Chapter 3 The first bite

The forest was silent-too silent. Every leaf, every shadow seemed to pulse with the unspoken tension between them. Ryker's muscles coiled, ready for attack, yet he couldn't tear his eyes away from Kael.

Kael stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. Every step he took made the air heavier, thicker with heat and power. Ryker's chest tightened, heart hammering against his ribs.

"You fight it," Kael said softly, almost a whisper. "But you can't. You never could."

Ryker's jaw clenched. "I fight for my pack. For my honor. Not... this." He gestured between them, though his hands shook with desire he couldn't name.

Kael's eyes glimmered, dark and predatory. "Your pack will understand... eventually. But me? You've already chosen me. I can see it in you."

A growl erupted deep in Ryker's chest-not from anger, but from the raw, untamed need rising inside him. He wanted to resist. He wanted to fight. And yet... he couldn't.

Kael reached out, brushing a lock of hair from Ryker's face. The touch sent fire racing through every nerve. "Your scent," Kael murmured, leaning closer. "It's mine. Every heartbeat, every breath-you belong to me whether you like it or not."

Ryker's knees threatened to buckle. "I-"

Kael silenced him with a hand pressed to his chest. "Shh... no words. Just feel."

Then Kael's lips were on his neck-a light, almost torturous brush. The sensation made Ryker shiver, his body betraying him with every inch of desire. Kael's fangs grazed his skin, leaving a sharp sting that sent a shockwave of need through him.

"Do you feel it?" Kael whispered against him. "This bond... this hunger?"

Ryker could barely breathe. "Yes..." he admitted, his voice breaking. "Yes, I feel it."

Kael's hands gripped him firmly, holding him in place. "Good. Then you'll survive the night... if you let me guide you."

Ryker's pulse raced. He wanted to run. He wanted to fight. And yet, in that instant, he realized the truth: the Alpha he had been trained to kill had already claimed him.

Kael's fangs pressed lightly against his neck again-a warning, a promise, a first bite of what was to come.

And Ryker knew, with terrifying clarity, that once the bond ignited, there would be no turning back.