if to shield him.

Nathaniel's smirk deepened.

"Soren," he said smoothly, stepping inside. The door clicked shut behind him. "Such a loyal friend, aren't you?"

His gaze flicked toward Rain, sharp as a blade.

"And yet," he mused, "you still don't understand."

Rain swallowed hard. "Understand what?"

Nathaniel didn't answer immediately. Instead, he moved—slowly, deliberately—until he stood right before them. The space between them was suffocating.

"You can run," Nathaniel murmured, voice like silk. "You can fight. You can even hate me."

He leaned in, brushing a cold finger beneath Rain's chin, forcing him to look up.

"But you will never be free of me."

A shudder ran through Rain's body.

Soren's jaw clenched. "Get your hands off him."

Nathaniel's lips curled. "And if I don't?"

Soren didn't hesitate. His hand shot forward, grabbing Nathaniel's wrist in a crushing grip.

For a split second, the room pulsed with tension.

Then—

Nathaniel laughed.

Not in mockery. Not in anger.

But dark. Low. Amused.

Like this was a game.

With a flick of his wrist, he broke Soren's grip effortlessly.

"You're bold," Nathaniel said, tilting his head. "I'll give you that."

Soren didn't back down. "Try me," he challenged.

Nathaniel exhaled, as if bored—as if none of this truly mattered to him.

Then, in the next breath—

He moved.

Fast.

One second, Soren was standing. The next—he was slammed against the wall, Nathaniel's hand wrapped tightly around his throat.

Rain gasped. "Stop!"

Soren let out a choked grunt, struggling, but Nathaniel held him there effortlessly.

"You," Nathaniel murmured, golden eyes glowing, "are getting in my way."

Soren glared, unfazed even as his breath hitched. "Good."

Nathaniel's smirk vanished.

The air thickened.

Soren's body tensed. He felt it—

The overwhelming, suffocating pressure of an Alpha's aura crashing down on him.

Stronger than anything he'd ever faced before.

His knees almost buckled.

But he didn't break.

Nathaniel's grip tightened slightly—just enough to remind him who was stronger.

Then—he let go.

Soren fell to his knees, coughing.

Rain rushed forward, but Nathaniel caught him, yanking him back against his chest.

"Ah, ah," he murmured against Rain's ear.

His breath was warm.

His scent was intoxicating.

Rain hated that his body reacted.

"You agreed to run, didn't you?" Nathaniel whispered, lips brushing his skin. "You want to escape?"

Rain's fingers curled into fists.

Nathaniel chuckled, low and dark.

"Then go ahead."

The words sent a jolt through Rain's body.

Nathaniel's fingers traced over his throat, resting just over his pulse.

"Run, little wolf," he purred.

His grip tightened.

"But remember…"

A slow, lingering pause.

Then—

"You belong to me."

Rain's breath hitched.

Nathaniel's words curled around him like chains, invisible yet unbreakable.

"You belong to me."

His grip remained firm, fingers pressing lightly over Rain's throat, not in a threatening way—but in a way that told him he wouldn't let go.

Rain forced himself to swallow the surge of emotions clawing their way up his chest. "I don't belong to anyone," he spat, shoving at Nathaniel's arm.

Nathaniel let him go—too easily.

Like he was allowing it.

Rain stumbled back, heartbeat thudding wildly, his skin still burning where Nathaniel had touched him.

Soren coughed, still on the floor, rubbing his throat. He shot Nathaniel a glare filled with venom. "Bastard."

Nathaniel didn't even spare him a glance.

His golden eyes remained locked on Rain, watching him, reading him.

Like he could see every thought running through his mind.

Like he knew.

"You want to prove me wrong?" Nathaniel said smoothly, tilting his head. "Then run, Rain."

His voice was calm. Too calm.

Rain's heart pounded.

There was something about the way Nathaniel said it—like a dare.

A test.

An unspoken promise that no matter how far he ran, Nathaniel would find him.

Soren got to his feet, placing himself between them again. "You don't control him."

Nathaniel smirked. "Don't I?"

Rain's breath caught.

There was no arrogance in Nathaniel's voice—no cruel taunting.

Just certainty.

Like he knew something Rain didn't.

Like he was simply waiting for Rain to realize it.

A shiver crawled down Rain's spine.

Nathaniel took a step closer, slow, deliberate.

Soren tensed.

Rain stood his ground, though every instinct screamed at him to move.

