Under The Rain With Him

  One step at a time, she told herself. Start with the bath.

  Seraphina stood up reluctantly, her limbs still sluggish from sleep, but as she reached for the towel, the sky rumbled ominously. 

  She paused, glancing at the window just as rain began to pour in thick, heavy sheets.

  For a moment, she froze, her frown deepening as memories rushed back—memories of the night her life had unraveled, of when everything she knew was stolen from her. 

  She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block it out. But when she opened them again, the feeling was different.

  This is different, she told herself. The daylight was soft, even through the storm. 

  This rain didn’t feel cruel—it felt like a balm, a promise of solace she hadn’t realized she craved. She reached for the door handle, curiosity tugging at her, and quietly tiptoed to the threshold.

  Opening the door, Seraphina peered outside. The village seemed deserted, the werewolves nowhere in sight. Of course, she thought. 

  They’re probably all indoors, avoiding the rain like it’s some kind of curse.

  The corner of her lips twitched into a small smirk as the rain’s rhythm filled the silence around her. 

  With one last glance to ensure she was alone, she slipped off her shirt and shorts, leaving herself in only her bra and underwear.

  Stepping into the downpour, the cold water immediately kissed her skin, sending a shiver through her body. 

  She closed her eyes, tilting her head back, letting the rain run down her light brown hair and over her face. 

  A small, sad smile curved her lips as she stretched her arms out slightly, feeling every drop as it hit her skin.

  There was peace in the moment—an unusual, fleeting joy. 

  She felt free, untethered from the weight of the past, if only for a little while. The rain washed away her sorrow, leaving something fragile yet precious in its wake.

  What she didn’t realize was that she wasn’t alone.

  Adolphus stood under the cover of the eaves, his sharp eyes fixed on her. 

  He’d been watching since she’d stepped outside, caught off guard by the rare softness in her demeanor. She looked… different. Vulnerable, yet strong.

  He leaned against the wooden post, his arms crossed, unwilling to interrupt her. 

  There was something mesmerizing about the way she moved, her light brown hair clinging to her neck and shoulders, her smile faint but genuine. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her look this at peace.

  His lips quirked into a small smile, a mix of admiration and quiet amusement.

  You’re full of surprises, little hunter, he thought, his gaze lingering as she continued to soak in the rain, oblivious to his presence.

  Seraphina, feeling the weight of his gaze on her, grew uncomfortable, the fluttering in her chest growing faster. 

  She’d never been the type to draw attention to herself like this, especially not in front of someone like him. 

  Her movements, once carefree, became slower, almost hesitant as her body reacted to the undeniable tension in the air.

  Her heart pounded in her chest, thumping louder in her ears with every shift of her body. 

  Each step she took, each flick of her hair, felt deliberate, and she hated how aware she suddenly was of herself. 

  Why is this happening? she thought, a mixture of frustration and curiosity bubbling inside her.

  Adolphus, still standing in the shadow of the doorframe, watched intently. 

  His breath caught as her movements shifted from the carefree to something more intentional, more… sensual. 

  There was an electricity in the air now, the kind he wasn’t sure he was ready for but couldn’t seem to look away from.

  His own heart rate picked up, matching hers in tempo as the rain fell harder, cloaking them in its sound. 

  Each drop of water seemed to heighten the atmosphere between them, drawing out the lust in the air, thick and tangible.

  What are you doing to me? Adolphus thought, the words drifting through his mind like a cloud of smoke, uncertain but undeniable. 

  He had always prided himself on control, but in this moment, control seemed to slip further from his grasp with every graceful, slow movement she made.

  Her body, glistening with raindrops, seemed to move in rhythm with the storm, like nature itself had conspired to bring them together in this brief, heated moment. 

  The space between them felt charged, and for the first time, Adolphus didn’t know if he was the predator or the prey.

  Seraphina’s breath grew shallow, her eyes flickering toward him, but she quickly turned her head back to the rain. 

  It felt as if every drop that hit her skin was amplifying the tension between them, making the connection undeniable.

  For a moment, she didn’t want to acknowledge it—didn’t want to face the pull between them. But the longer she lingered, the harder it was to deny. 

  This is ridiculous, she scolded herself silently, but the racing of her heart and the tightening in her chest told a different story.

  Adolphus stepped forward, drawn by an invisible force. 

  His steps were slow but deliberate, each one making the distance between them feel smaller. His breath was heavy, a growl rising in his chest that he barely held back.

  “You’re not going to run away from me this time, are you?” he asked, his voice low, rough, and edged with something darker.

  Seraphina’s gaze flickered to him, but she didn’t answer. She couldn’t.

  She wasn’t sure if it was the rain or the storm brewing inside of her, but something inside her shifted. 

  Her body tensed, not in fear, but in anticipation. She was no longer sure if she was ready for the storm she had just stepped into—or if she ever would be.

  The rain continued to pour down, each drop heavy against their skin, but the storm within them felt even fiercer. Adolphus moved toward her, his hand reaching out, and Seraphina felt her pulse quicken, the air between them thick with something both dangerous and intoxicating. S