2 Seraphina In The Rain.

Night.

Rainy, Damdown Woods.

Dam’s Keep, Damoria.

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Her hands trembled as she reached and clutched the small, ornate dagger strapped to her thigh. She had almost forgotten about it. It was a feeble defense against a creature as powerful as Adolphus, but it was all she had. Her eyes, wide with terror, scanned the gloom for any sign of movement.

"Why run, Seraphina?" Adolphus’s voice was closer now, sending a shiver down her spine. "I am tired." He indeed sounded exhausted.

She could hear him moving closer. She pushed herself off from the boulder and dashed towards a dense thicket, hoping the tangled branches would provide some cover. Her vision blurred by the rain, she stumbled over roots and rocks, her legs burning with the effort. Behind her, Adolphus’s sigh echoed, a chilling reminder of his relentless pursuit.

‘I have to survive. I have to escape him.’

As Seraphina plunged deeper into the forest, the rain poured down in torrents, drenching her to the bone. Lightning illuminated her path in fleeting, blinding flashes, and the thunder roared like a vengeful beast. The storm seemed to mirror her own turmoil, a chaotic symphony of fear and desperation.

Adolphus was close, too close. She could hear his breathing now, a low, primal growl that sent waves of terror through her. Her foot caught on a hidden root, sending her sprawling to the ground. The dagger skittered from her grasp, disappearing into the muck. Scrambling to her feet, she felt a powerful hand grip her arm, pulling her back with a force that nearly dislocated her shoulder.

"Got you," he whispered, his voice a sinister caress in her ear. His eyes, glowing with an eerie light, locked onto her grey eyes.

"Did you really think you could escape me, Butterfly?" he taunted, his heart finally steadying from the fear of losing her.

She struggled against his hold, her fear giving her strength, but he was too strong, too fast. His grip tightened, and he leaned in closer, his breath hot against her skin. "You belong to me," he growled, his tone possessive and dangerous. "You always have, and you always will."

Seraphina’s heart pounded with a mixture of terror and defiance. She refused to give in, refused to let him win. With a surge of desperate courage, she lashed out with her free hand, her nails raking across his face. Adolphus snarled, momentarily loosening his grip. Seizing the opportunity, she wrenched herself free and ran, not knowing where she was going, only that she had to keep running.

The forest seemed to close in around her, the storm a relentless onslaught. She could hear Adolphus’s enraged howl behind her, a promise that this chase was far from over. But Seraphina’s spirit burned with a fierce determination. She would not let him break her. She would find a way to escape, no matter the cost.

As the rain fell in sheets and the night grew darker still, Seraphina ran, driven by a single, unyielding thought: survival. But Seraphina was only a sheltered human, and she wouldn’t have been able to escape him so many times if he hadn’t been taking it easy on her, being careful with her.

Soon, her world spun as she ran, her breath coming in desperate gasps, her vision blurring from exhaustion and fear. The dark forest seemed endless, a twisted maze of shadows and threats. She stumbled, her legs giving way beneath her, and before she could catch herself, she collapsed to the ground, her consciousness slipping away into the inky blackness of night.

Adolphus found her lying there, her body cold and motionless. A pang of guilt twisted in his chest as he gently scooped her up, cradling her unconscious form against him. Her skin was icy from the rain, her clothes soaked through. He moved swiftly through the dark woods, his powerful strides eating up the distance to his ancestral home. The grand, imposing structure loomed ahead, a stark contrast to the wild, untamed forest.

A maid ran towards them at the sight of their alpha prince. “Alpha Prin─” but he cut her off with an order, “Prepare a hot bath for her and get me more blankets.”

“Yes, Alpha prince,” the maid replied before she scurried away.

Inside, the house was warm and inviting, a haven of luxury and comfort. Adolphus carried Seraphina up the sweeping staircase, his footsteps echoing softly in the grand hallway. She was still unconscious and cold. He brought her to a spacious bedroom, its beauty almost overwhelming but she was asleep to see it herself. The bed was large, draped with plush furs and silken sheets that promised warmth and comfort.

The maids quickly appeared, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern but nobody said a word of question. They moved efficiently, slightly undressing Seraphina and drying her off, their hands gentle as they cleaned her wet, mud-smeared body. Adolphus stood back, watching with a tight jaw, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions but she needed to take a bath now, so he sighed.

“I will be outside, be careful with her,” he warned before leaving the room to have his own warm bath.

The maids gently carried her and washed her body off in the warm, steamy bath. They scrubbed and let her aching body be soothed while she slept, exhausted. Once the maids had finished, they dressed her in a soft nightgown and tucked her into the massive bed. Adolphus had been back by then so he waited until they left before he approached her, his eyes fixed on her peaceful face. She looked so fragile, so vulnerable. His heart ached with a complex blend of desire, regret, and sorrow.

He didn't know how to explain to her that what he had done had been necessary. Her father had been evil, a threat to both their worlds. But that knowledge did nothing to ease the pain he saw in her eyes, the hatred she felt for him now.

‘She is so beautiful,’ his heart clenched.

With a deep sigh, Adolphus lay down beside her, pulling the furs over them both. He wrapped an arm around her, sharing his warmth with her chilled body, his upper part bare, transferring his werewolf heat to her. Her unconscious form instinctively nestled closer, her lips brushing against his chest. He stiffened at the contact, a sharp intake of breath betraying his inner turmoil.

‘She hates me. I can’t have dirty thoughts when she’s in this state from trying to escape.’

As the night wore on, Adolphus lay awake, his thoughts a tumultuous sea of memories and regrets. He had loved her deeply, and that love still burned within him, but he had hurt her in ways he wasn't sure he could ever mend. He could only hope that, in time, she might come to understand the necessity of his actions.

‘She is my mate, and I would do anything to keep her, including seducing her.’