"Then let me prove you wrong," Rain forced out. His voice wavered slightly, but he didn't look away.

Nathaniel studied him for a long moment. Then—

His lips curled into something dark.

"Go ahead," he murmured.

Rain's pulse pounded in his ears.

Nathaniel's gaze swept over him once—assessing, lingering on the mark still faint on Rain's collarbone, where he had bitten him before.

Then, just as easily as he had cornered them—

Nathaniel stepped aside.

The door was open.

Freedom was right there.

Rain's breath came fast.

Soren grabbed his hand, fingers squeezing tightly. "Now," he urged.

They moved.

Darting forward, out the door, down the dimly lit halls—

But just as Rain crossed the threshold, just as his feet carried him past the suffocating presence of Nathaniel—

A whisper brushed against his ear.

Not a sound.

Not even a breath.

Just a thought.

"Run as far as you want, little wolf. I'll always catch you."

Rain's chest tightened.

But he didn't stop.

Not even once.

Rain's heartbeat was a deafening roar in his ears as he and Soren raced down the long corridors of the packhouse.

The walls blurred past, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and burning torches. His bare feet barely made a sound against the cold floor, but he could still feel Nathaniel's presence lingering behind him—like a shadow that refused to be left behind.

Soren's grip on his wrist was tight, almost painful, as if he were afraid Rain would be snatched away at any moment. "Come on!" Soren hissed, dragging him through the winding halls. "We need to get out before he changes his mind!"

Rain wasn't sure if Nathaniel would change his mind.

The way he had let them go—it didn't feel like mercy.

It felt like a game.

"Run, Rain."

The words echoed in his mind, curling around his thoughts like an unshakable tether.

It made his skin crawl.

He hated that Nathaniel always made him feel like this—like no matter what he did, no matter how far he went, he would never truly escape.

Soren turned a sharp corner, pulling him into a narrow stairwell. "I found a passage out through the lower levels," he panted. "If we can reach the northern tunnels, we can—"

The air shifted.

A sudden, suffocating pressure crashed down on them.

Rain's body froze.

It was raw, overpowering—an Alpha's command.

Soren stumbled, cursing under his breath. "Damn it—"

Rain clutched his chest, struggling to breathe past the force pressing down on him. It wasn't even directed at him—but it was strong enough to paralyze.

"He's not coming," Rain gasped. "This isn't him."

Soren's eyes widened. "What—"

A deep snarl vibrated through the stone walls.

Heavy footsteps approached.

Then—

A figure emerged from the shadows.

Not Nathaniel.

A towering Alpha with dark, predatory eyes and a cruel smirk. His scent was sharp—full of bloodlust.

"Going somewhere?" the Alpha drawled.

Rain's stomach twisted.

The corridor behind them was suddenly filled with wolves.

They weren't Nathaniel's men.

They were invaders.

Soren let out a sharp breath. "Shit."

Rain took a step back, instinct flaring hot through his veins.

He wasn't sure if they were from a rival pack or mercenaries—but it didn't matter.

They were blocking the only way out.

The Alpha in front grinned, flashing his teeth. "You're the little Alpha the Alpha King has been keeping, aren't you?" His eyes darkened with something hungry. "I can see why."

Rain stiffened.

Soren bared his teeth, shifting into a defensive stance. "Stay away from him."

The Alpha chuckled. "Or what?"

Rain clenched his fists. His body was still weak from suppressants, still sluggish from everything Nathaniel had done to him—but he wasn't helpless.

Not anymore.

The wolves started moving in.

Rain's heart pounded.

Then—

A roar split the air.

It wasn't human.

It wasn't even wolf-like.

It was something far worse.

The invaders barely had time to react before the hallway exploded with power.

A blur of black.

A flash of gold.

And then—

A body hit the wall so hard the stone cracked.

The invading Alpha crumpled to the ground.

The other wolves hesitated—just for a second.

It was a second too long.

Nathaniel stepped into the dim light, his golden eyes burning.

His aura swallowed the corridor, a violent, suffocating force that crashed over everyone present.

The wolves recoiled.

Rain felt his own breath hitch—his entire body reacting to that unforgiving dominance.

Nathaniel tilted his head, cracking his knuckles.

Then he smiled.

It wasn't a pleasant smile.

It was a promise.

A warning.

A death sentence.

"You took what's mine," Nathaniel murmured. "Now you'll pay for it."

And then—

The massacre began.